Every property transaction raises questions, and most buyers and sellers ask us a fairly consistent set of them. Below are the questions we hear most often from clients across Dandenong and Greater Melbourne, answered plainly. If your question isn’t here, get in touch with our team directly.
What does a conveyancer actually do?
Do I need a conveyancer, or can a solicitor do this instead?
Both are legally entitled to handle conveyancing in Victoria, and for most residential transactions, either will do the job well. The difference comes down to regulation and scope: conveyancers are licensed specifically for property transfer work, while solicitors are fully qualified lawyers with a broader scope, including the ability to represent you if a dispute arises. For a full breakdown of when each is the better fit, see our guide: Conveyancer vs Solicitor in Victoria.
How long does conveyancing take?
It depends on the transaction, but most standard purchases or sales in Victoria settle within 30 to 90 days of the contract being signed, with 60 days being a common settlement period. More complex matters — off-the-plan purchases, deceased estates, or contracts with unusual conditions — can take considerably longer. Your settlement date is set out in the Contract of Sale, and your conveyancer works to that date from the outset.
What's the difference between exchange and settlement?
Exchange happens when both parties sign the Contract of Sale and it becomes binding (subject to any cooling-off period or conditions). Settlement is the final step, weeks or months later, when ownership formally transfers, the purchase price is paid, and you receive the keys. A lot happens between the two — searches, finance approval, and document preparation — which is the bulk of what your conveyancer is doing during that period.
What should I check before I sign a contract?
At minimum: the Section 32 Vendor Statement (title, zoning, easements, owners corporation details), the deposit and settlement terms, any special conditions, and whether a cooling-off period applies to your purchase. We’ve set out a complete walkthrough in our First Home Buyer Contract Review Checklist, which applies just as well to buyers who aren’t purchasing their first home.
What is a Section 32, and why does it matter so much?
The Section 32 Vendor Statement is a legally required disclosure document under the Sale of Land Act 1962 that the seller must provide before you sign. It discloses the property’s title, zoning, easements, outgoings, and (for apartments and townhouses) owners corporation details. If it’s missing required information or contains errors, you may have grounds to withdraw from the contract — which is exactly why it needs to be reviewed carefully, not skimmed.
Is there a cooling-off period in Victoria?
For most private residential sales, yes — three clear business days after you sign, during which you can withdraw subject to a penalty (the greater of 0.2% of the purchase price or $100). It does not apply to properties bought at auction, or contracts signed within three clear business days before or after a publicly advertised auction. If you’re buying at auction, your contract review needs to happen before auction day, since there’s no cooling-off safety net afterward.
How much does conveyancing cost?
Costs generally include the conveyancer’s professional fee, disbursements (search fees, certificates, PEXA fees), and government charges such as stamp duty and title registration fees, which apply regardless of who you engage. We work on fixed-fee pricing, so you know the professional fee upfront rather than facing surprises as the matter progresses.
Will I have to pay stamp duty, and is there any way to reduce it?
Almost all Victorian property purchases attract stamp duty (land transfer duty), though several concessions and exemptions can reduce or eliminate it depending on your circumstances — first home buyer exemptions, off-the-plan concessions, and others. If you’re buying off the plan, the current concession rules have recently been extended; see our guide on the off-the-plan stamp duty concession for the latest detail.
What happens if something goes wrong during the transaction?
It depends on what the issue is. A Section 32 problem may give you grounds to withdraw. A finance or building inspection condition not being met can allow you to exit without penalty if properly drafted. A vendor delay or dispute over deposit release needs to be raised promptly. This is one of the main reasons to have an experienced conveyancer managing your matter from the outset — most issues are easier to resolve, or avoid altogether, when they’re caught early rather than discovered at settlement.
Can I do my own conveyancing?
Technically, yes, but it isn’t recommended. Property transactions involve strict legal requirements, tight deadlines, and documents that are genuinely difficult to interpret without experience. The Legal Services Board and Consumer Affairs Victoria both regulate this work precisely because errors can be costly — an incomplete search, a missed special condition, or a misunderstood clause can end up far more expensive to fix than the cost of engaging a professional in the first place.
Talk to Our Team
If your question isn’t answered here, we’re happy to talk it through. Speak to our conveyancing team about your specific situation, or if you’re ready to move forward with a purchase, request a contract review before you sign.
This page provides general information about the conveyancing process in Victoria and is not legal advice. Every transaction is different — speak with our team about the specifics of your situation.
