“When my wife and I bought our home this year, the contract was about 15 pages long, full of small print. We had about 10 minutes to skim it before we signed. Does anyone ever read the whole contract?”
Answer:
Almost nobody.
Of the 3,000+ clients I’ve served over 21 years, I could count on one hand the people who literally read it cover-to-cover, word by word.
When I got into San Diego real estate in 1984, the contract was basically one printed page, plus one blank page to write in anything important.
Today, due to a well-intended effort to inform consumers and cover every possible scenario up-front in the contract, it’s 10-25 pages long and so wordy that people sign it blindly and pray they’re covered.
Since YOU won’t be reading the contract either, when you work with an agent and sign a contract be sure that he or she:
A) knows what the heck they’re doing
B) is thorough
C) is reputable and trustworthy
D) has actually read the standard contract at least once
In fact, before you commit to working with an agent, ask them this question:
“Have you ever read every page of the contract, word-by-word?”
Be sure to watch closely and beware of responses like, “Oh, I know what it says.” Their answer needs to be YES or you should find another agent!
