Buying or selling property is likely the largest transaction you'll ever make, yet the legal process behind it is often a black box. Here's what conveyancing involves in New South Wales, step by step, and where a careful eye actually earns its fee.
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring the ownership of property from one party to another. In New South Wales it covers everything from reviewing the contract of sale, to conducting searches, arranging the exchange of contracts, and attending to settlement, where the balance of the purchase price is paid and legal title changes hands.
A conveyancer (or a solicitor doing conveyancing work) manages that process on your behalf. The goal is simple: make sure you get exactly what you're paying for, that nothing is hiding in the contract, and that the transaction completes on time.
The most important work happens before you sign. Once you've found a property, your conveyancer reviews the contract of sale and the attached documents, the title, the zoning and planning certificate, drainage diagrams, and any special conditions the vendor has inserted.
Off-the-plan purchases, strata properties, and SMSF or trust structures add extra layers (e.g. sunset clauses, disclosure statements, by-laws, and lender requirements) which is why fees for those matters can sit above the standard fixed fee.
In NSW you generally can't list a property for sale until a contract has been prepared, so a vendor's conveyancer is involved early. We assemble the contract and the mandatory disclosure documents, then liaise with the buyer's representative and the agent through to settlement.
On settlement day, we coordinate the discharge of any existing mortgage, confirm adjustments for council and water rates, and make sure the sale proceeds reach you correctly. A well-prepared contract up front is the single biggest factor in a sale that settles without drama.
There are two parts to the cost. The first is the legal fee for the work itself, which at Glenmore Legal is a fixed fee agreed before we begin. The second is disbursements, third-party costs such as title searches, council and water certificates, and settlement platform fees, which are itemised and separate from the legal fee.
Guide prices for standard NSW residential matters, excluding disbursements. A fixed quote is confirmed before any work begins.
Good conveyancing is mostly invisible. It's the problems you never hear about because they were caught before you signed. Whether you're buying your first home or selling an investment property, the value is in having someone read the fine print and tell you plainly what it means.
Get a fixed-fee quote and speak to the person who'll handle your matter.
This article is general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice on your specific circumstances, please get in touch.