It's 2013 What's Your Real Estate Resolution?

Everyone makes resolutions around this time every year - from taking up a long-delayed painting project, to finally remodeling that kitchen, or finally making up your mind about packing up and selling the place.

The web is full of real estate resolutions, so as we ease into the New Year, we'll present a punch list of the best of these 2013 pledges:

Purge - Tara-Nicole Nelson, a broker in San Francisco, Calif., says get rid of stuff you don't want buyers to see and stuff you don't want to move to your new home. It's probably too cold, wet or snowy to hold a garage sale right now, but you can donate items for a tax deduction.

Just buy - You will never get there until you take that first step. Assuming that you have the capital to work with, now is the time to buy! Choose a property that you know will profit you one way or the other. It can be through rental or equity buildup or renovation for flipping – whatever it is, take that first step.

Remodeling? - Determining your return on investment should be one of the first things you research before starting any remodeling project. If you plan on selling your home someday, keep in mind that 80 percent is the ideal return on a remodeling investment. A few suggested improvements that can bring the greatest return on investment include kitchen improvements, new siding, a bathroom addition, and replacing windows.

Refinancing? - Taking advantage of the current low interest rates might make refinancing a good option for you. A recent study indicates that more homeowners are switching from a 30-year fixed rate mortgage to 15-year fixed rate mortgage and bringing additional funds to closing to reduce their mortgage amount.

Finally - Chicago Tribune real estate columnists Ilyce Glink and Samuel Tamkin suggest potential homebuyers resolve to shop around when looking for a home loan. They say lenders vary, often significantly, in the fees they charge and the interest rates they levy so keep searching until you find a lender that offers both good service and good rates.