05/26/2021 5 Homebuying Questions To Ask Your New Jersey Real Estate Attorney
It is in your interest to ask a wide array of questions prior to purchasing a home in northern New Jersey. Many of these questions should be directed to your NJ real estate lawyer. There is no such thing as too much information in the context of a home purchase. However, if you are a first-time homebuyer or have not purchased NJ real estate in recent years or decades, you might not know which specific questions to pose to your NJ real estate attorney. Let’s take a look at the most important home buying questions to ask of your legal representative in the context of buying New Jersey real estate.
Question #1: How many New Jersey real estate transactions have you handled?
If the New Jersey real estate lawyer you are considering is inexperienced or has no industry experience, move on to the next candidate. Let the inexperienced attorneys “cut their teeth” on comparably small real estate transactions or on behalf of their family and friends.
You need and deserve a NJ real estate lawyer who has handled dozens or even hundreds of northern New Jersey real estate transactions. Your legal representative should have experience representing both buyers and sellers of residential property.
The best in the business read every single word of real estate purchase agreements, dissect the language and shape the deal’s terms with your interest in mind. In short, elite New Jersey real estate lawyers enjoy solving complex problems. There is too much at stake for your real estate attorney to overlook even the smallest of details. Continue searching for a real estate lawyer in New Jersey until you find one with extensive experience handling residential real estate transactions. Do not hesitate to ask for proof of such experience along with references from current and prior clients.
Question #2: What are your qualifications?
A law degree is only one of the important qualifications your legal attorney should have when representing you in the purchase of New Jersey real estate. Truly qualified NJ real estate attorneys have years of industry experience and the best have a broad perspective created through serving as the legal representative of both buyers and sellers.
If the attorney you have in mind does not strictly specialize in real estate law, do not rule him or her out. Plenty of local NJ attorneys provide legal services in different areas of the law. This diversity of expertise does not mean the attorney lacks the knowledge or experience necessary to represent you in your real estate transaction. Find out how many years of real estate experience the candidate has before retaining his or her legal services. Ask what percentage of the law firm’s work is dedicated to real estate. As long as real estate law is one of the firm’s primary practice areas, you should feel comfortable moving forward to the next step of the vetting process.
Question #3: Do you have enough time, energy and personnel to handle my NJ real estate transaction the right way?
Do not shy away from asking about the attorney’s active client roster! If the law firm has one attorney attempting to juggle dozens of real estate transactions at the same time, it is a recipe for disaster. You need and deserve individualized attention for your unique NJ real estate purchase. The real estate attorney you select must be willing to carve out time for a comprehensive review of your purchase agreement. Legal analysis performed by a paralegal or litigation assistant will not suffice. This is the largest purchase of your life so you need and deserve the expertise of a savvy real estate attorney in northern New Jersey.
Do not shy away from asking prospective attorneys about the exact number of clients they are currently serving. If the response is in the hundreds and the law firm only has one or two attorneys, you might be better served by a local NJ real estate attorney with a smaller client roster.
Question #4: How will you communicate with me?
You deserve more than the occasional email or text message from your attorney’s paralegal. Though interacting with paralegals as opposed to attorneys is perfectly normal in the context of NJ real estate transactions, you deserve phone calls and possibly even some in-person meetings either through online videoconferencing or meetings at the brick-and-mortar law office. Furthermore, if you have a preferred method of contact, the attorney you are considering should be willing to contact you through that medium, whether it is a traditional phone call, an email, USPS snail mail, a text message or online videoconferencing.
Question #5: Why should I choose you as opposed to another New Jersey real estate attorney?
This question provides your NJ real estate attorney with the opportunity to put his or her merits on display. If the response to this question is a reference to a comparably low fee, you should be concerned. The best NJ real estate lawyers seize the opportunity to explain why their services are superior to those of competing law firms for reasons beyond cost.
From completing real estate transactions in accordance with the timeline detailed in the purchase agreement to providing top-notch customer service, identifying potential real estate transaction pitfalls, negotiating terms with the seller and beyond, there are all sorts of unique ways in which your legal representative can advocate for your interest.
Our New Jersey Real Estate Legal Team is a Call Away
If you are buying or selling NJ real estate, reach out to our legal team for guidance. Our NJ real estate attorneys are here to sweat all the small stuff of this important transaction so you can narrow your focus on your family, work and enjoying life. Reach out to us today at (973) 785-9522 to learn more about our New Jersey real estate legal services and coordinate an initial consultation. If you prefer to contact our law firm online, you can do so by completing our convenient online contact form.
