The biggest mistake buyers make isn’t overbidding or skipping the inspection. It’s waiting too long to involve a real estate attorney. And we don’t mean any real estate attorney….we mean the right one. Don’t know who to choose? Not to worry, Cornerstone has your back, and a virtual rolodex of the best real estate attorneys in the industry. So, make your first call to the American Dream Team at Cornerstone.
Why Start Early?
A good attorney won’t just review your contract. They’ll:
- Spot red flags in listings and deals
- Recommend reputable agents, lenders, and inspectors
- Prepare you for the real costs of closing
- Work hand in hand with the title company during the due diligence period to uncover any potential title issues
And guess what? If they won’t take a ten-minute phone call early on, don’t hire them. That’s your red flag.
What to Look For
Your attorney will be your counsellor and watch dog in helping you to make what is for most home buyers one of the biggest purchase of their lives. The attorney you hire should be doing most of the work on your transaction, not his/her office or paralegal, you have hired them for their expertise. The attorney you hire should:
- Specialize in real estate
- Come highly recommended by people you trust
- Pick up the phone
The Initial Phone Call
A good attorney should be willing to field a call as you are first embarking on your house search. Obviously, you cannot expect an attorney to be at your beck and call prior to their being retained but an initial short phone call with a real estate attorney can be very informative and helpful. Be prepared with a few important questions prior to making that call. Real Estate attorney Peter Carrozzo, member of the American Dream Team at Cornerstone Land Abstract and with 25 years’ experience representing home buyers and sellers states:
“I tell people who are looking for a home and are interested in retaining me that they should feel free to pick my brain before they start. For the most part, people do not take advantage of that offer with repetitive calls and I find the little bit of knowledge they gain from an initial call limits confusion, unreasonable expectations and problems with the early stages of the process.”
That is beneficial to all parties involved. “It means fewer issues for the clients and for me to resolve once I am retained.” Ascertaining whether potential attorneys will take a preliminary call is a good test as to whether you have retained the right attorney. At Cornerstone, our affiliated attorneys offer the kind of patient, plain-English guidance that first-time buyers deserve. Because legalese shouldn’t cost you sleep. Says Carrozzo…“let me lose sleep over your deal. That’s why you’re paying me!”
