Experiences w/ third parties on big ticket item purchases

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Some regions require an attorney for property / real-estate transactions - big ticket purchases. Yet, it's not considered appropriate to have a consumer attorney present during the purchase of motor vehicles.

Any specific experiences?

What about consumer advocates (who are not consumer lawyers), yet maintain professional practices?

Such consumer advocates (by choice) can be present during motor-vehicle transactions, as well as guide clientele on other complicated consumer issues that occasionally require third-party consultations.

On locating trusted service advisors, it's best to ask trusted friends/relatives for recommendations. Yet asking for recommendations for trusted consumer advisors yields funny looks - an no specific recommendations in the end!

The availability consumer advisors can go a long way in guiding adults with High Functioning Autism (who have least restrictions to indepedence).

The necessity for professional consumer advisors involves obvious social-economic dynamics:

As the world at large becomes ever more complex, more and more consumer issues will require the services of consumer advocates!

That would cost an arm and a leg, wouldn't it?

Some regions require an attorney for handling rental issues - not just the purchase of properties. Any experiences?

In these regions, everybody (not just people with wealthier incomes) incorporate the costs of lawyers into the cost of rental / property expenses. For many people, relocating (with the necessity to address property issues) are uncommon efforts.

The purchase of big-ticket items such as motor-vehicles are (for most people) uncommon agendas. Yet, again, as mentioned in the original post, it's not considered acceptable to have consumer lawyers present during the purchase of motor-vehicles, nor is it considered acceptable to ask trusted friends or relatives to recommend a trusted consumer advisor.

Yet, (by choice of the buyer), incorporating the cost of something like a consumer advisor (less costly than lawyers) to negotiate the purchase of motor-vehicles are wise decisions in an ever more complex....consumer landscape.

RELATED: Developing freindships is a challenge with High Functiong Autism (Aspergers), the one strength I feel that is helpful with friendships is that tacit understanding of never asking too much of friends - hence, I'm uncomforatble asking a friend to act as a third-party to be present for big-ticket transactions. Hence, the necessity of having a trusted consumer advisor as a contact.

Do you know what will happen if you show up at a dealership with a consumer advocate or, God forbid, a lawyer in tow to buy a car?

The dealership will respectfully decline your business.

There are many real estate transactions which do not require an attorney. When a mortgage is involved, the bank requires attorneys on both sides to make sure the transaction goes correctly and the bank is protected. But if you wanted to seller finance a sale of your house, or sell a house for cash, you actually do not need a lawyer as long as you do the paperwork correctly.

Regarding leases, residential lease transactions do not require both parties or either party to retain an attorney.

Again, as mentioned a couple of times, it's considered unacceptable to have consumer lawyers present during the purchase of motor-vehicles. Yet, it's considered acceptable (and even necessary) to have lawyers "in the loop" for rental property issues.

On consumer advisors (not to be confused with prominent consumer advocates), advisors "worth their salt" would convey impressions of a well..........consumer savvy friend/relative, and would (wisely) refrain from conveying a known consumer advocate role.

After consulting with trusted family friends (who thankfully, didn't "look at me funny" on the necessity of needing a profesional consumer advisor), they instead made recommendations for:

a.) Credit-union personnel (who 'may' be available to act as "third-party" navigators for their credit union customers who request this service.

b.) A professional fiduciary 'may' also act as a "third-party" navigator.

c.) The word 'may' is the operative word here, in that such recommendations 'may' prove "iffy".

My daughter and daughter in law have lived in another state for twelve years, and I have read every lease they have entered into beforehand. In most circumstances, leases are non-negotiable, and as a practical lawyer I know that. What I do is go through the lease with the two of them and explain the provisions of the lease to them.

Regarding purchasing automobiles, most of the contracts will relate to the financing of the vehicle. If you can pay cash, great. If not, you will get lots of carbon copy contracts. Worry about your payment and your term. You can do nothing about anything else in those agreements.

Lenders, be it automobile or mortgage lenders, really only worry about two things: you make your payment on time, and you keep your car or home, as the case may be, insured.

Your only real leverage in an auto purchase negotiation is your willingness to walk out of the lot. If it is over the price, the dealer may work with you. If it is over 200 basis point on your interest rate, sayonara.

Ninety-percent of consumer issues (esp. outside of big-ticket item purchases) can be handled by consumers - hence, much of consumer advocacy involves consumer education initiatives.

Not to overlook the ten persent of consumer issues necessitating a trusted third-party advisor.

As mentioned previously, the necessity for professional consumer advisors involves obvious social-economic dynamics:

As the world at large becomes ever more complex, more and more consumer issues will require the services of trusted professional services experienced with consumer issues - services regulated by both state and federal laws!

As with any big-ticket item, the consumer needs to do their own research. Just having and attorney present does not ensure that you will be protected. There are a lot of unscrupulous people in every profession.

Arrange your own financing beforehand, know what you are willing to pay for the make, model and features you want. You should also research your legal recourse in the event of buyers remorse or a recall or a similar problem...before you buy.

Never look to a third party as your sole protection for a major purchase, because at the end of the day only you have your best interests at heart.

Thank-you for your response.

Enclosed is an experpt for a previous post in this discussion-thread:

After consulting with trusted family friends (who thankfully, didn't "look at me funny" on the necessity of needing a profesional consumer advisor), they instead made recommendations for:

a.) Credit-union personnel (who 'may' be available to act as "third-party" navigators for their credit union customers who request this service.

b.) A professional fiduciary 'may' also act as a "third-party" navigator.

c.) The word 'may' is the operative word here, in that such recommendations 'may' prove "iffy".

ADDENDUM: The "checks and balances" to weed-out dishonset profesional service providers are asking recommednations for trusted friends / family.