There’s a lot to accomplish before buying or selling a home. For starters, home buyers should find out their credit rating, research what kind of mortgage they would be approved for, and decide on a location to move to. Sellers need to declutter, stage their home for selling, and research the ideal price to sell their home. That sounds like a big list, but it all boils down to three big questions:

1. What Do We Want?

It sounds simple, but unless you’re commissioning a new build without a partner, the question of what your ideal home looks like is actually fairly complicated. Before you start sketching mockups of your dream home, visit open houses to see what’s available, and use the local housing stock to inform your preferences.

If you’re buying a house with a significant other, make sure you’re on the same page about what you want. Buying a fixer-upper, for example, could be a disaster if only one partner is up for remodeling a house. It’s important to have a shared vision for the unchangeable features of your future home, like neighborhood, lot size, construction style, and floorplan.

2. How Are Our Finances?

Your financial health determines how much home you can afford—and what kind of mortgage rate you’ll pay. According to the Washington Post, homebuyers with credit scores above 725 enjoy significantly lower rates than buyers with lower scores. Hopeful buyers with credit scores below 625 may be unable to get approved at all. Before you start shopping for mortgage lenders, pull your credit report and score by following the instructions at USA.gov. If you’re buying a house with a partner and using both incomes to qualify for a mortgage, both credit scores will be considered by lenders. If either partner’s score is low, you may need to spend time improving it before buying a house.

If you’re confident in your creditworthiness, you’re ready to talk to a lender about mortgage pre-approval. Pre-approval indicates that you’re a serious buyer, which makes sellers more likely to accept your offer. But first, you have to find a lender. As this mortgage guide informs buyers, “The most common types of lenders are banks, credit unions, and online financial institutions. Not all lenders offer the same rates or loan types, so it’s important to shop around. Talk to at least four different lenders and try to compare loan rates, fees, and product attributes."

Don’t assume you should spend the full amount of your pre-approval. Depending on your budget and financial goals, it may be wise to spend less than you’re approved for. Discuss your finances thoroughly before settling on a price range.

3. What Is Our Home Worth?

If you’re selling and buying, this is a big question that impacts your home-buying budget. While you won’t know the actual number before getting a comparative market analysis from an agent, it’s important to do some preliminary research.

Look at recently sold homes in your neighborhood to understand the price range you’re working in. Don’t just look at selling price; take note of how long homes spent on the market and their condition. Did the home with the upgraded kitchen sell faster and for more than the home with white appliances? These differences indicate the features that matter to homebuyers.

If you want to list at the top of your price range, consider how you can add value to your home before selling. Are there loose doorknobs to tighten or odd-colored rooms to repaint? Small updates can help your home sell, but talk to a real estate agent before making any major investments into your home’s appearance. Not all improvements pay off. Selling and buying a home can be stressful. But at the end of it, you deserve to feel good about your real estate experience. By having these important conversations before you hire a real estate agent, you can buy and sell with confidence.