As much as I hate the guy who says, "Just get a Glock!" to the person asking "Should I get a 1911 or a .38 S&W?" I'm going to be that guy for a minute...
I'd recommend spending a little more and getting a Mossberg 500.
It's proven, and there are a ton of aftermarket parts, but one overlooked aspect that you might like is the tang-mounted safety. It's ambidextrous, easy to tell when on/off, and doesn't make you fumble near the trigger guard when you've been woken up in the middle of the night.
I've had one for years, it has never jammed up on me, and I've put slugs and shot through it with no issues. (You can change barrels in a few seconds.)
My wife, a novice shooter, used it on the trap range to great effect. I know trap loads are lighter than buck, but still.
The only thing I added was a sling and an 18.5 inch barrel for home defense.
I have nothing against the Maverick 88, but the Mossberg was my first gun, and is the only one I'll never get rid of.