Sellers should ask their broker for a real estate attorney referral. Get the names of the broker’s two favorite attorneys. They will likely refer you to someone great, that will get the deal done. Trust us, the broker wants the deal to close as much as you do.
Whatever you do, don’t retain one because they are marginally less expensive. Like everything else in life, you get what you pay for.
From the seller’s perspective, the role of the attorney should be, foremost, to help consummate the deal. The way you do this is first, by being responsive; second, by being pleasant and non-confrontational; and third by doing what you need to do to get the contract signed while still protecting your client’s interests through the closing.
When a seller hires an attorney that does not specialize in residential sales in NYC, you tend to see the following: a much slower deal pace. (even in a slower market, nothing encourages other buyers to step up with an offer then a contract that has been sitting out unsigned for several weeks). There is also more “negotiation” on standard terms, and usually, the client that becomes frustrated over the transaction. This is never a good combination.
Need a referral? Reach out to columbiavitoloteam@compass.com and let’s chat.
