Legal

Choosing the Right Professionals Matters


After more than 20 years in civil litigation and nearly two decades in real estate, I’ve seen a common pattern: people often confuse charm with competence.

How many times have you heard someone say, “I’ve got a guy!” or “My lawyer is excellent!” — only to find out that their “excellent” lawyer, agent, or doctor was average at best? It happens all the time. Too often, people equate being charismatic or well-spoken with effective or knowledgeable.

Throughout my legal and real estate career, I’ve worked with—and against—countless attorneys, brokers, doctors, and paralegals. Some of them were highly visible, even appearing on television. Yet, I’ve beaten many of these so-called "top names" in the Workers' Comp Commission, without even holding a formal J.D. law degree! The truth is: many professionals simply don’t live up to the hype.

While I don't claim to know every attorney, broker, or doctor, years of experience have sharpened my ability to spot bullshit when I see it, when someone is dragging their feet or simply ripping you off. Whether it's a lawyer milking a case or a real estate agent poisoning a client, the signs are there—and I know what to look for.

Choosing the Right Lawyers Out Of State

At Sanford REI, we take pride in referring only the most competent attorneys to support our clients’ real estate needs. For over 18 years here in Connecticut, we partnered with a few really good legal and financial professionals who ended up worked together seamlessly, which in turn, helped my clients close deals efficiently and confidently with no fluff, lines of crap or ripping our clients off.

As of March 2025, I am no longer acting as a real estate broker. That means the responsibility is now in your hands to find a skilled and trustworthy real estate transactional attorney for your real estate deal but we certainly can vett one for you as well and you can use your consultation time towards it if you'd like. As far as out of state attorneys, the same rules would apply.


My advice? Do NOT use a litigation lawyer or a Patent Lawyer or a Criminal Defense Lawyer, etc. Choose an attorney who specializes exclusively in real estate transactions if you want to close a real estate transaction. Don’t settle for someone who just dabbles in it—real estate law is too important for half-ass. Again, we can try to find you one in your state or you can run your choice by John and take it off your consultation time you prepaid.

John Sanford, Managing Member

Sanford Real Estate & Investment, LLC

No Graphs, No Pie Charts, No Bullshit.

Call Us Here

Information on this page is not an offer or a solicitation to sell or purchase securities. Statements, descriptions, and data on this page are for informational purposes only and relate to an investment opportunity which may be offered in the future. No offer or solicitation will be made until you contact us first and the necessary final documentation and agreements have been delivered to you. Please consult an accountant, financial planner, tax attorney and/or other tax, investment and legal counsel for advice before investing any of your money.

© 2014 Sanford Real Estate & Investment, LLC and www.SanfordREI.com. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher John Sanford, Managing Member of Sanford Real Estate & Investment, LLC.