Depends What the Meaning of “is” is—Maybe That is

Why We Have Lawyers

 

Have you ever heard the expression, “If it’s not contained in the four corners of the document, then it isn’t so?” What most lawyers mean by that is if the document you are relying on doesn’t clearly define or discuss an issue, then that issue wasn’t part of the deal. What is more complex to the average tenant than the lease? Those thirty-forty pages of legal jargon that describe just about every evil thing that a landlord can do to you during the term if you so much as sway off the track. Not too much.

 

Negotiate your lease. You sign contracts for many items your business is involved in. More often than not, tenants make the mistake of signing the landlord’s standard lease form with little more than a review of the basic terms like the start date, the termination date, and the rent. It’s better to take a more careful look at the body. Hopefully, your broker knows enough about leases to provide you real help. He should be able not only to find hidden costs, but also to save on some legal expenses so, your attorney only needs to check the language and give his final blessing.

 

It is not unusual for us at IN/House to suggest forty-fifty modifications to a lease. Typically we can get agreements on a majority of the changes. As long as the requests make sense to both parties, most landlords will be accommodating. Most importantly, the changes must protect your interests. If you don’t ask, you don’t receive.