When selling,make the improvements to enhance your property in a buyer's eyes.This investment of time and money will most often come back to you ten-fold in the price you are able to obtain when you sell.Do this even if you need to obtain an equity loan, which may be paid-off at the close of escrow. Not all improvements will reward you. Discuss your improvement ideas with your Real Estate Agent before you start.

Obtain pre-approval ( not pre-qualification ) for a new home loan before you start shopping! This prevents you from falling in love with that house that you really cannot afford. Pre-approval does not obligate you in any way. Sometimes your pre-approval satus will make your offer the one that is accepted, even if it is a lower offer!

Continue to communicate with your Real Estate Agent. This is very important because transactions can and do move very quickly after initiation. A good Real Estate Agent will be open to your contact and your needs throughout the entire process as well as after the close of escrow.