Moving into a new home is an exciting (and stressful) event. Chances are you are very motivated to act fast and get your paperwork completed. Any delay can only draw out the process and push back a moving date, which can be devastating in a competitive housing market and if you have no place else to stay.
Unfortunately, this motivation can cause some problems if you act too quickly. For instance, if you are buying a home or renting an apartment, you might wind up signing something you didn’t take the time to read or understand which could lead to some serious legal disputes.
Signing a housing contract or lease binds you to the terms expressed in that document. So, for instance, if you sign a lease that requires you to pay for certain repairs, you will need to pay for those repairs. If you sign an arbitration clause in your purchase agreement, you will have to go through arbitration to resolve future disputes rather than pursue litigation.
This is why it can be critical that you review a contract with an attorney prior to signing it. It may take some extra time to do this, but ultimately, you could be saving yourself an enormous amount of time, energy and money by addressing potential problems before agreeing to anything.
Even if you’ve already signed a contract, you still have options when it comes time to enforce the document. In some cases, you can challenge a contract or a specific clause by arguing that it is unlawful, unconscionable or grossly unfair.
Whether you want to challenge a housing agreement or are preparing to sign one, it is critical that you not act too quickly. We know that time is of the essence in these situations, but your decisions should not be made at the expense of your rights. To discuss your options and the best ways to protect yourself with our experienced attorneys, please visit our website.
