Think You Don't Need a Realtor? Here’s Why Every Real Estate Attorney Should Consider One by Aubrie Layne
Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty Realty www.aubrielayne.com
In today’s fast-paced market, it’s easy to see why someone with legal expertise, or a close relationship with an attorney, might feel confident handling their own real estate transaction. While having a real estate attorney involved is a tremendous asset, it’s important to recognize that the roles of attorneys and realtors are distinct, and they bring different, complementary skill sets to the table. Here’s why hiring a professional realtor is still crucial, even if you or a family member is an attorney.
1. In-Depth Market Expertise
Attorneys, even real estate attorneys, are primarily focused on legalities, contracts, and compliance. Realtors, however, live and breathe the market. They have access to up-to-the-minute data on property values, trends, and inventory, and they know how to interpret these insights. This allows them to offer pricing strategies and negotiation tactics that maximize value. While an attorney can ensure your deal is legally sound, a realtor ensures you’re getting the best possible deal in the current market conditions.
"..its not about who found the house, its how to get your offer accepted and what happens after that is where the magic happens.."-Aubrie Layne
2. Access to a Broad Professional Network
Attorneys, even real estate attorneys, are primarily focused on legalities, contracts, and compliance. Realtors, however, live and breathe the market. They have access to up-to-the-minute data on property values, trends, and inventory, and they know how to interpret these insights. This allows them to offer pricing strategies and negotiation tactics that maximize value. While an attorney can ensure your deal is legally sound, a realtor ensures you’re getting the best possible deal in the current market conditions.

5. Specialized Transaction Experience
Real estate transactions are complex, with numerous steps from listing or offer to closing. While an attorney ensures that the legal aspects are airtight, a realtor knows the ins and outs of the entire process. From staging advice to pricing strategies and marketing to contract execution, a realtor’s expertise ensures that each phase moves smoothly and swiftly. Even with legal knowledge, navigating the intricacies of a real estate transaction without an experienced realtor can be overwhelming. Not every real estate transaction is straightforward.
For example, you may find the perfect home, and the sellers request to stay a little longer. An experienced realtor can outline the terms in the contract. Earnest money, negotiating repairs, addendums, extensions, seller disclosures, inspections, probate/estate transactions, exemptions, and disputing property taxes can all benefit from a realtor-attorney relationship.
.."Selling a property requires more than just listing it online..."-Aubrie
6. Emotional Detachment
Real estate transactions are often emotional, especially when they involve your home or an investment you’ve spent years building. Realtors provide an objective viewpoint, helping you make decisions based on market realities rather than emotions. Even if you’re an attorney, emotions can cloud judgment when you’re personally invested in the outcome. A realtor offers clarity and ensures decisions are made with your best financial interests in mind. They can help steer you if you get too focused on cosmetic details like wallpaper or tile.
7. Maximizing Exposure and Marketing
Selling a property requires more than just listing it online. Choosing a broker like Sotheby’s ensures your property gets the most eyes and has global reach. Many smaller boutique brokers cannot compete with the vast advertising streams and tools Sotheby’s has perfected over the years to ensure a successful sale. Realtors have marketing tools and strategies that maximize your home’s exposure to vetted and qualified buyers. They know how to highlight your property’s best features, stage it for success, and leverage their networks for quick and competitive offers.
Pricing the property correctly is another major difference when it comes to buying and selling real estate. As a realtor, I pride myself on being my clients’ ongoing real estate advisor, often sharing tips on updates to ensure a return on investment. Both agents and attorneys can agree that extensive research, time spent preparing your property, mountains of paperwork, and continuing education are part of the process. It’s our job to make what realtors and brokers do look easy. The behind-the-scenes work isn’t always understood, and some homeowners believe we simply open doors. Having a diligent agent teamed with an attorney is a great combo when navigating one of the most important investments you’ll ever make.
If you fall in love with a home involved with a relocation company, or you’re buying and selling at the same time and need coordinated timelines, you’ll thank yourself for considering both an agent and an attorney. But that’s a topic for another day!
8. Handling the Unexpected
Real estate deals often involve unexpected challenges—delays in financing, appraisal issues, or last-minute changes to contracts. Realtors are experienced in handling these bumps in the road and have contingency plans in place. While an attorney can resolve legal conflicts, a realtor knows how to keep the transaction moving smoothly, solving practical problems that arise in the field and identifying red flags. Attorneys can also help reduce the risk of disputes later on.
Working together, agents and attorneys ensure that every detail, from contracts to title searches, is meticulously handled. This teamwork creates an environment where deals move forward smoothly, and clients feel secure throughout the process.
Faster more efficient closings-
Who doesn’t want things to progress quickly and efficiently when timing matters most? If you’re still having reservations about the cost of the service, have an agent sit with you to go over all the strategies or scenarios. Real estate commissions have always been negotiable. Agents like myself will demonstrate their worth and expertise with curated reports for buyers and sellers.
My buyer and seller consultations highlight the full-service brokerage that we’re famous for. This is where we discuss how you prefer to be communicated with and manage expectations throughout the entire process, from start to finish. With a Sotheby’s agent like myself, you get an entire team working with you instead of just one lone agent. Use the leverage, respect, and reputation Sotheby’s Realty is famous for on your next transaction, and you won’t be sorry.
Agents and attorneys have a fiduciary duty to ensure you get the best deal when buying and work to get you the best price when selling, using proven strategies. A realtor-attorney relationship is a winning combo and can give you a distinct advantage in today’s real estate market!
Local Expertise. Global Connections.
Aubrie Layne, a luxury real estate specialist, possesses the winning combination of loyalty and confidentiality. Having a firm grasp on Houston’s premier neighborhoods, her knowledge and strong work ethic have garnered her a clientele from all over the world.
Request a for a complimentary home analysis or search properties on my HAR.com App
Martha Turner Sotheby's Central Houston
Aubrie Layne
M: 281-773-4259
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