"It's a Standard Contract... Just Sign It"

It is a requirement of Ohio law that all real estate contracts be in writing.  When was the last time that you wrote a contract?  When was the last time that you actually read a contract? 

Great questions for most of us because we have all signed contracts recently and very few of us can actually tell what all the verbage in the document meant and how it could affect us. 

I just got a new phone.  It was free with only my agreeing to the terms and conditions of a contract.  I didn't read the contract, too many words and tiny print.  I've had phones before and haven't had a problem, so what is there to worry about, right?  Well, it seems that in the contract that I agreed to but didn't read, there is something about how to get out of the contract by paying some outrageous charges to the phone company.  If I get really upset with dropped calls, missing texts, or some other poor customer service by my provider, I can pay them $650.00 and walk away.  Rough math shows me that if I want to take advantage of this option then I better do it soon; otherwise it would be better if I just paid the monthly fees even if I don't want the service (or lack of it) any longer.

I did not read my phone contract, but I did understand most of it because I asked the person selling me the phone and service some questions.  I trusted the representative of the "other side" to explain things to me.  In retrospect this might not have been my smartest move.  The person I trusted did not tell me of all of the charges involved if I grow to hate their company, they did not tell me how poor their service could be and what I could do about it, and they didn't say a word about how I could or should have my own representative to explain the contract to me.

Contracts are something that we are all finding ourselves dealing with more and more today and it is unfortunate that reading and understanding them is becoming rarer due to apathy. 

The next time you are presented with a contract take the time to read and understand it completely before you sign it.  If there is something you don't get, go find a yourself a representative.  Don't ever trust the "other side" or their agents to explain things to you.