Conveyancing and searches

Hi everyone,

About to buy my first ever property in Brisbane so I'm looking for a conveyancer at the moment. What separates a good conveyancer from the rest? Also what exactly are searches? Would they be as important for a new or near new property? Lastly, when should I have settled on one (ie before or after putting in an offer)?

Thanks!

 

Conveyancing is pretty straight forward - it's when something falls outside the norm and/or the **** hits the fan that a good one will be of huge benefit.

Cheers

Jamie

 

We have a heap of clients purchasing in QLD ATM and we work with a bunch of different solicitors - we can highly recommend Andrew or Sarah from Certus Legal Group.

 

Searches

You can do very few, some of the cheap guys will offer hardly any at all to make the total spend look cheaper.
absolute minimum
Rates balance
Land Tax
Water Meter Reading
2x title searches
1x plan search
If you don;t do rates, land tax and water then there are no adjustments made at settlement and you have to pay whatever is left owing.

If you are buying in a community titles scheme I would also add a full body corporate records search. This shows the actual minutes of the meetings rather than just the balances in the accounts. There was one that came back the other day where they were they had agreed to a loan facility to fund repairs and estimated that there was going to be a special levy on each lot owner of around $3,500

 

Agreed with Certus Legal Group. Very professional bunch!

 

Hi!

Have you already found a property conveyancer? It pays to hire the right people. We sought help from BTF Lawyers when we needed help last year. They're really good! I am sure there are credible conveyancers in that area. Best of luck.

 

Hi - ultimately you don't need to have decided on/appointed a conveyancer until such time as you have an offer accepted and have a signed and dated contract. That being said, you probably don't want to leave it until the last minute, so do some background work as soon as possible. I can highly recommend Mel Demarco from JustUs Laywers. Whoever you go with, make sure you are comfortable with the service they offer and make sure you are comfortable with them personally - especially as a first time in a new state, given the different property legislation in each state you will probably rely on them a lot - so be comfortable and confident. Good luck

 

This is why I like buying in SA - the REA has to provide the buyer with all of this.

 

@D.T what exactly the RE agent has to provide in SA?