Ask for a Draft of Any Contract at Least 24 Hours Before Signing

Never read a contract for the first time at the signing table. The pressure of someone sitting across from you, waiting for your signature, makes it almost impossible to read carefully or push back on unfavorable terms. Ask for a draft at least 24 hours in advance. Any reputable party will agree to this — and any party that refuses should raise a red flag.

With a draft in hand, you can read at your own pace, look up terms you don't understand, compare with similar contracts, and prepare your questions or counter-proposals. The signing table is for signing — the reading, understanding, and negotiating should have happened before you sit down. This simple request shifts the power dynamic entirely in your favor.