How to Choose a Good Conveyancer in Australia

Your conveyancer handles the legal side of buying a home: reviewing the contract, running searches, and getting you to settlement safely. Choose one before you make an offer, check they're licensed in your state, and get a fixed quote that lists all the costs. A good one explains everything in plain English; a poor one leaves you exposed. This guide shows you how to tell them apart.

Quick definitions

• Conveyancer: a licensed professional who handles the legal transfer of a property to you.
• Settlement: the final step where you pay the balance and the home legally becomes yours.
• Vendor statement: the seller's disclosure document (Section 32 in Victoria, Form 1 in South Australia) listing what you legally need to know before you buy.
• Disbursements: the out-of-pocket costs your conveyancer pays on your behalf, like title searches and registration fees, charged on top of their own fee.

What does a conveyancer do?

A conveyancer is a licensed professional who handles the legal side of buying property. While the selling agent works to sell you the place and a building inspector checks its condition, your conveyancer protects your legal interests. Their job is to:

• Review the contract of sale and the vendor statement
• Spot problem clauses or missing information
• Explain what you're signing and what it means
• Run property searches (title, council, and more)
• Arrange settlement and the transfer of ownership

In short: the agent sells you the property, and your conveyancer makes sure the deal is legal, safe, and done properly.

When should you choose your conveyancer?

Sooner than most people think. The ideal time is before you make an offer, so they can review a vendor statement for you and you're not scrambling under time pressure later.

Realistically, line one up as soon as you get home loan pre-approval. That way they're ready to review the contract the moment your offer is accepted, and you never have to pick one in a panic.

How do you find a qualified conveyancer?

Check they're licensed in your state

Here's where a lot of online advice gets it wrong. Conveyancers are not all regulated by the Law Society; that body regulates solicitors. Who to check with depends on your state:

• NSW: licensed conveyancers are regulated by NSW Fair Trading
• Victoria: licensed conveyancers are regulated by the Business Licensing Authority, part of Consumer Affairs Victoria
• Western Australia: settlement agents (the conveyancer equivalent) are licensed by Consumer Protection (WA)
• South Australia: conveyancers are registered with Consumer and Business Services (CBS)
• Queensland: conveyancing is done by solicitors, regulated by the Queensland Law Society
• ACT, NT, Tasmania: conveyancing is generally done by a solicitor, so check the relevant Law Society

Whichever applies, confirm they hold a current licence and carry professional indemnity insurance (cover that pays out if their mistake costs you money).

Read reviews from real clients

Look at Google reviews and legal directories, and pay attention to what people say about communication, plain-English explanations, value, and whether questions got answered properly.

Get recommendations, but verify them

Mortgage brokers often recommend a conveyancer they work with. That can be handy, but don't take it on faith. Ask why they recommend that person, check reviews yourself, and contact a couple of options. Your interests and your broker's aren't always the same.

Ask about your property type

Different properties carry different legal complexity:

• Houses: usually straightforward
• Apartments and units: more complex, thanks to strata or body corporate rules (the shared ownership and rules that govern a block of units)
• Off-the-plan: different contract issues, since you're buying before it's built
• Auctions: no cooling-off period in most states
• Rural properties: may have extra title or access issues

Ask how much experience they have with your specific type.

Red flags: signs of a poor conveyancer

Barely any communication. A 15-minute phone call with no written summary isn't enough for something this important. A good conveyancer puts the key points in writing so you can reread them.

Vague or dismissive answers. If you ask about a clause and get "don't worry about it" or "it's standard," push back. Some clauses are standard and still not in your favour. One first home buyer flagged a clause that let the seller spend their deposit before settlement, exactly the kind of thing you want explained, not brushed off.

Slow to respond. Purchases move fast. Your cooling-off period is only a few business days, so a conveyancer who takes a week to reply will blow your deadlines. Test their response time with an early question.

Creeping hidden fees. You're quoted one price, then charged extra for search after search. Ask for a detailed written quote covering the professional fee, searches, transfer, and registration before you engage them.

Pressure to waive cooling-off. If they nudge you to give up your cooling-off rights to make your offer look better, be careful. That removes your safety net. A good conveyancer explains the risk; they don't push you into it.

Green flags: signs of a good conveyancer

• Clear, written communication in plain language, not legal jargon, explaining why something matters, not just what it is
• A thorough contract and vendor statement review that points out unusual clauses and anything worth negotiating
• Proactive problem-spotting, like flagging missing documents or, for units, digging into the body corporate's finances and any planned special levies
• Fixed, transparent pricing where you know what's included and what isn't
• Proper credentials, insurance, and responsiveness, returning calls and emails within a day and staying on top of deadlines

Questions to ask a potential conveyancer

• How quickly can you review a contract once I have one?
• Will I deal with you directly, or will someone else handle my file?
• What's included in your fee, and what costs extra?
• How many first home buyer purchases have you handled?
• Have you worked with my property type (unit, off-the-plan, auction)?
• Will you provide a written summary of the key contract points?
• Are you available and responsive during my cooling-off period?
• Have you ever advised a client not to proceed with a purchase? (A yes is a good sign.)

