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You signed what seems like hundreds of papers. You’re holding the keys to your new home. The door is open—and now it gets real. Being a homeowner isn’t just a title—it’s also a responsibility, and there are a few new habits you’ll need to develop to keep your home in tip-top shape.

Don’t be intimidated, though. The benefit of creating and staying on top of a few key habits means that the work will never feel overwhelming. The effort is well worth it, too: The benefits of caring for your property go beyond the physical improvements. As your personal retreat, you can feel more peace of mind in your home when you know you’ve given it some TLC. Not to mention that taking the time to improve your home can truly pay off in the long run and can help you avoid claims or costly repairs. Plus, staying claim-free helps you qualify for ongoing homeowners’ insurance savings.

Now that you’re inspired, here are eight simple steps to take next:

1.    Focus on home decor that pulls double-duty

As you add furniture, art, and more personal touches to your house, the space will truly start to feel like your home. Prioritizing multi-functional products like a pull-out couch or ottoman with storage space can help you limit the clutter—and there’s a link between minimizing excess items and boosting your mental health.

Some decor choices can even improve your physical health: Many popular house plants also serve as air purifiers. For example, the incredibly low-maintenance Snake Plant filters indoor air by removing up to four toxins and converting carbon dioxide into oxygen. That makes this the perfect accent to add to your living room or bedroom. It doesn’t need much direct sunlight or water to thrive, either!

If you’re preparing for a move, you deserve advice and support that’s customized to your situation. Why? Because taking care of the “little” details can make a big difference when it comes to boosting your pre-move peace of mind.

The average American moves nearly one dozen times in their life—and it’s all-but-guaranteed that each of those times will feel like a unique experience. Whether you’re moving into a condo all on your own, settling into a family home with kids, upsizing, downsizing, or just-right-sizing, every move is a learning opportunity.

Start by scrolling through these six “mover personas” to find the one (or two or three!) that fits you. Next up: With your new strategy in place, feel calm, cool, and collected when you open the door to your home.

As a first-time homebuyer, you get a place to call your own, the freedom to design it as you wish, a nice investment that can pay off over time—and the responsibility of taking care of your new house. Talk about a milestone! It can feel like a steep learning curve, especially when you start talking about homeowners’ insurance, which is a must-have if you are financing the home. The good news is that this “to-do” is much easier to manage than you might think, especially when you get guidance you can trust. Allstate can help you design custom coverage at an affordable price, and there are even special discounts available for recent homebuyers and first-time buyers who choose newer construction.

Once the keys are in your hands and the moving truck arrives, focus on keeping the celebratory spirit alive. Prioritize settling into the spaces that mean the most to you, whether that’s the chef-approved kitchen, your bedroom retreat, or even just the extra closet space your city apartment was lacking. As you do this, you might want to put your own touch on the spaces with furniture or artwork. With Personal Property Coverage from Allstate, you can also protect your new heirlooms. Your Allstate agent can help you understand your Personal Property Coverage limits to make sure you have enough coverage for the things that are most important to you—think collectibles, antiques, musical instruments, sports equipment, or jewelry.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle might be expanding their property portfolio.

They are rumored to be on the hunt for a rental apartment near the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan. The two currently make their home in Santa Barbara, CA.

After stepping away from their duties with the royal family, the couple settled into the upscale enclave of Montecito, where they reportedly paid $14.65 million for a 7-acre compound in 2020.

The affluent seaside town, 90 minutes north of Los Angeles, boasts privacy and seclusion. Popular with celebrities, it is home to Oprah Winfrey, Rob Lowe, and Ellen DeGeneres, among others.

Ritzy rentals

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex might be adding an East Coast address.

The blueprint for a major move involves a few key elements: curiosity, agility, and a healthy dose of embracing the unknown. The Ruggieri family’s Colorado-to-Texas trek is a perfect example of all of those, along with a side of refreshing optimism. With a Penske truck and an appetite for adventure, the family of five took on a move that might seem daunting to some but delivered on their homesteading dream.

Their adventure began when plans to build a homestead in Colorado were derailed by rising construction costs due to the pandemic. On their way to find a Plan B, the family found a destination that was quite possibly even better than what they’d first imagined.

“In March 2021, we took our spring break vacation down to Texas to visit family and look for land,” says Heather Ruggieri, the mom of the family. “On the last day, we found it! Ten beautiful, rural acres in North Texas. For us, this means we can now pursue hobby farming, animals, gardening, and more.”

After discovering the perfect lot, the Ruggieris’ building plans came together quickly thanks to a designer who specializes in farmhouses. The home will have four bedrooms and bathrooms, an open concept family space, and spacious beamed front porch. To make the most of the property, they are building a guest space above the garage and a pool to enjoy on the hotter days. The new home should be ready next summer—just in time for Heather to start homeschooling daughters, Gabriela, 13, Julia, 10, and Emilia, 7. Meanwhile, dad Jason Ruggieri will be able to enjoy continuity with his job, which allows for remote work.

Both Heather and Jason had experience with long-distance moves that taught them the importance of patience, planning and purging unnecessary items. Still, with three daughters (plus two Red Merle Australian Shepherd dogs) in tow, they knew this was going to be the biggest challenge yet. In the face of uncertainty, it was helpful for the family to have one thing they could depend on: By using a Penske truck for a DIY move, they were able to control the packing, timeline, and budget.