| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | important than what it does say. If a contract |
| Have you ever felt stuck in a contract? Do you think | | | | doesn’t exactly outline every single |
| that there is no way out? I’m writing about | | | | contingency of the business dealing, then you may |
| this today because for some reason, I have dealt | | | | be able toexploit use to your advantage, that idea. |
| with contracts on several occasions this week. Every | | | | For example: Your contract for services with a web |
| time I learn so much after my contract negotiations | | | | design company, but you feel they aren’t |
| or disputes that I felt it was worthy of sharing!! | | | | living up to their end of the bargain and delivering the |
| Contracts are both good and evil sometimes, | | | | product promised, and you want to cancel. Their |
| depending upon whether you are on the sending or | | | | agreement says that if you cancel, you owe them |
| receiving end. Contracts are also supposed to protect | | | | $1,000. What it may not say is When is the |
| you, decide what the rules of the game are when | | | | $1,000 due? What are the terms the $1,000 needs |
| you and the other party reach a disagreement. | | | | to be paid by? etc
They unfortunately leave |
| Overall, contracts are awesome and I | | | | themselves wide open when not outlining terms of |
| wouldn’t get into many business dealings | | | | the agreement. |
| without having one in place. But, let me tell you, that | | | | 4. Does it coincide with what is legal? |
| you may not need to waste your time, or your | | | | I love the contracts that clearly break the law. Those |
| energy stressing over some contracts. | | | | ones are fun! |
| I used to not think so much about contracts, until I | | | | Ex: As a tenant at this property, you shall not |
| wished that I had a contract in place to protect me | | | | allow children or the elderly to occupy this |
| in certain business dealings. And then, sometimes I | | | | property. |
| would have a contract in place, but it really | | | | Whomever that property manager is, may have a |
| didn’t do me any good. It was a poorly | | | | hard time convincing a judge that their stipulations of |
| written contract. But if you are stuck in a contract, | | | | the contract were even legal. Make sure whether |
| the best thing to do is to stay calm! | | | | you’re writing or scrutinizing a contract, that all |
| 1. Don’t write off your chickens before | | | | statements are legal. Oh yeah
and sometimes you |
| they’ve hatched! | | | | may think they are, then you find out later |
| Before you say, I can’t do anything - I | | | | they’re not. It’s always good to have |
| have a contract, take a deep breath and go have | | | | a clause in some portion of your contract that says if |
| a glass of wine. Sometimes we overlook the simplest | | | | one clause of the contract, for whatever reason, is |
| matters within a contract just because we feel like a | | | | invalid or illegal, that the rest of the contract is still |
| contract is the last word. Well, there are lots of | | | | enforceable. I’m not a contract whiz, but |
| words in contracts luckily, so don’t consider | | | | I’ve seen a bunch of contracts that have had |
| yourself up the creek without a paddle until you | | | | those exact words! Always a good idea! |
| comb thoroughly through that agreement. | | | | 5. Last resort — Ask! |
| 2. Ask for help | | | | I know so many people that are willing to give up |
| I am very lucky that I am surrounded by very | | | | just because they feel like they are trapped in a |
| intelligent people!! So I don’t have to stray far | | | | contract. Worst case scenario is that you have to be |
| before I have someone who can help me decipher | | | | bound to the terms of your contract. but if you stop |
| the multi-syllabic words that are put in contracts just | | | | to ask the other party, How can I get out of this |
| to confuse me. Really the complex wording can easily | | | | contract? They may be willing to work with you. |
| be broken down into simple words and simple | | | | Often times, companies are willing to work with you |
| meanings. Also, if you’ve scanned the contract | | | | to exit the contract because they know it will cost |
| so many times that you almost can recite it word for | | | | less in the long run if they don’t have to pay |
| word, you may be missing the meaning. Ask a friend | | | | lawyers fees etc. So when in doubt, put on a happy |
| or relative to read over the contract and tell you | | | | face and show your pretty little face! |
| what they think it means. | | | | PS— As always, this is not to be construed as |
| 3. Look for What it Doesn’t Say | | | | legal advice
luckily or unluckily I’m not a |
| This is perhaps the hardest part, but one of the | | | | lawyer! I always say people should have good |
| most important parts of deciphering a contract. What | | | | counsel! |
| the contract doesn’t say is probably more | | | | |