Whether you are a victim of a real estate fraud case or you just need to buy a good property transparently, you need a real estate attorney on your side. An attorney will represent and protect your interests by offering you the necessary legal counsel.
However, to get the most out of a real estate attorney, it’s important to hire somebody whom you can trust. Considering that you are going to enter into a partnership with the attorney, your confidence and trust is critical to making the relationship work fully. Before you hire an attorney, therefore, there are a few things that you have to know.
- Ask About the Attorney’s Practice Area
Real estate law is very comprehensive and attorneys specialize on a wide range of practice areas, including residential, commercial, foreclosure, litigation, and transactional law among others. Therefore, if it is a residential property, then you need to hire a real estate lawyer who specializes in residential law. Similarly, if it’s a commercial property, then a lawyer who specializes in commercial law is the best bet.
- Common Situations for Hiring the Attorney
Mostly, a real estate attorney is consulted when there’s a default in the exchange of the property. For instance, in a situation where a client is going to lose property in an unfair way. A realtor may notice the problem but does not have the legal knowledge to offer counsel. The other situation for hiring an attorney is when there is a contractual dispute. In other words, when there is something in the sales contract that one party doesn’t agree on.
- Years of Professional Experience Counts
In real estate law, professional experience is probably the most important consideration when hiring an attorney. The more the experience an attorney has, the higher the chances of success. Experienced real estate attorneys know how to deal with the various challenges that they may face in the industry. Moreover, an attorney who enjoys several years of practice has the persuasion skills needed to convince the court to accept your demands.
- The Cost of Hiring the Attorney
Consulting a real estate attorney can be a costly undertaking. Therefore, you should know the charges before you get into business with the attorney. Ask about the upfront fees and other charges. The rates often depend on the number of hours of consultation, though there are attorneys who charge flat fees.
- The Attorney’s Plan of Action
The plan of action is a brief description of how the attorney plans to resolve the dispute. Basically, you have to know what to expect before the negotiations begin. This shouldn’t be a 20-page report; rather it needs just to be a brief outline of the important steps that he or she plans to follow in representing your case.
If you are involved in any kind of real estate dispute, it is important to seek the services of a competent attorney. The above-highlighted tips will help you identify and hire a real estate attorney. In case it is not clear how the attorney you plan to work with will fulfill some of the above requirements or concerns, consider it as a litmus test for an incompetent attorney.
When looking for competent attorneys to consult, you should consider JB Martin Law. They have the most experienced real estate attorneys throughout Southeast Pennsylvania.
