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Home › Real Estate Agent Fees › Conveyancing Costs – Fees By State [2025]
When selling your home in Australia, most people focus on finding the right real estate agent. But there’s another professional you need to complete your sale smoothly: a conveyancer. Conveyancing covers the legal side of transferring your property to a new owner, and knowing the costs upfront will help you avoid nasty surprises at settlement.
While it’s not a legal requirement to hire a conveyancer or solicitor, most sellers find the process too complex and risky to manage alone. Conveyancers deal with property transactions daily. They know how to prepare contracts, check titles, and navigate state-based laws that can otherwise trip up first-time home sellers.
This guide breaks down what they do, how much conveyancing cost, and what the typical fees look like in New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia, ACT and Western Australia. Whether this is your first time selling or you’ve sold before, you’ll find practical advice that’s easy to understand.
Key Takeaways: Conveyancing is essential, it handles all the legal work of selling property. Average cost is $500–$1,500, plus disbursements like searches and certificates. Each state has its own laws, cooling-off periods and contract requirements. DIY conveyancing is risky, one mistake can delay or derail your sale. Hiring a professional saves stress, ensures compliance, and protects your finances.
Key Takeaways:
Conveyancing is the legal process that shifts a home from one owner to another, and it covers much more than just signing a piece of paper. In practice, it’s all the behind-the-scenes legal work that makes a sale valid: preparing the contract, checking the title, handling the mortgage or discharge paperwork, and making sure every form is correct and lodged on time. Each party, the seller and the buyer, usually hires their own professional (a licensed conveyancer or a solicitor) so that each side has someone protecting their interests and spotting problems early.
While you technically can do your own conveyancing, most people don’t, because the rules, timeframes and documents are strict and mistakes can be costly. State consumer and fair-trading regulators describe conveyancing as the legal work that prepares the sales contract and related documents and, importantly, makes sure the transaction is done properly from start to finish.
Put simply, if the real estate agent manages the marketing and negotiation, your conveyancer manages the legality and paperwork so the deal can actually settle. This is why first-time sellers find a good conveyancer invaluable: they translate the legal steps into plain language and keep the sale moving. Laws and forms vary across Australia, which is another reason most sellers get professional help rather than trying to “wing it” themselves.
A conveyancer is like your personal guide through the legal maze of selling property. Their role is to make sure everything is done properly, on time, and in a way that protects you legally and financially. Without them, it’s very easy to overlook small but important details that could delay your sale or cost you money.
From a buyer’s perspective, a conveyancer will:
The conveyancer will review the sale contract and communicate its terms to the purchaser.
Attention will be given to:
Once the transfer of land is drawn up, the purchaser will sign the document. It will then be forwarded to the seller’s representative at least ten days before the settlement date.
The caveat protects the buyer’s interests. While technically you become the legal owner once the settlement occurs, between the time you sign the contract and the settlement date, you are not the legal owner. A caveat with your name on the title secures your interest in the property and confirms that the property is yours once the settlement is complete.
Certificates may be needed particularly if the Vendor’s Statement contains inadequate information. The statement (also referred to as a Section 32) needs to be sent to the vendor before settlement. A cross reference of information from the seller may also be necessary.
A conveyancer will supply a costs disclosure statement for standard conveyancing procedures and disbursements including all government and authority searches as well as stamp duty fees.
The general rule for a property is that the debt stays with the land. If the rates are not divided between the purchaser and the seller, then the buyer will be left with the sum in its entirety.
The lawyer will represent the buyer and liaise with the financier and seller. The signed documents (sale contract, the transfer of land documentation and the title search) will be supplied to the banker. Your legal representative will make sure that the bank is ready to settle in time and has the loan money available by the settlement date.
A good conveyancer will keep you informed every step of the way.
Negotiate with the vendor’s representative regarding contract changes and general legal advice
It is worth noting that these two services may incur additional charges
Here’s a breakdown of what they actually do for sellers:
You may want to locate a conveyancer before you get to the signing of the contract stage as the conveyancer information will need to be present on the purchasing and selling contracts.
Like real estate agents, not all conveyancers or solicitors are created equally. Therefore, you will need to make an appointment to visit them and confirm they have your best interests at heart.
