I get where you're coming from, but honestly, paperwork isn't always the magic bullet people think it is. A friend of mine had a written agreement for some land he bought from family, and when things went south, it still turned into a huge headache—lawyers, hurt feelings, the whole nine yards. Sometimes it's less about having something written down and more about clearly communicating expectations upfront. Paperwork helps, sure...but it's not foolproof.
That's interesting...but wouldn't paperwork at least give you some leverage if things got messy? Even if it's not perfect, isn't it better than just relying on memory or trust alone?
Paperwork's definitely a good safety net, even if it's not bulletproof. I mean, I've seen handshake deals go south pretty quickly—my uncle once bought a small plot from a neighbor on trust alone, and when the neighbor passed away unexpectedly, the family had no clue about the deal. Took months to sort out, and lawyers aren't exactly cheap...
Still, paperwork doesn't have to be overly complicated or expensive. Even a simple written agreement outlining basic terms can save you headaches later. Sure, it might feel awkward asking for signatures when you're friendly with someone, but better a little awkwardness now than a big mess later.
I guess it comes down to how much risk you're comfortable with. Personally, I'd rather spend a bit upfront on clear documentation than gamble on everyone's memory staying sharp—or goodwill lasting forever.
Couldn't agree more—I've seen handshake deals turn messy firsthand. A few years back, I bought a small parcel from a family friend without paperwork. Everything was fine until he moved away and his kids started questioning boundaries...lesson learned the hard way.
"Everything was fine until he moved away and his kids started questioning boundaries...lesson learned the hard way."
Yeah, that's exactly why paperwork matters. Even if everyone's intentions are good, circumstances change. Did you ever manage to sort things out amicably, or did it escalate further?
