Hah!

I get words jumbled when I read and thought this was a new house.  Same thing applies but after you cut off the power make sure the box isn't at all loose before you hang the fan from it and make sure it screwed to something solid.

I'd spend ten dollars on a simple probe from Lowe's or someplace that beeps when it's near a live wire.

The fan will have instructions and your new house should be up to code so unless you had a sloppy inspector and electrician the box in the ceiling will hande the weight of a ceiling fan.  Inside the box you will find a copper wire that is ground, a white wire that is the common a black that is hot from the wall switch and if your lucky a red one also going to a wall switch.

If you want to keep things simple and just have a white and black tie the blue and black wires together with the black wire in the box, connect the white to the white and the green on the fan to the copper.  If you have the luck to have the red wire just put the blue from the fan on it and the black from the fan on the black and you'll be able to switch the lights and fan separately.

 When you begin this the first thing to do is turn the light on in the room and then trip the breaker so it goes out.  Always double check for live wires with the ten dollar probe.

 When the big moment arrives and you throw the wall switch and nothing happens, don't be discouraged, pull the string on the fan cause it's probobly in the off position.

 If you can handle a screwdriver and read directions there is no reason not to try and install a fan in a house with up to code wiring.

Hi!

How exciting...your first house, owning a home...Congrats! I applaud the DIY'er attitude, but I wouldn't start w/ electrical if you have limited skills.  Non-pro can learn basic electrical, but it tends to be one of the least practiced trades by a DIY'er.  Starting w/ changing a device, such as receptacle (plug), switch or light fixture would be best.

No-Contact electrical tester ($10-15):  Every household, whether apt or house, renter or homeowner could use one of these.  They are a great gift also.  It is a safer & easier way to check for electrical flow WITHOUT contacting bare wires. Example below....To make sure power is off.

Link:  http://www.electrical-contractor.net/the_store/EX/40130.htm

Ceiling fans need special or well supported junction boxes to handle weight and movement/vibration.  If you want the light and fan to have seperate switch controls then you will need to run 3 wire "romex" from wall switch to fan for 2 hot wires.  "Mini fan"?  Did you mean a 40-42" 4 blade? Most/all new fans have a slick feature (hanger) to temporarily "hold" fan while making the electrical connections.  Otherwise you can use a sturdy wire, coat hanger, etc has a holder to free your hands.

Is there an attic above for access to install ceiling box, pulling wire, etc?  If a finished room above, then you'll have to make some openings in drywall/plaster.  I read your post as no existing light fixture in ceiling, right?

Without knowing more details, my safest recommendation is to buy the fan and have an experienced person install or assist.  My daughter installed her first fan at 13 yrs old, w/ some assistance.

I guess that depends on how comfortable you are with any kind of small DIY maintenance projects and if there is an existing electrical box in the ceiling where you want to mount the fan (i.e. a light fixture that will be replaced with the mini fan).  If there is no electrical box or fixture, I'm not sure installing one should be one of your first DIY projects.  You'd have to extend an exisiting circuit, cut a hole in the ceiling, etc.  Changing out light fixtures, switches, and recepticles is pretty simple--there are tons of howtos on the web (the Lowes & Ace Hardware websites have nice guides) and in books that show you what to do.

Having installed a full sized ceiling fan myself,  the biggest challenge was holding the fan while twisting on the wire nuts and mounting it on the ceiling.   Get a friend to help you with that step.

One thing to consider--the jury is still out when it comes to effectiveness of using ceiling fans to push heat back down from the ceiling.  Unless you have a cathedral ceiling or a high pitched ceiling, and that ceiling is well insulated, it doesn't help a whole lot because there just isn't that much heat up there.  In fact, it can make the room feel cooler, which is the opposite of what you want.

Even if you don't do this project yourself, if you read up enough on what needs to be done you'll know how to talk intelligently to the electrician and make sure that he/she isn't adding unneccessary repairs to the job.