We live in an increasingly DIY-society. There is a good reason for that. The internet has made so much information available at our fingertips, making it possible for people to do things they never even realized were possible. You can watch YouTube videos that break down complicated machinery repairs, and find tutorials that take you step-by-step through some things that seemed impossibly complicated. Therefore, we understand why it is tempting to skip the real estate lawyer when you have a real estate transaction. However, we encourage you to skip the DIY when it comes to real estate transactions. Here are the reasons why we think hiring a real estate attorney is so important.
- They are affordable. While the costs of a real estate attorney depend on the complexity of the transaction, most real estate attorneys cost less than 1% of any proposed transaction.
- They are skilled negotiators. Many people tend to think of contracts as all-or-none propositions. However, in large transactions, like real estate transactions, many contract terms are negotiable. Attorneys are skilled negotiators who know how to enter the negotiation process to get what you really want.
- They can advise you about the legality of contract terms. Whether you are the buyer or the seller, the other party may want to include conditions in the contract that are not legal and will not be enforceable. Real estate transactions can be impacted by property law, zoning laws, and other civil and criminal statutes. A legal expert can advise you, not only about whether a proposed contract term is legal, but also about whether you would be violating the law to even ask for the contract term.
- They protect your interests. Want to make an offer on a new home, but need to sell your old home in order to purchase it? A lawyer can ensure that your offer is conditioned on sale of your current home and protect the bulk of your earnest money.
At The Casement Group, our dedicated group of real estate lawyers in the Carpentersville area focus on protecting our clients. Whether you are seeking help with residential or commercial real estate, facing a foreclosure or short sale, or have questions about landlord/tenant law, we can give you the expert help you need to protect yourself.