Choosing Between Conveyancer Quotes: What to Compare

Getting quotes from more than one conveyancer is sensible, but comparing them properly takes more than lining up the totals side by side. Two quotes that look similar on paper can cover very different scopes of work, and a quote that looks like the cheapest option at first glance can end up costing more once disbursements are added. This checklist walks through what actually matters when comparing quotes for a residential purchase or sale.

Understand What Makes Up a Quote

A conveyancing quote is generally made up of two parts: the conveyancer's professional fee, and disbursements, which are the third-party costs paid on your behalf, such as title searches, council and water certificates, and PEXA lodgement fees. Some firms quote a low professional fee but list disbursements separately as "estimated" or leave several out entirely, while others provide one all-inclusive figure. Ask specifically whether the quote is fixed or an estimate, and if it is fixed, exactly what is and is not included.

Ask What Happens If the Matter Gets Complicated

Not every settlement goes smoothly, and it is worth asking upfront how a firm handles complications such as a delayed settlement, a special condition that needs extra negotiation, or an issue that comes up during searches. Some firms build a reasonable amount of this into their fixed fee, while others charge extra for anything beyond a straightforward transaction. Getting this answer before you engage someone avoids an unpleasant surprise later, particularly if your matter turns out to be more involved than expected, for example an off-the-plan purchase with a delayed completion date.

Compare Experience with Your Type of Transaction

A conveyancer who mostly handles standard residential sales may be less familiar with the extra steps involved in a commercial purchase, a subdivision, or a transaction involving a deceased estate. Ask each firm how often they handle matters like yours, and whether the person actually managing your file has direct experience with it. Generic reassurance is less useful than a specific answer about your circumstances.

Check How Communication Works

Ask who will be your main point of contact, how quickly you can expect a response to questions, and whether updates are proactive or something you need to chase. A firm that responds to a quote request within a couple of hours is generally a reasonable indicator of how responsive they will be once you are a client and something needs attention quickly, such as a query from your lender close to settlement.

Confirm Licensing and Professional Indemnity Insurance

Every conveyancer or solicitor practising in Australia must hold a current licence or practising certificate in the state where they are operating, along with professional indemnity insurance. It is reasonable to ask a firm to confirm this, and you can generally verify a licence independently through your state's regulator, such as NSW Fair Trading's conveyancer licensing register for transactions in New South Wales, with equivalent registers maintained by the consumer affairs body in each other state and territory.

Look Beyond the Headline Fee

• Ask whether the quote includes GST, since some firms present figures excluding it.
• Check whether searches are ordered as standard, or only when a problem is suspected, which can affect thoroughness.
• Ask whether the firm uses PEXA electronic settlement, which is now standard in most states and can reduce delays.
• Confirm whether you pay a deposit upfront, on engagement, or only once settlement is complete.
• Ask what happens to your fee if the sale or purchase falls through before settlement.

Weigh Price Against the Full Picture

Price matters, and it is reasonable to want value for money on a service that is required by law for every property transaction. But the cheapest quote is not automatically the best one if it comes with limited communication, a narrower scope of included work, or less experience with your specific type of transaction. A useful approach is to shortlist two or three firms based on price being broadly comparable, then make your final decision based on responsiveness, clarity of the quote, and confidence that they understand your situation, whether that is a straightforward residential sale or something more involved like a property transfer between family members.

Getting Quotes That Are Easy to Compare

A quote that lists a single lump sum with no breakdown is harder to trust than one that itemises the professional fee and each expected disbursement separately, even if the totals end up similar. If a firm is reluctant to put their fee structure in writing, or gives you a verbal figure over the phone that differs from what later appears on an invoice, treat that as a warning sign rather than a minor inconsistency. A properly prepared quote should hold up as an accurate reflection of what you actually pay once your matter settles, with any variation limited to disbursements that were always described as estimates.

Ask each firm the same set of questions so the answers can be compared directly, rather than relying on however each one chooses to present their own quote. Request everything in writing rather than relying on a verbal conversation, since a written quote gives you something to refer back to if a final invoice looks different from what you expected. A fixed-fee quote that clearly states what is included, what disbursements to expect, and who will handle your file gives you a genuinely comparable basis for a decision, rather than a number that needs unpacking before it means anything. Taking an extra day to compare two or three quotes properly is a small investment of time against the size of the transaction itself.