Buying a property often includes ironing out a lot of small details before you can complete the sale. Unfortunately, if you aren't a seasoned buyer, you might find crossing all of the Ts and dotting all of the Is a mind-boggling experience. The good news is, hiring an established real estate broker and/or lawyer to represent your interests makes the entire process straightforward and pain free.

What is a Real Estate Broker?

Many real estate brokers or agents work for a larger real estate agency or firm, such as Gina Ziegler Remax. Their job is to work as an intermediary between the person selling the house and the buyer. While someone selling a house has the option of listing the house on the market without using a real estate agency, many sellers choose to hire a real estate agent to handle the process. The listing agent is in charge of showing the house to potential buyers and negotiating the terms of the contract. However, because realtors get paid on a commission basis, listing agents typically have the seller's best interests in mind.

This doesn't mean that you can't hire a realtor when you want to buy a house. In fact, it's a good idea. Hiring your own realtor means that the realtor you choose represents you — not the seller. The broker that you hire will show you potential properties, and then, once you find a home that you're interested in buying he or she will contact the listing agent to start negotiating the terms of the contract.

What Does a Real Estate Lawyer Do?

A real estate lawyer is a lawyer that specifically deals with issues related to real estate. This includes disputes between tenants and landlords, reviewing contracts, and lawsuits revolved around a real estate transaction. When you hire a real estate lawyer, your lawyer will review the terms of the contract to make sure you're making a solid deal.

Do You Need a Lawyer If You've Hired a Realtor?

Many people believe that once they've hired a realtor, they don't need to hire anyone else to buy a house. While that is technically true, you should consider having the final contract reviewed by a real estate lawyer. Because real estate lawyers don't have a vested interest in the sale, it's more likely that they will consider "what if" situations that may or may not occur after you've signed the final contract.

The fact is, buying a house isn't a simple process. Even if you decide not to have the final contract reviewed by a real estate lawyer, you should hire your own realtor. This way, you have someone working to get you the best deal possible.