|
 | Draft or review after consultation the purchase contract including offers to purchase, counteroffers, amendments, and notices. |
| Negotiate terms with opposing counsel, real estate agent, or other party. |
| Hold earnest money in trust if necessary. |
| Monitor contingencies and deadlines. |
| Review disclosures and reports. |
| Review title insurance commitment and advise regarding requirements and exceptions. |
| Coordinate, schedule and attend closing**. |
* Client must understand and acknowledge that the flat fee is based upon an anticipated attorney time requirement of between 2 and 5 hours and is a 6 month engagement. If a dispute arises or a case requires litigation, a separate fee agreement must be negotiated to the mutual satisfaction and consent of the client and Accession Law LLC.
** Personal attendance at closing is included for closings located in Madison. For other closings, we will review all documents in advance and be available by telephone but will not personally attend unless the client specifically requests personal attendance. Travel time will be charged in addition to the flat fee at normal attorney hourly rates. Current hourly rate for Attorney James N. Graham is $200/hour.
The terms of engagement are that this is a limited scope service relating only to the purchase or sale of a home. The flat fee is due at closing or 6 months after the commencement of representation (the first offer), whichever comes first. A transaction which has not closed within 6 months will be billed for time spent at the normal hourly rate for a total amount not to exceed the flat fee.
WHY PAY MORE FOR LESS REPRESENTATION? Real estate agents, realtors, mortgage brokers, and title insurance companies are prohibited from providing clients with legal advice. Only your attorney is permitted by law to provide you with legal advice regarding your rights and responsibilities.
Do yourself a favor - hire a
qualified real estate attorney.
A real
estate lawyer pursues and protects the best interests of you, the client.
Regardless of which other players are involved in a home sale,
it is paramount for you to have a qualified and experienced real estate attorney
representing your interests. In any residential transaction, you need someone on
your team who has been through the process hundreds of times. An experienced
real estate attorney can anticipate problems and can react appropriately to
protect your best interest.
In a FSBO (For sale by owner) home sale transaction, typically neither
party has been through the process more than a few times. Obviously, whether you
are a first-time home buyer or selling your fifth home, it is valuable to have
access to the necessary forms and contracts provided by a real estate attorney.
More importantly, your real estate attorney can provide guidance on title
issues, hidden fees, contingency problems, and proposed solutions. Accession Law LLC would appreciate the opportunity to work with you, but
whether you hire us or another attorney, do yourself a favor, hire an
experienced real estate attorney.
About working with a flat fee real
estate attorney for a home sale or purchase:
Why hire a real estate
attorney to protect your interests?
Why hire a flat fee real estate lawyer?
Many clients prefer a flat fee simply so that they know the cost of representation with certainty. Alternatively, you can retain an attorney from Accession Law LLC on an hourly rate basis.