Anthony: Refer back to your first post, which wanted a contract that could evict someone with virtually no notice. I took a stand and said that I believe this is unethical, and that both parties need to have the opportunity to back out gracefully and with notification. Then there was the backlash about how terrible it would be to not have a long-term contract. Well, 30 days was/is, I believe, the absolute minimum notification one should give, and I offered it equally to both lessor and lessee. That is not to dissuade people from making longer-term contracts, or those that have a definitive ending.
I was surprised to find out you decided to go contract-less. I have also done this numerous times, under wildly different circumstances--although there was always (supposedly) verbal agreement. Because I am the kind of person who will NOT go back on my word/verbal contract, this ALWAYS puts me at a disadvantage. Thus, others can crap on me and I still feel it is necessary to let them continue for the rest of the year/ whatever, even if they do not pay rent OR provide any barter/in-kind help OR even pay on the electric bill (their legal responsibility, but I own the property.) So where does that leave ME? That was just about length of stay, repayment for rent, and bill paying. Howzabout all the myriad ways people can steal and destroy property and poach and drop the ball, etc?
Everyone is in love with my opportunity, too. Hello to all y'all who contact me from all over the world! Agree we all want to be part of something greater, etc. So your exciting advertisement precludes the need for agreement? Because I have learned that a "contract" is just a way to show one another that you understand and that you agree, in case you forget about things later on because you were so thrilled by the "exciting possibility." "Contract" ought NEVER be a way to disadvantage another person, or to pin another person down to any unfair technicality. There should never be any "fine print" or "gotcha." That's soooooo not the point. Less hurt feelings, more stability and security. Any contract ought to HELP the personal connection.
Am I somehow the only one who thinks this? Because NOT having a contract doesn't prevent hurt feelings, insecurity, and bad things happening--even if the other person is indeed a wonderful, excited, "vetted" person who buys into your "exciting possibility." BTW, if all you have is a "possibility," then you might really let other people down, and maybe they need a contract to protect THEMSELVES. (not FROM you, but WITH you, together, justincase-ies...you never know what crisis may happen to you or to them, and an "exit plan"--(thanks B.B. from a wonderful Egalitarian Community which has LOTS of contractual stuff--for that discussion!!) is just part of Good Planning Together. Cuz Stuff Happens. Even to All Good People.
Compassion, people.