3 questions to ask a prospective real estate attorney

If you are considering buying or selling a property and you are facing a situation that is somewhat atypical or complicated, you may find it beneficial to hire a qualified, experienced real estate attorney to work on your behalf. Even seemingly simple real estate transactions sometimes turn into highly convoluted or hotly contested matters, and having someone who knows the ins and outs of the industry working on your behalf can mean the difference between finalizing a transaction and returning to the drawing board.

Hiring a lawyer is an investment, and it is therefore essential that you feel confident in the person that you are about to hire before you make things official. So, before you sign on with a particular real estate attorney, consider asking the following questions.

1. Have you handled cases like this before?

While it is true that no two real estate transactions are the same, it is generally in your best interest to hire a lawyer who has experience dealing with circumstances that are very similar to the ones you are facing. That way, he or she may be able to spot potential problems and complications before they arise, and he or she may also have a better sense of how courts might handle matters such as your own.

2. Will anyone else in the office work on my case?

In some situations, attorneys may have paralegals and legal assistants help them with your case. If this is a problem for you, or if you have concerns about exactly who will have access to your case information, set expectations from the outset. This is also a good time to request clarification on who you should contact, should you have questions about your case, if others in the office will also be working it.

3. How long have you been in practice?

In many cases, you can expect to pay more for an attorney with, say, 40 years of experience than you might for one with, say five years of experience, but a seasoned attorney may also be more effective and knowledgeable about your subject area, particularly if you are facing an especially complicated real estate transaction.

Choosing a real estate attorney is an important decision, and these tips just may help you make the right one.