need law advice

[punkorange]

As some of you may know I am opening a game/comic/hobby shop and we just got our lease writtin up for building. I'm not a law savy guy so I was wondering if some of you might take a look at the lease (names have been removed) and comment on it. Since I am not law savy I do not wish to be taken advantage of. Thank you so much for any help and advice. The lease is a pdf in the zip, thanks.

 

[adwyn]

I only skimmed the lease (and I am not licensed in your state, so take this all as just mnusings from a stranger), but as a Realtor (TM) with all of the usual comercial initials for real estate what I can say is that there are several red flags.

The triple net nature of the maintenance of the HVAC, the ambiguity of the renewal terms, are good examples that this lease is pieced together boiler plate, much of which appears to have been modified over time without the benefit of council. If you have no assets, nor expect to soon, just sign it and go forward. That's the type of risk typical in business.

If you do have anything to risk, or expect to and feel it's worth the fight then let me know and I'll see if I can find more time this weekend to look at it. The question is where is your comfort level.

 

[punkorange]

well, we did go ahead and sign it, but we also made sure to get in writing the stuff that it said we needed in writing, such as the changes we desire to make, the signage, etc.

 

[Dingleberry]

As a lawyer, my advice is get a lawyer. Now. Really. As a small business owner, it's an imperative cost of doing business.

 

[adwyn]

One more thought, go buy an eighteen month calender and mark that renewal date on there. Of all of the things in the lease that'll mess you up, that's the most likely. Be prepared to make the decision to renew at least two months before the sixty day period, thus you'll need to decide on whether to stay around the begining of September, 2006.