Sunday, September 2, 2007

INTERPRETING LEASE CONTRACTS

BEFORE YOU SIGN ANY LEASE FOR RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR BURBANK ATTORNEY REVIEW IT FIRST. THIS WAY YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO YOU EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE SIGNING AND WHAT YOUR OBLIGATIONS WILL BE UNDER THE CONTRACT. ITS A LOT EASIER TO WORK OUT A CONTRACT CHANGE BEFORE YOU SIGN IT THAN AFTER YOU HAVE COMMITTED YOURSELF AND SIGNED IT. IT IS WELL WORTH THE MONEY YOU WILL PAY TO HAVE YOUR ATTORNEY REVIEW THE CONTRACT AND EXPLAIN IT TO YOU VERSUS HAVING TO PAY YOUR ATTORNEY THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO LITIGATE THE CONTRACT IN COURT.

MOST REAL ESTATE CONTRACTS ARE FORM CONTRACTS WRITTEN FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE LANDLORD. YOU CAN MODIFY THEM BEFORE YOU SIGN THEM THROUGH THE USE OF CROSS OUTS AND ADDENDUMS. A CROSS OUT IS SIMPLY CROSSING OUT WORDING OR SECTIONS THAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE INCLUDED. AN ADDENDUM IS THE PRACTICE OF ADDING ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS INTO THE CONTRACT THAT ARE BENEFICIAL OR UNIQUE TO YOUR POSITION. BY USING CROSS OUTS AND ADDENDUMS YOU CAN TAILOR THE LANDLORD'S CONTRCT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE AND GAIN SECURITY AND COMFORT IN CASE THE CONTRACT HAS TO BE LITIGATED.

YOUR BURBANK ATTORNEY CAN REVIEW YOUR CONTRACT AND DRAFT ADDENDUMS FOR YOU AS WELL AS HELP YOU HAND TAILOR CROSS OUTS OF SECTIONS THAT MAY CAUSE YOU PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE. PAYING $300 TO $400 PER HOUR IS A LOT MORE ECONOMICAL THAT PAYING THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR LITIGATION COSTS. PLAY IT SMART AND DO WHAT THE LANDLORDS DO, HAVE YOUR BURBANK ATTORNEY REVIEW ALL OF YOUR CONTTRACTS BEFORE YOU SIGN ANYTHING.

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