Engage your conveyancer / solicitor

When you have found your dream property and are on the way to securing the home loan, you will need a solicitor or conveyancer to check the legalities of the Contract of Sale.

When you are purchasing a property, a conveyancer provides the following services:

• Checking the Contract of Sale
• Being the liaison between yourself and the lender’s solicitor
• Check all rates and taxes have been paid
• Check land use or building approvals for the property
• Order any relevant searches
• Act as your legal representative for the transaction

Research conveyancers for a good fit

Some things to consider asking your conveyance when you are searching for the right fit:

• Are you a member of the Australian Institute of Conveyancers?
• What are your fees and charges?
• What services are included for those fees?
• How will you keep me up to date?
• How long will the process take?
• Do you specialise in a certain property type?

Some real estate agents will recommend conveyancers for your sale. You may want to take this for convenience sake, but remember you can always compare firms to find the right team to represent you. In addition, friends and family are often a good source for advice and may recommend a specific firm they have experience with, making the search for the right conveyancer a little easier.

What to do next

Once you have chosen your conveyancer they will request any information needed. You don’t usually need to visit the conveyancer’s office as documentation can be sent by post or e-mail. A good conveyancing firm will make the process easy, contacting other parties, applying for any concessions, and conducting research behind the scenes whilst keeping you up to date.