Frequently asked questions

Conveyancing is the area of law relating to the transfer of real property; the change of ownership from one owner to another. If you are considering buying a property, selling, or transferring ownership of a property you will need conveyancing services.

Conveyancing includes investigations and documents that need to be reviewed and signed to ensure the legal change of ownership from seller to buyer in accordance with agreed sale terms. We are a trusted law firm who handle all the legal complexities and paperwork for you, it also means you’re in good hands if things get complicated.

Put simply, it’s a necessary part of buying and selling real property and land. The process can get quite complicated which is why you need the right support. Our team practice exclusively in property law and have all the expertise and experience to help you buy and sell with confidence.

Read more about the importance of conveyancing over on our blog.

Searches include certificates and information gathered from local councils and other authorities which provide details relevant to the property.

Whether buying or selling, your legal team should prepare all the paperwork required for a binding contract and settlement and this may include searches from:

• Titles Office
• Revenue Office
• Local Council
• Water Authority; and
• other regulatory bodies

Usually, your legal team will arrange to purchase and review these certificates and invoice you for their cost as standard practice.

Standard searches reduce your risk when purchasing by revealing financial levies and rates to be split between the parties, uncovering any existing debts, legal title and plan verification. Other searches may assist with due diligence, certain zoning and planning matters, including what you can and can’t do with the property.

Standard searches reduce risk when selling by ensuring all legally required pre-contract disclosures are made to the buyer to ensure a compliant and binding contract.

If you’re shopping around for a solicitor or licensed conveyancer, you might have noticed all the quotes are slightly different, but what affects the price? First of all, not every property is the same which means different paperwork, different councils and searches (as explained above). This results in a varied cost. The other expense is the lawyers and paralegals time, we have control over this, which is why we offer a flat fee even if things get complicated or there are surprise issues.

Read more about conveyancing fees on our blog.