Are you trying to make a home purchase or sale this year? If so, there are many steps you need to take for it to be successful. Even if you have experience in home purchases and sales, it’s always a good idea to enlist the help of a professional real estate lawyer. Here are the qualities to look for in these legal experts.
1. Communication
You want a legal professional who can communicate well. After all, many steps are involved in the sale or purchasing process. There can be some miscommunication between different parties, but luckily, a real estate lawyer can act as a mediator. They’ll be able to translate any terms or laws you’re not familiar with. A realtor who has good communication can make the process less confusing for you.
2. Reputation
Needless to say, you want a realtor lawyer who has a good reputation. All lawyers aren’t created equally, and some may use unscrupulous practices to get a commission. You can check your lawyer’s reputation by asking for references. Thanks to references, you can get a direct response from other clients who have worked with them during real estate transactions. You may even find reviews online at sites like Trustpilot or Google Reviews.
3. Expertise
You want a lawyer with a good amount of expertise within whatever field of real estate you’re participating in. Maybe it’s your first time buying a home and you have no idea what to do. You may be selling your vacation property and have questions regarding the tax implications. You may live in a state where real estate laws are changing constantly. Are you a landlord dealing with troublesome tenants? If so, protect yourself by hiring the best legal expert possible. Whatever the case, your particular realtor lawyer should have the right amount of expertise to advise you properly.
4. Pricing
Professional legal representation is never free, and in some cases, it may be expensive, depending on the experience and reputation of your lawyer. You can always take advantage of various consultations to gather various quotes. Then you compare lawyer fees to see which one is best for you and your situation. Be familiar with how your lawyer charges. In other words, do they charge per hour, per office visit, or for the duration of the project? Will you need to pay something upfront, and do they take a commission from sales? Be aware of anything that could create additional fees.
5. Experience
How much experience does your potential real estate lawyer have? During your consultation, you can ask them how long they’ve been practicing law and how many real estate deals they’ve closed. You can ask what experience they have in helping people buy homes or sell homes. When you contact their references, those conversations will give you even more insight into how much experience they have.
6. Availability
The real estate process can be a long one. In an ideal world, you would quickly sell your home within a few days of putting it on the market. Unfortunately, with the unstable real estate market, a home can easily linger for some time. Therefore, when you hire a legal professional, you want someone available for you during that period. Of course, you won’t be their only client. However, you should have assurance that when you need to speak to them, or a problem arises, you’ll be able to communicate with them within a reasonable amount of time. When you meet with them during a consultation, ask them how heavy their caseload is. Ask if there is a set amount of clients they will work with. Get a good idea of what their general availability may be during a typical week.
According to Zippia, over 7,165 real estate attorneys are practicing in the country. Therefore, you have a range of legal professionals to choose from. Do your due diligence when choosing a realtor lawyer, so you have the quality representation you need. When you want a real estate firm that can handle a range of cases, whether you’re dealing with purchases, sales, or landlord issues, look no further than our team. Contact us at any time for a consultation, as we look forward to helping you.
