Myth - Once a contract is sent, the lawyers take it from there. Truth: NO. We have seen good lawyers gap in their diligence and/or etiquette and blatantly blow deals. Your Realtor, and you, MUST stay close to the contract process. Don't just go in and sign, and while in the contract process do not fail to talk to your lawyer Every Day. Terminate he/she if they don't call back - you'll get another. Talk to us and we'll tell you more, and we'll protect you from that nonsense.

Attorney or Realtor to Handle a Given Problem? Attorneys are trained to argue. Realtors are trained to forge compromise. Both are valid business styles and in this context, deal problems should be handled by the Realtors, which flies in the face of the attorneys' egos. Insist on it, or a small issue can explode into a deal-breaker. Similarly, do NOT sign any contract until your Realtor has seen it. This also flies in the face of the attorney's egos. Insist on it; one errant lawyer inserted an incorrect mortgage amount as duped by the other lawyer and without checking the deal memo - he didn't consult the Realtor, then the client signed what the lawyer told to him to sign, and that attorney's carelessness cost the buyer an extra $30,000 in an appraisal dispute.

Variables that are out of our control that can affect things negatively or positively:

• Seller’s or buyer’s personality and perspective and inclinations

• Other party’s agent’s personality, perspective, and inclinations

• HOA or coop or condo rules

• Good or bad attorneys

• "Uncle Joe’s" effect on your thinking in lack of good counsel

We brief you on all of this, at all stages, to facilitate the smoothest transaction possible.

Variables in our control to be mindful of so we don’t hurt ourselves:

• How we treat agents and sellers

• How we manage Uncle Joe.

• Responsiveness

• Prioritizing showings over errands

• Stay on top of the listings daily once you're serious and are pre-approved!