Warning: I lost $150 on a contract template that didn't fit my state laws

I bought a generic landscaping contract template online for $50, but after my first customer dispute last month, a lawyer friend told me it missed key California lien protections. That cost me $150 in lost payment and attorney time to sort out. Has anyone else burned money on templates that weren't tailored to their state?

3 comments

3 Comments

logan27110d ago

Funny you mention that - I've got a digital graveyard of 'one size fits all' templates on my hard drive. At this point I figure buying a state-specific one is cheaper than what my lawyer charges for just looking at a contract.

noahwood9d ago

@logan271 exactly. The generic templates are fine until they're not, and then you're paying way more to fix the mess. State specific stuff is boring but it actually holds up when someone decides to be difficult.

the_robin9d ago

My buddy Mike used the same boilerplate lease for like 8 years straight. Landlord thought he was slick, threw in some clause about "maintenance fees for common areas." Mike just signed it like always. Ended up paying an extra $200 a month for parking lot lights and hallway cleaning he never agreed to. Took him 3 months and a certified letter from a real estate lawyer to get out of that one lol. Funny how one little paragraph can cost you a whole vacation fund.