Conveyancing
The legal work of transferring property ownership, including contract review and settlement.
A conveyancer or solicitor reviews the contract of sale, orders searches on title and planning, explains your obligations, and manages the settlement process.
The searches matter more than most buyers expect. They reveal easements, covenants, planned road widening, heritage restrictions, unapproved building work and outstanding council orders.
Fees typically run from several hundred to a couple of thousand dollars plus search costs. It is not a place to economise, since the contract is where most expensive surprises are hidden.
Conveyancing also covers the obligations you take on. Special conditions, deposit arrangements, inclusions and exclusions, and the consequences of failing to settle on time are all set out in the contract, and they are far easier to negotiate before signing than afterwards.
What a search can uncover
A title search revealing an easement across the rear yard can rule out the extension you were planning — information worth far more than the fee that uncovered it.
The bit people get wrong
Never sign a contract before your conveyancer reviews it. In several states signing starts a cooling-off period or, at auction, binds you immediately with no way out.
Common questions
Conveyancer or solicitor?
A licensed conveyancer handles standard transactions competently and usually costs less. A solicitor is better for complex matters, disputes, or unusual structures.
When should I engage one?
Before you start seriously inspecting. Having someone ready to review a contract at short notice is essential in a fast-moving market.
Is conveyancing tax deductible?
Not on your own home. On an investment property it forms part of the cost base, reducing your eventual capital gain rather than being deductible immediately.