What Conveyancing Involves

Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring ownership of property from one person or entity to another. In New South Wales this involves preparing and reviewing the contract of sale, conducting property and title searches, liaising with the other party’s solicitor or conveyancer, coordinating with your lender or the purchaser’s lender, and managing the exchange of contracts and settlement.

While templates and online conveyancing services exist, property is usually the largest transaction most people undertake. A solicitor’s involvement matters most when a contract contains unusual special conditions, when a property is strata-titled, when finance is time-pressured, or when something goes wrong between exchange and settlement. Than & Co has handled residential and commercial property transactions from our Bankstown office since 1996.

Common Situations We Assist With

• Buying a home or investment property — contract review before you sign, negotiation of special conditions, and support through to settlement
• Selling a property — preparing the contract for sale, responding to buyer enquiries, and coordinating exchange and settlement
• Off-the-plan purchases — reviewing sunset clauses, variation rights and disclosure statements before you commit
• Selling and buying at the same time — aligning settlement dates and managing bridging finance requirements
• Strata properties — reviewing by-laws, strata reports and levies before exchange
• Commercial property — acquisitions, disposals and due diligence for business premises and investment property
• Property transfers — transfers between family members, following separation, or as part of estate administration

How Than & Co Can Assist

You deal directly with a Principal of the firm, not a rotating case handler. Andrew Than, who leads our property and litigation work, has more than 30 years’ experience across litigation, conveyancing and contractual disputes — so a straightforward purchase and a contract dispute are handled by the same person, not handed off partway through.

We review contracts promptly — usually within one to two business days of receiving them — and explain what we find in plain language rather than legal shorthand. Where a contract needs amendment, we negotiate directly with the other side’s solicitor or conveyancer on your behalf. And because that same litigation experience sits in-house, we’re positioned to flag risk in a contract that a conveyancer without it may not recognise.

Important Legal Considerations

• Cooling-off period — most residential contracts in NSW carry a five-business-day cooling-off period unless it is waived or the property was bought at auction
• Special conditions — contracts are regularly amended with special conditions that alter standard rights; these should always be reviewed before signing, not after
• GST withholding — purchasers of new residential premises or potential residential land are generally required to withhold part of the price and remit it to the ATO at settlement
• Strata by-laws and levies — outstanding levies, upcoming special levies, and by-law restrictions can materially affect the value and usability of a strata property

What Happens Next

1. Get in touch with your contract or a description of your matter — we’ll let you know what we need from you
2. We review the contract (or prepare one, if you’re selling) and raise any concerns with you directly
3. We confirm our fees before any work proceeds, so there are no surprises
4. We manage searches, enquiries and negotiation through to exchange
5. We coordinate settlement with the other side, your lender and, where relevant, your agent

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a solicitor or a conveyancer?

Both are legally permitted to handle standard residential conveyancing in NSW. A solicitor can also advise on legal issues beyond the transaction itself — a contract dispute, a family law property transfer, or a commercial lease attached to the property — without referring you elsewhere.

How long does a typical purchase take to settle?

Most NSW residential contracts specify 42 days from exchange to settlement, though this is negotiable and off-the-plan settlements can take considerably longer.

Can you review a contract before I make an offer?

Yes. Reviewing the contract before you’re committed, rather than during a five-day cooling-off window, gives you the most room to negotiate or walk away.

What does conveyancing cost?

Fees depend on the nature and value of the transaction. We confirm fees in writing before any work begins.

What if a problem arises after exchange?

Because Than & Co also practises in property litigation, we can advise on your options directly if a dispute arises between exchange and settlement, rather than referring you to another firm. See Litigation.

Related Services

• Buying Property
• Selling Property
• Contract Reviews
• Commercial Property
• Conveyancing Lawyer Bankstown