What does a conveyancer cost?

Two parts make up the bill, and cheap headline quotes often hide the second one:

• The professional fee: roughly $700 to $2,500 for a standard residential purchase. Metro Sydney sits at the higher end (often $1,000 to $3,000); Victoria and Queensland tend lower ($500 to $1,400).
• Disbursements: another $300 to $800 for things like title searches, council and water certificates, and registration and PEXA (the online settlement platform) fees.

So a realistic all-in figure is about $1,000 to $3,000. Watch out for "from $899" ads that quote the professional fee only and leave disbursements off.

What's usually included

Contract and vendor statement review, legal advice, standard searches (title, rates, planning), settlement arrangements, and dealing with your lender.

What usually costs extra

Extra searches beyond the basics, some body corporate report reviews, specialist advice, contract amendments, and certificates of title.

How to get the best value

1. Get a fixed fee, not an hourly rate
2. Ask what's included and get it in writing, disbursements listed
3. Compare two or three providers
4. Don't just chase the lowest price. The cheapest conveyancer is poor value if they miss something that costs you thousands

Buying an apartment or unit? Read this

If you're buying a unit, your conveyancer's job is bigger. They should read the body corporate (strata) report closely, check the owners corporation's finances, and flag any planned maintenance or special levies (one-off charges owners have to pay for big repairs). Strata problems can quietly add thousands to your yearly costs, so this review matters.

State-by-state notes

Cooling-off periods below are in business days.

New South Wales

• 5 business day cooling-off period: a good window for review
• Section 66W certificate can waive cooling-off (risky, get advice first)
• Licensed conveyancers regulated by NSW Fair Trading

Victoria

• 3 business day cooling-off period: very tight, so your conveyancer must move fast
• Section 32 vendor statement must be reviewed carefully
• Licensed conveyancers regulated by Consumer Affairs Victoria

Queensland

• 5 business day cooling-off period: a good window for review
• REIQ standard contracts: pick someone who knows them
• Conveyancing is done by a solicitor here, not a separate licensed conveyancer

Western Australia

• No cooling-off period: your settlement agent should make sure one is written into the contract if you want it
• Thorough strata review matters
• Handled by licensed settlement agents

South Australia

• 2 business day cooling-off period: the fastest in Australia, so responsiveness is everything
• Form 1 vendor statement to review
• Conveyancers registered with Consumer and Business Services

Australian Capital Territory

• 5 business day cooling-off period: a good review window
• ACT-specific contracts, generally handled by a solicitor

Northern Territory

• 4 business day cooling-off period
• High termite risk in many areas, which your conveyancer should flag
• Generally handled by a solicitor

Tasmania

• No cooling-off period: so pre-contract review is essential
• Generally handled by a solicitor; specialist availability can be limited, so plan ahead

The conveyancing timeline

1. Before you offer: contact a conveyancer, discuss your search, get a fee estimate.
2. After your offer is accepted: send the contract and vendor statement straight away; they review it within a day or two; you decide whether to proceed, negotiate, or withdraw.
3. During the cooling-off period: they run searches, flag issues, and keep you updated.
4. Before settlement: they confirm the details, coordinate with your lender and the seller's side, handle the money, and arrange the transfer.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a conveyancer or a solicitor?

Either can handle a standard purchase. In NSW, Victoria, WA and SA you can use a licensed conveyancer or a solicitor. In Queensland, the ACT, the NT and Tasmania, conveyancing is generally done by a solicitor. Use a solicitor if your purchase has legal complications like a dispute or an unusual trust structure.

Can I do my own conveyancing?

It's legal in most states to do your own conveyancing with a DIY kit, but it isn't recommended for a first home. One missed search or contract clause can cost far more than the few hundred dollars you'd save, and you won't have professional indemnity insurance to fall back on.

How much does a conveyancer cost in total?

Budget for the professional fee (roughly $700 to $2,500) plus disbursements of $300 to $800 for searches and registration. So a realistic all-in figure is about $1,000 to $3,000, higher in metro Sydney. Always ask for a fixed quote that lists the disbursements.

Key takeaways

• Choose early, before you make an offer
• Check they're licensed with the right body for your state (not always the Law Society)
• Test their responsiveness with an early question
• Get everything in writing, including a fixed quote with disbursements listed
• Watch for red flags: vague answers, slow replies, creeping fees, pressure to waive cooling-off
• Don't pick on price alone

Your conveyancer is your legal protector in the biggest purchase of your life. Choosing carefully is worth the effort.

Next steps

Ready to go deeper? Read our guide to understanding vendor statements and contracts, check your cooling-off rights by state, see the complete first home buyer checklist, or learn the costly mistakes first home buyers regret.