How do you handle improvements to your home before you sell, even if one parent has moved out?

Most of my clients treat their home as the joint venture that it always has been, even after they have separated. If you are selling a home, particularly in this depressed real estate market that we have been in for the past several years that shows no signs of improving soon, you may need to dump some money into your home before you sell. After consulting with a qualified real estate agent or appraiser (and I can provide resources for both if you need them), you should either share equally in those expenses or have one person "lend" the household the money, to be repaid when the sale of the house closes and you receive the resulting equity.