Buying a new home is a big decision to make, and the last thing you want to do is regret the choice a few months or a few years down the line. If you’re looking to buy a new property in Chicago and you want to make sure that you’ll be confident in your decision in the long term, enlisting the services of a real estate attorney is always a sensible choice. Unlike in many other states, Illinois doesn’t require an attorney to be present for a real estate closing, but the advantages they can offer often outweigh the costs. Here are some of the advantages you can expect from a reputable lawyer.

1. An Attorney is An Impartial Advocate

While your realtor or agent undoubtedly wants to get you a new home, they have financial stakes in the home you decide to purchase. A good deal of their income comes from the commission they receive on sales, and that means they have stakes in the decision you make. Illinois law ensures that real estate attorneys like those at Roth Fioretti (http://www.rothfioretti.com/) can’t be paid on commission. That means that you can expect them to provide you with a clear and unbiased understanding of the circumstances unfettered by the promise of financial gain.

2. They Can Guide You Through the Language of the Contract

Agents may understand a lot about your contract, but they aren’t qualified to fill you in on the legal complications. If you want to understand what you need to do in case of the breach of a contract or understand what rights you have to raise a lawsuit against the other party, an attorney is the best source you have. Moreover, you can walk confidently into the purchase knowing that you understand all the intricacies behind the paperwork you’re signing. This is especially true when dealing with a private seller rather than a licensed realtor.

3. They Can Help When Unforeseen Complications Arise

The process of selling or buying a home in Illinois has become so formalized in Illinois that most agents understand the ins and outs of the process like second nature, but some complications can arise during the sale that they simply aren’t equipped to handle. Perhaps the home currently has a complicated tenant situation that you need to untangle, or you need to figure out the rules behind subletting out portions of your new property. Having an attorney on retainer allows you to get to the bottom of these issues quickly and in a definitive manner.

4. They’re Your Best Resource if You Need to Back Out

So you’ve signed the contract to purchase a new house. Maybe your loan offer gets withdrawn at the last minute, or you find a new home that’s more ideally located to your needs and cheaper to boot. Whatever the reason you have for canceling your contract, having an attorney on retainer means that you have someone to guide you through the process.

5. Pricing Should Be Transparent

Most Illinois real estate attorneys either charge an hourly rate or assign fixed rates for specific jobs they perform. Be scrutinizing with the attorney you choose, evaluate the transparency of their pay rates, and consider the cost-benefit ratio closely for the work you need accomplished.