QUICK ANSWER
Property contracts can create obligations before settlement. Give the conveyancer or lawyer enough time to review the current contract, explain conditions and identify searches or approvals relevant to the property and your plans.
conveyancing questions before signing: Key Points
- Send the complete current contract.
- Name your intended use of the property.
- Confirm deadlines and who monitors them.
Give context, not just the contract
Tell the adviser whether the property will be your home, an investment, a development project or part of another transaction. Intended use can change which clauses, searches, finance conditions or approvals deserve attention.
Include the agent’s details, proposed timing, finance position and any promises made outside the written contract. Ask whether those promises appear in the contract and what evidence exists.
Ask what the review covers
A contract review may have a defined scope. Confirm whether it includes title, plan, standard conditions, special conditions and readily available disclosure documents, and whether further investigations are separate.
- Cooling-off rights and their deadlines
- Finance, inspection or sale conditions
- Included fixtures and excluded items
- Adjustments, deposit handling and settlement timing
Map the work after signing
Ask who orders searches, follows finance, communicates with the lender and prepares for settlement. Keep a written list of dates and responsibilities.
If the adviser identifies a risk, ask what choices exist before signing and what cannot be fixed later. The decision remains yours; the purpose of the advice is to make the trade-offs visible.
TURN PREPARATION INTO A USEFUL SEARCH
Find Property & conveyancing Lawyers
Check law firm services, then confirm the individual’s experience, availability, scope and fees directly.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions About conveyancing questions before signing
How early should I request a contract review?
As early as practical. Availability and review times vary, and urgent work may cost more or leave less time for questions.
Does conveyancing include building inspections?
Do not assume it does. Ask which searches and inspections are included, who arranges them and when their conditions expire.
Can the same adviser act for both sides?
Conflict rules and local requirements apply. Ask the adviser to explain whether it can act and how any potential conflict is handled.
CHECK THE PRIMARY SOURCES
Official Sources and Further Reading
These links provide authoritative starting points. Rules and procedures can depend on the jurisdiction and the facts.