07/22/2021 7 Tips for Choosing a New Jersey Real Estate Attorney
Buying or selling a home is one of the most important decisions you make in life. It is imperative you have the right New Jersey real estate attorney in your corner. Your real estate attorney will handle the legal side of the transaction, representing your interest all the way up through the closing.
Even the slightest mistake or oversight during your real estate transaction has the potential to create a slew of legal, financial and bureaucratic problems. Follow these tips for choosing a NJ real estate attorney and you will sleep soundly knowing your legal representative sweats all the small stuff of this important transaction.
Select an Experienced Attorney
Above all, the attorney you choose should have experience handling New Jersey real estate transactions. The best real estate attorneys understand these transactions from both the seller and buyer perspectives after years of representing clients on both sides of the table. So don’t hesitate to ask the NJ real estate attorney you have in mind if he or she has handled similar transactions. Choose an attorney with years of real estate law experience and surmounting seemingly inevitable issues that arise prior to the closing will prove that much less stressful.
Are You Comfortable Interacting With the Attorney?
If you are not comfortable engaging in face-to-face interactions with your attorney, choose another legal representative for your New Jersey real estate transaction. If the attorney does not answer your questions in a straightforward manner, inadequately addresses your concerns or simply does not make you feel comfortable, opt for an attorney who is more approachable and client-focused.
Ask About the Attorney’s Process
Find out how the attorney handles real estate transaction reviews and closings. You have every right to ask questions about the attorney’s procedures, the timeline, the support staff that will contribute and other details pertaining to the legal side of your real estate transaction.
Get a sense of the attorney’s overarching approach and you will have a better idea of how your transaction will be handled once you are in the fold as a paying client. If the attorney you are considering cannot detail exactly how real estate contracts are reviewed and the manner in which the closing is handled, do not hesitate to choose another legal representative.
Broach the Subject of Cost
There is no shame in bringing up the financial side of the transaction. Directly ask attorneys how much they charge for a real estate purchase or sale. Some attorneys receive payment through the mortgage process. Others require an upfront retainer followed by subsequent billing. However, price should not be a deal-breaker. If the attorney you are considering has stellar reviews and you are comfortable interacting with him or her, paying more is worth every single penny.
You Need a NJ Real Estate Attorney, not a Paralegal
Read through the online reviews, pose questions to New Jersey real estate attorneys and reach out to references provided to get a sense of each’s merit. If you find out the attorney you are considering delegates the bulk of the work or all of it to a paralegal or other assistant, choose another law firm.
You need and deserve a real estate contract review performed by a New Jersey real estate attorney. You also deserve to know exactly what components of your real estate transaction will be handled by support staff versus those that will be handled by an actual attorney.
Ask for References
Though asking an attorney for references from former and current clients might be a bit uncomfortable, making this request is perfectly reasonable. Take a moment to speak with clients previously represented by the NJ real estate attorney you are considering.
Ask questions about the quality of the service, the attention to detail and client interactions. If the attorney you are considering refuses to provide the names and contact information of references, move on to a more transparent and meritorious real estate attorney.
Flexible Communication
If you are buying or selling a property in New Jersey, you might have a spouse, significant other, business partner or other party with a financial stake in the property. You and your significant other or business partner deserve to be communicated with exactly as desired.
You should be able to interact with your real estate attorney in New Jersey through:
- Phone
- Text
- Face-to-face
Choose an attorney and support staff that are flexible in terms of client communication and you will rest easy knowing you can get in touch with your legal representative and also receive timely updates without a lengthy wait.
Schedule an Appointment With Bavagnoli & Bavagnoli
Are you looking for a new home or considering selling your current home? Our New Jersey real estate attorneys are here to help you every step of the way through the closing. Reach out to our law firm today at (973) 785-9522 to find out more about how we can help with your real estate transaction.