You will need to meet with a conveyancer before the sale and establish whether they are up the task.
Here are some questions to ask a conveyancer:
An expert conveyancer will explain the process in its entirety and the importance of why they need to do what they do.
Conveyancing costs vary depending on your state, the type of property you’re selling, and whether you hire a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer. On average, you can expect to pay between $500 and $1,500 for a straightforward residential sale in 2025.
Your final bill usually includes two parts:
For example, in NSW, disbursements often add up to $300–$500 on top of the professional fee. In South Australia or Tasmania, the searches and certificates might be slightly cheaper.
Important to note:
Technically yes, but it’s risky. From a legal perspective you don’t need a specialist to represent you during the purchase or the sale, however, it is recommended that you engage one for the property process. Each state has strict requirements for contracts, disclosures, and timing. Missing even a single document or deadline can lead to legal disputes or financial penalties.
Unless you have legal training and plenty of spare time, most sellers prefer to leave conveyancing to professionals. Paying $500–$1,500 now can save you thousands in penalties or disputes later.
There is no need to muddle through the terminology and procedures, and as you are legally bound to file paperwork, one misstep could cost you a lot more money in the long term.
If the sale is anticipated to be complicated, then it might be in your best interest to seek a lawyer. Think about whether there are special conditions included that might make it a more difficult transaction. Council complications or property restrictions may be an issue.
Bear in mind that the conveyancing process also includes a property or title search. If you do not have access to this information, then you will need to contact each regulator to understand planning restrictions, council rates, zoning regulations and road access.
Ultimately:
The choice to hire a professional conveyancer will depend on your budget, experience and the amount of time you have on your hands.
Because property law is regulated at the state and territory level, the rules around conveyancing aren’t the same across Australia. This is why costs can differ so much. Fees such as stamp duty and transfer fees also vary by state.
However, these are only payable by the buyer. Sellers may have to pay Capital Gains Tax depending on whether it is an investment property and must be careful around new ATO foreign resident capital gains laws.
Let’s look at it from a state by state perspective:
The first stage in the conveyancing process in NSW is to prepare The Contract for Sale of Land. This is prepared by the seller’s solicitor or conveyancer, ready for an offer to be made.
The deposit is usually around 10% of the purchase price less the initial holding deposit.
In New South Wales, the cooling off period is five business days from exchange unless waived by the purchaser. It is not automatically applied. It requires the consent of both the seller and buyer for it to be applicable. The purchaser who cancels the contract of sale then forfeits 0.25% of the purchase price.
In NSW, the time for completion of the sale is around six weeks.
The Form 1 Contract Note or the Form 2 Contract for Sale of Real Estate will need to be prepared. In Victoria, the deposit is normally around 10% of the purchase price with Lender’s Mortgage Insurance or 20% without the Lender’s Mortgage Insurance.
The cooling off period is three business days from the exchange where no waiver is allowed.
Tip: NSW has very strict disclosure requirements. If your Vendor’s Statement is incomplete or inaccurate, the buyer may have the legal right to cancel the contract, so getting professional help is essential.
When selling property in Queensland, there are some relevant points to be aware of.
Firstly, the Real Estate Institute of Queensland Contract for Houses and Residential Land, and Real Estate Institute of Queensland Contract for Residential Lots in a Community Title Scheme will need to be completed. The seller’s real estate agent is responsible for the preparation of the contracts.
The purchaser’s deposit is usually around 10% of the purchase price less the initial holding deposit.
The cooling off period is five business days from exchange unless waived by the purchaser who has received PAMDA Form 32a from a lawyer. It will only commence if the seller complies with PAMDA. If revoked, the buyer forfeits 0.25% of the purchase price.
The purchaser’s solicitor or conveyancer is responsible for preparing the transfer document and paying any stamp duty to register the document. They will also ensure that the transfer is sent to the seller’s lawyer or conveyancer for the seller to sign.
In Queensland, the time for completion is usually 30 days unless otherwise specified.
Tip: Timeframes are tight in QLD. Make sure your conveyancer is proactive about deadlines, as missing one can cost you the sale.
