Choose your property lawyer and get them onto the file before you sign anything.
What happens at this step
You decide to start looking at properties, or you have a specific property in mind, or you have an offer about to land. The first step is engaging a property lawyer. The earlier in the process the better. Lawyers add the most value before contracts are signed, not after.
What NZ Legal does
We open a file, run AML and identity verification, send you a fixed-fee quote, and stand by ready for the contract to land. If you are still in the looking stage, we can run pre-purchase title checks on properties you are interested in.
What you do
Send us your full name, address, ID, and a brief description of what you are looking for. Confirm the fixed fee. Forward us any property listings you are seriously considering so we can flag issues early.
Common pitfalls
- Engaging a lawyer only after signing the contract. Most of the leverage is in pre-signing review.
- Picking a generalist over a property specialist. Property law is its own discipline.
- Waiting until the agent pushes a contract at you. The agent works for the seller, not for you.
