What does a conveyancer do? The property settlement process step by step
Conveyancing can feel like a single mysterious block of time between signing a contract and getting the keys, but it is really a sequence of distinct stages, each with its own tasks. Knowing roughly what happens at each stage makes the process far less opaque, and makes it easier to understand what your conveyancer or solicitor is actually doing with the weeks in between.
The work commonly starts before a contract is even exchanged. In the pre-exchange phase, a conveyancer or solicitor reviews the draft contract and any special conditions, orders title and other property searches — checking for things like easements, zoning restrictions or outstanding caveats — and helps coordinate the timing of these steps against finance approval. This pre-exchange phase commonly adds another three to five weeks on top of the settlement period itself, and is where a lot of the genuine legal groundwork actually happens, well before settlement day arrives.
Exchange of contracts is the point at which both parties sign and a legally binding agreement comes into effect, generally with a deposit paid by the buyer. For most private treaty sales, this is also when a statutory cooling-off period begins for the buyer, giving a short window to withdraw under certain conditions — our separate article on cooling-off periods explains how the length and rules differ from state to state.
Between exchange and settlement, a conveyancer or solicitor commonly runs a further round of pre-settlement checks — updated title searches to confirm nothing has changed since exchange, such as a new caveat appearing on the title — while also preparing the settlement figures. These figures include adjustments for things like council rates and water charges apportioned between buyer and seller for the period around settlement, and liaising with the buyer's lender to make sure funds will be ready on time.
Settlement day itself is when ownership formally transfers. The standard settlement period in a typical NSW contract is commonly 42 days, roughly six weeks, from the date contracts are exchanged, though this is negotiable between the parties and can be shorter or longer depending on both sides' circumstances. Combined with the pre-exchange phase described above, buyers and sellers can realistically expect somewhere around six to eight weeks from an accepted offer through to settlement for a straightforward transaction, though this varies by state and by the specific contract terms. Most settlements in Australia now happen electronically through the PEXA platform rather than as an in-person meeting, with funds and the property title transferring simultaneously online.
After settlement, there are still a few administrative steps — lodging the transfer of title, notifying relevant councils and utility providers of the change of ownership, and arranging for keys to be handed over, commonly through the real estate agent. This article describes the process in general terms; actual steps, timeframes and terminology vary by state and by the specific contract, so confirming the details of your own transaction directly with a licensed conveyancer or solicitor is worthwhile. Our directory lists Australian conveyancers and property solicitors by area if you are ready to start.
Frequently asked questions
A conveyancer reviews the contract, orders and checks property searches, coordinates with the lender around finance timing, prepares settlement figures and adjustments, and manages the legal steps involved in transferring the property title from seller to buyer.
The standard settlement period after exchange is commonly 42 days, roughly six weeks, in a typical NSW contract, though it is negotiable. Including the pre-exchange phase of searches and finance approval, a straightforward transaction commonly takes around six to eight weeks from an accepted offer to settlement.
Ownership formally transfers, with funds and the title changing hands, commonly coordinated between the parties' conveyancers or solicitors and lenders. Most settlements now happen electronically through the PEXA platform rather than an in-person meeting.
Generally no. Most settlements in Australia now happen electronically through the PEXA platform, with your conveyancer or solicitor managing the process on your behalf rather than requiring you to attend in person.