When it comes to selling your property in Tasmania, you will first need to have your solicitor or conveyancer prepare The Contract for Sale of Real Estate.
After the price has been agreed upon, the purchaser will pay a deposit of around 10% of the purchase price.
In Tasmania, the seller and purchaser each sign one copy of the contract. After the contracts have been exchanged, a Priority Notice is lodged by the buyer, which reserves their right to have the property transferred to them after settlement, up to a period of 60 days.
In Tasmania, the time for completion is usually 30 days. But this could lengthen if the purchaser is buying off the plan, as time is required for finishing the construction and obtaining the necessary permits.
Tip: If selling off-the-plan, be prepared for longer settlement times while construction and permits are finalised
It is the job of the seller’s solicitor or conveyancer to prepare the necessary contracts.
The deposit is usually around 10% of the sale price while for larger properties, the deposit is usually less than 10% of the sale price.
The seller must provide a Form 1 Seller’s Statement to the purchaser at least ten days before the settlement (unless sold at auction where the number of days is reduced to two).
In South Australia, the cooling off period is two business days, unless it is waived by the purchaser. It does not start until the buyer gets served the Form 1 Seller’s Statement or exchange. If the sale is cancelled, the seller will refund any purchase deposit over $100 in full.
The time for completion varies from state to state unless it is set by agreement between the seller and buyer, but in SA the time for completion is usually 30 days.
Tip: The Form 1 is crucial. If it’s late or inaccurate, buyers may delay or cancel, so get your conveyancer onto it early.
The seller will need to have a Contract for Sale of Land by Offer and Acceptance, and Joint Form of General Conditions for the Sale of Land prepared by their solicitor, conveyancer or real estate agent.
The deposit is about 5% of the agreed upon sale price of the property. There is no cooling off period in Western Australia.
WA has an average time for completion of 4 to 6 weeks, although this is longer if the property is still under construction.
Tip: Because WA has no cooling-off period, buyers are locked in once they sign. That makes having watertight contracts and disclosures essential.
Conveyancing costs differ between states and territories. Normally they range between $500-$2,200.
Disbursements refer to any costs incurred by your conveyancer while settling your property. These are charged on top of the conveyancing fee and may include:• Title searches• Drainage diagrams• Planning searches• Council searches and certificates• Water rate searches• Electricity rate searches• Roads and land tax searches• Building certificates• Settlement fee• Land tax clearance certificate• Postage, stationery, and other administrative costs
Licensed conveyancers for NSW, Victoria, South Australia, WA, NT, and Tasmania can be located by visiting the Australian Institute of Conveyancers in your particular state. Property buyers in the ACT or Queensland should reach out to the ACT Law Society or the Queensland Law Society respectively.Qualified solicitors can be sourced through your state or territory law society.Referrals are often the best way to locate a professional conveyancer to sell your property. Don’t be afraid to ask for personal recommendations from friends or family.
A cooling off period refers to the number of business days (Monday-Friday) where a purchaser can walk away from an agreement to buy a property. If you, as the seller, purchase a property at auction, there is no cooling off period. Therefore it is wise to have a conveyancer arranged at the ready. Both the seller and the buyer are legally bound to sign the contract.A private sale will incorporate a cooling off period; although in some states, a buyer can waive their cooling off rights. Each Australian state and territory has varying rules regarding the length of the cooling off period and the deposit required to secure the property.In NSW, Queensland and the ACT, the cooling off period stands at five days. NT offers four business days, Victoria three and SA two. WA and Tasmania have no specified cooling off period.During the cooling off period, it is critical that a conveyancing representative is sought if that has not already been arranged.There is no cooling off period for the seller. Once the seller has signed, there is no backing out of the contract.
The stamp duty is due on the finalisation of the contract for sale and must be settled within three months, or before settlement when a mortgage is involved. If the purchase includes a house and land package, then the stamp duty is due within the first twelve months or before settlement if a loan is required.
Building insurance is highly recommended to be in place before settlement. If you are applying for a mortgage, then your financier will require a building insurance policy before they will offer you a loan. As your insurable risk starts on the day of settlement, it is essential that the insurance policy is in place before that date. Your lender may require you to have insurance a couple of weeks before the actual settlement date.
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