CONVEYANCERS vs SOLICITORS: Which should I trust with my property?

So you’ve found the right place to buy, are pre-approved with your finances ready, and your offer has been accepted to purchase your dream home.

What’s left to do before moving in?

Piles of paperwork, to say the least. 

Legal documents, valuations, property appraisals and reports… they’re all part of the deal. And unless you’re an expert in transferring titles, they’re a tedious load best left to the experts.

Drawing up and exchanging contracts is at the core of property settlement, and in many cases will call for the assistance of a professional representative to pass ownership from the seller to the buyer – you. It’s at this point that a conveyancer or a solicitor is advantageous, as they will help to examine the property with a fine-tooth comb and to identify and resolve any red flags before you’ve made the final decision – or it’s too late.

But when it comes to choosing the right person for the task, which is better – a solicitor or a conveyancer?

While both are qualified for the job, there’s clear-cut differences between the two. We’ve included a quick guide below to help you in your decision.

Solicitors

Solicitors are general legal practitioners who can (but don’t always) specialise in conveyancing. That is, they can offer conveyancing services with comprehensive certifications in law, offering the benefit of extra legal advice for more complex property transfers (or personal situations).

Put simply, solicitors are fully-fledged lawyers licensed to handle more than conveyancers, such as tax. However the wider knowledge and qualifications usually comes at a premium, so it’s advisable to assess whether or not you’ll actually need the additional expertise before paying for one.

While some solicitors will call themselves conveyancers for the purpose of your property transfer, an important disclaimer is that not all solicitors are trained to handle conveyancing.

Conveyancers

As long as they hold a current licence, all conveyancers can handle the transfer of your property with ease. Conveyancers are typically more affordable as they have an extensive knowledge of one area of the law; they specialise in property sale contracts, but they won’t be able to assist with more complex legal matters that may arise – such as if your attendance is required in court.

In general, when choosing a solicitor or conveyancer to assist you during settlement, the greatest differentiating factors are budget and expertise. Both are qualified to review building and inspection reports, interpret money-saving clauses and all components of the sale contract, but many buyers opt for conveyancers simply because they’re generally cheaper.

Your best bet is to choose a professional who knows properties in your area, has processed a high volume of contracts, and who has great local reviews. As with a number of professions, the difference may not be immediately clear until something goes wrong… in which case, you usually get what you pay for!

Recommended by Prudential

East-West Conveyancing – Glen Sharman
Suite 1, 170 Queen Street Campbelltown NSW 2560

Donna Fuchs Conveyancing
Suite 22, 171 – 179 Queen Street Campbelltown

Big Sky Legal & Conveyancing – Rod Smith
Suite 12, Level 1, 121 Queen Street Campbelltown


After more information about buying or selling?

Get in touch with your local Prudential Real Estate office below:

Prudential Real Estate Campbelltown | (02) 4628 0033 | [email protected]

Prudential Real Estate Liverpool | (02) 9822 5999 | [email protected]

Prudential Real Estate Macquarie Fields |  (02) 9605 5333 | [email protected]

Prudential Real Estate Narellan | (02) 4624 4400 | [email protected]