Top Questions to Ask in Hiring a Real Estate Attorney

Posted by damien fleming on April 10th, 2016

If you’re one of the millions looking for a new place, you should hire a real estate attorney. Real estate lawyers can save people a lot of headaches by giving them expert advice on how to purchase a property the right way.

Attorneys real estate perform a lot of critical tasks.  They typically review sales contacts and disclosures, provide official notice of issues covered under contract contigencies and ensure that all pre-closing steps are completed. In a short sale, they also negotiate with the seller’s lender.  And these professionals can keep an eye on the fees charged by various entities such as title companies.

With the many responsibilities that a real estate lawyer has, you naturally want to hire the most competent professional. If you’re looking to hire a real estate attorney in Salt Lake City, here are questions you should be asking during the interview:

1. How many real estate closings do you usually do in a month?

2. How many real estate closings are you currently working on?

You may not want to hire a lawyer who’s too busy. Too many may be problematic as the lawyer may not have adequate time to attend to your case.

3. Do you have an assistant? If you have, what will be the role of the assistant? 

You don’t want to be dealing with the assistant all the time. But there might be instances when the deputy will be the only one to face you or attend to your needs. At the very least you should know the particular tasks that the lawyer’s assistant will be undertaking.

4. How do you charge?

You should be clear on the payment terms, aside from the amount that you are to pay for the lawyer’s services.  Do you need to pay an advance? Or is the lawyer willing to be paid at the end of the transaction? These are some of the things pertaining to the lawyer’s fees that you have to clarify.

Aside from these questions, you must also be particular with the little things like the way the lawyer treats you. Does it take a long while before he/she returns your call, or replies to your email? Is the lawyer approachable? Does the attorney sound smart?

All these questions can help you find the attorney that’s best for the job.