Waiting until possession week is the common mistake. Your lawyer needs time to order a title search at ISC, review the condition clauses in your accepted offer and confirm there is nothing registered against the property, from an old caveat to an unpaid utility charge, before your mortgage lender will release funds.
The lawyer also sets up the trust account that holds your deposit and, later, the sale proceeds, coordinates with your lender on mortgage instructions, and calculates the adjustments for property tax and condominium fees that get settled on possession day. Legal fees for a straightforward Saskatoon purchase typically run $800 to $1,500.
Bringing your lawyer in at offer stage, not closing week, gives them room to catch a problem while there is still time to fix it. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.