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Disclaimer
Before you sign an agreement of sale, you might consider asking an
attorney to look it over and tell you if it protects your interests. If
you have already signed your agreement of sale, you might still consider
having an attorney review it. An attorney can also help you prepare for
the settlement. In some areas attorneys act as settlement/closing agents
or as escrow agents to handle the settlement. An attorney who does
this will not solely represent your interests, since, as
settlement/closing agent, he or she may also be representing the seller,
the lender and others as well.
If choosing an attorney, you should shop around and ask what services
will be performed for what fee. Find out whether the attorney is
experienced in representing home buyers. You may wish to ask the
attorney questions such as:
What is the charge for negotiating the agreement of sale, reviewing
documents and giving advice concerning those documents, for being
present at the settlement, or for reviewing instructions to the escrow
agent or company?
Will the attorney represent anyone other than you in the transaction?
Will the attorney be paid by anyone other than you in the transaction?
Please note, in many areas of the country attorneys are not normally
involved in the home sale. For example, escrow agents or escrow
companies in western states handle the paperwork to transfer title
without any attorney involvement.
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