Top 7 Questions to Ask a Real Estate Lawyer Before Hiring Them
by Barsha Bhattacharya blog 31 May 2025
If you are considering buying or selling property to expand your business, hiring a real estate lawyer will be beneficial for your cause.
Why, you ask? As it will save you from expensive legal pitfalls and ensure the transaction proceeds smoothly without any issues.
However, how do you choose the best of the two? It is not every attorney who possesses the same level of experience.
Furthermore, not everyone will incorporate the correct methodology and understanding of local real estate laws.
Before you make your decision, ask these seven crucial questions to determine that you are hiring the best real estate lawyer to address your needs.
When Will You Need To Hire A Real Estate Lawyer?
There are always certain important instances in business dealings where you will ned to hire a real estate lawyer. Some of those reasons include:
1. To Obtain Accurate Information
Not all information about properties is correct. A real estate lawyer will help you understand the details of the property and how it can influence your business.
Furthermore, they make sure you are buying what you expect. They verify the information to prevent any mistakes from affecting your decision.
2. To Understand Complex Contracts
Real estate agents play an important role in preparing purchase contracts, but sometimes you need more complicated agreements. This happens especially during difficult business deals.
A lawyer can help by drafting or reviewing contracts to make sure they protect your business interests. Remember, the contract is essential to the entire home sale process.
3. To Obtain Legal Guidance
When you choose to buy or sell a house to expand or solidify your business, it involves many legal steps. A real estate attorney will provide legal advice throughout the process.
Moreover, he will explain the terms and their meanings to you in a clear manner. He will also help you understand the deal.
Their experience ensures that you have all the necessary information, helping to prevent any potential legal misunderstandings.
4. To Resolve Disputes
When you complete a transaction, disputes may arise. It’s helpful to have a lawyer who can mediate between the parties involved and suggest solutions.
Furthermore, if things go awry, they will also take legal action if necessary. This approach helps resolve disputes quickly and fairly, protecting your interests.
What Are The Top 7 Questions To Ask Your Real Estate Lawyer Before Hiring Them?
In case you are selling or buying a home, you may need a real estate attorney. He will assist with paperwork and check for any liens on the property.
Of course, it goes without saying that you must look for a real estate lawyer with experience and skills to handle your case.
Furthermore, you also need to hire someone who charges a fair price and has time to meet your needs.
With so many real estate lawyers available, how do you pick the right one? Choosing a real estate attorney doesn’t have to be difficult if you ask these questions.
1. Are You a Specialist in Commercial Real Estate Law?
You must ensure that you work with a real estate lawyer, such as Nychuk & Company, and not one who has occasionally dabbled in these matters.
A good and experienced commercial real estate lawyer will be familiar with all local regulations regarding property and zoning laws.
Moreover, he will also be aware of the issues related to titles and the authorization process for closing.
Oh, and remember to look for a record of success when it comes to both residential and commercial deals, depending on what you’re dealing in.
2. What Is The Number Of Your Real Estate Deals?
As you already know, experience matters. An attorney who has conducted several hundred closings will be more efficient.
Moreover, he will have a better eye for potential problems and will likely have fewer issues with negotiating contracts.
You must request information about the typical sort of transactions that they’ve been involved in, i.e., acquisition, sale, and lease or land development deals.
3. Will You Personally Handle My Case?
In other law firms, while you are sitting face to face with the person during the consultation, that person is not the one who will be dealing with your file.
Make sure that you are clear about who will be handling your case on a day-to-day basis. Will it be the senior attorney or, perhaps, one of the associates?
Or will they be a paralegal or not? You should be aware of the person you can contact and be assured of their qualifications.
4. How Much Will You Charge?
Legal fee varies greatly based on the nature of the transaction involved. Ask if the attorney charges by the hour or at a flat rate.
Please provide details of what is covered, i.e., is the fee factored into the payment for title searches, contract review, document preparation, or attended closure?
Always have the cost estimate in writing so that you don’t receive any surprises later on.
5. What Will Be Our Mode Of Communication?
A good real estate lawyer should not be silent. He or she should also keep in touch. Ask them how they will keep in touch. It can be via:
- Phone calls
- Face-to-face meetings
Moreover, dont forget to ask them where they will hold the meeting, and how soon they will respond to enquiries.
Therefore, there is reduced anxiety through the transaction because you will be kept constantly informed.
6. What Are The Potential Legal Issues That I Should Be Aware Of?
A skilled commercial real estate attorney can identify potential red flags in advance, which makes things much easier and hassle-free for your business. These include common issues as:
- Zoning issues
- Uncertain property boundaries
- Title disputes
In your first consultation, ask if they find any potential legal challenges to your transaction and what steps they will take to mitigate them.
Additionally, inquire about the various legal ways that your business might be affected. As you know, prevention is always better than a cure.
7. Can You Give References or Reviews?
A reputable lawyer should have loyal clients who are not ashamed to discuss their experience.
Request references from your friends or go online to see the reviews and ratings. This may help to understand the lawyer’s professionalism, reliability, and success rate.
Hire The Right Real Estate Lawyer For Your Business
Hiring the services of a real estate lawyer is very crucial in guarding your investment. You have to always ensure that you are asking the right questions.
By doing this, you will be in a position to work with a competent and trustworthy professional who will guide you through every step of your property transaction.
Do your homework before you sign a contract – and don’t be shy to ask the hard, tough-minded questions.
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