Buying a house is one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your life, so it’s important that the purchasing process runs smoothly. Key to this process is your conveyancer, as they make sure the legal transfer between the seller and buyer goes off without a hitch. To help you choose an experienced conveyancer, here are five interview questions that you should consider asking before hiring:
1. What are your qualifications?
Though this might seem obvious, many first home buyers often forget to ask this simple question. The qualifications of your conveyancer will differ from state to state, but all states and territories require some sort of tertiary qualification of licensed conveyancers. An example of this is an Advanced Diploma of Conveyancing. They should also commit to regular ongoing education to keep up with the dynamic property legislation landscape.
2. Are you a member of the Australian Institute of Conveyancers?
It is important to make sure the conveyancer you’re dealing with is appropriately registered. As the official national body for conveyancers, the Australian Institute of Conveyancers (AIC) makes sure that each of its members upholds certain professional, educational and ethical ideals and standards. The AIC also has local branches in each state, and these divisions provide a wide variety of services and resources to its members.
3. Do you offer online conveyancing?
Also known as electronic conveyancing or e-conveyancing, online conveyancing allows parties to log in from anywhere in the world to monitor their conveyancing transactions and share documents. Such technology allows for faster communication, not just between you and your conveyancer, but also your seller, brokers, lenders, real estate agents, and accountants. This is the future of the profession, which is why Conveyancing.com.au has invested resources heavily in this space. Feel free to ask our friendly team how we can help you streamline your property purchase or sale with digital conveyancing tools!
4. How much will your conveyancing services cost?
The cost of conveyancing services is perhaps one of the most important questions that you should ask your conveyancer, as this will play a role in your decision-making process. You also need to be able to budget, so don’t be afraid to ask this question upfront. Your conveyancer’s quote may include their professional fees, search fees, and other disbursements fees like registration fees and stamp duty charges. Aside from asking for the breakdown of costs, make sure you know which services are out of scope, as they may incur extra fees.
5. Do you have insurance protection?
Professional indemnity insurance protects against claims that may arise from negligence in your conveyancer’s performance of his or her professional duties. No matter how meticulous you are in choosing your conveyancer, you cannot discount the risk that something might go wrong in your conveyancing process due to your conveyancer’s negligence. Having an insurance ensures that you are covered in such cases. They will be able to pay you for damages if you file a claim against them.
This article is provided for general information purposes only. Its content is current at the date of publication. It is not legal advice and is not tailored to meet your individual needs. You should obtain specialist advice based on your specific circumstances before taking any action concerning the matters discussed in this article.
