EDITOR'S NOTE
Barry Courter has a 23-year-old son who graduated from college last year and a 19-year-old daughter who is a freshman in college.
THINGS I WISH MY KIDS WOULD ASK ME
Q: Dad, I'm about to sign a lease, so what should I look for?
A: Leases, and contracts in general, are great learning experiences. Unfortunately, we don't usually learn much until after the fact. Read them closely, ask questions, especially from others who have signed the same. Go online and read reviews about the company offering the contract. Find out what sort of things can change the contract. Such as, can the fee or rent go up and, if so, under what circumstances. Don't just trust the person selling it, and never agree to a contract over the phone.