has the experience, success stories, testimonials, and references, etc., to back them up. Many newbies to the rental property business mistakenly assume they can just look up a lease template or a lease example online, and use that as the basis for their own lease—or, worse, yet, just plain-out copy it and use it as the lease! Big mistake. First, the lease will either be too generic (and not cover all the areas you need it to cover), or it will be too specific—as in specific to a certain time and place that won’t necessarily apply to the year and where you live. Second, typing up “free lease for rental property” or something similar on Google, and then using it, could get you into heaps of trouble legally because it’s not tailored to your location and because you could be stealing someone else’s lease. A good lease isn’t free. Expect to spend at least $500 to upward of $1,000 for a good, rock-solid lease that protects you and your home from any potential issues, and that’s developed by a reputable attorney who knows all the ins and outs, and has experience in tenant complaints and even rental-related lawsuits. Just put this cost into your budget now, and don’t try to skimp in this area. You could pay a lot more otherwise in the end. Further, the laws are always changing; cities and counties enact new laws and abolish or revise old ones. Your lease needs to be not only location-specific, but also up-to-date. A good attorney can help you here, too. You can’t do this alone (unless you’re an attorney yourself or have experience in drawing up leases). While we still recommend paying an attorney to help you draw up your lease, just to ensure you’re fully covered and protected, there are other options, such as purchasing state-specific legal forms online, like EZLandlordForms.com or USLegalForms.com. Exercise caution that they are state-specific
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