What is Conveyancing?

What is conveyancing?

Conveyancing is the process of transferring the ownership of ‘real property’ from one person to another. A conveyancer is a licensed and qualified professional who can:

provide information and advice about the sale or purchase of property
prepare legal documentation for property transactions
represent either the vendor or the buyer during the settlement process.

Due to the complex legal nature of the work involved, it is crucial to engage a conveyancer as soon as possible if you are planning to:

buy property
sell property
subdivide land
register, change or remove an easement
update details on a certificate of title – such as registering a death, changing a name or adding or removing a proprietor

What a conveyancer does

A conveyancer will:

prepare and clarify legal documents – eg contract of sale, memorandum of transfer
conduct research about the property and its certificate of title – eg checking for easements, type of title
represent you in preparing for and during settlement
place and hold deposit money in a trust account
calculate the adjustment of rates and taxes when buying or selling property
liaise with the vendor or buyer’s conveyancer over settlement arrangements
contact you to advise when settlement or subdivision is complete
contact your financial institution, if applicable, regarding how and when the final payments are to be made and received
submit applications to Revenue SA for any grants you may be eligible for – eg first home owners grant
negotiate offers on your behalf with a vendor or their agent
lodge all necessary documents with the relevant agencies.