Conveyancer Fees Explained
Conveyancer fees are made up of a professional fee and disbursements. Here's what each actually covers, and why a fixed-fee quote for your specific transaction beats any generic calculator.
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What Makes Up a Conveyancer's Fee
A conveyancer's fee is generally made up of two distinct components. The professional fee covers the conveyancer's own time, expertise and the work of managing your transaction: reviewing the contract, conducting and interpreting searches, calculating settlement figures and coordinating settlement itself. Disbursements are separate, third-party costs paid on your behalf, such as title search fees, council and water authority certificates, and PEXA lodgement fees.
Understanding this split matters when comparing quotes. A quote that looks cheaper on the professional fee alone might exclude disbursements that get added later, while a quote that looks more expensive might already include everything. Always ask whether a quote is fully inclusive before comparing two conveyancers on price alone.
- Professional fee: the conveyancer's own time and expertise.
- Disbursements: title searches, council and water certificates.
- PEXA lodgement fees for electronic settlement.
- Any state-specific searches relevant to your property type.
Why Generic Fee Calculators Are Misleading
Searching for a conveyancing fee calculator is a reasonable instinct, but generic calculators have a genuine limitation: they rely on averages across property types, states and price bands that may have nothing to do with your actual transaction. A calculator cannot know whether your property is strata titled, whether the contract has unusual special conditions, whether you are buying off the plan, or which state's specific search requirements apply to you, all of which genuinely affect the work involved.
A fixed-fee quote based on your actual transaction details is simply more accurate than any generic tool, and because we quote a fixed figure before work begins, you get the certainty a calculator promises without the inaccuracy that comes from averaging across transactions that aren't yours.
What Actually Changes the Cost
Transaction Type
A straightforward residential purchase involves less work than an off-the-plan contract, a commercial matter or a subdivision.
State and Property Type
Search requirements and duty processes differ by state, and strata or community-titled properties require additional checks.
Contract Complexity
Unusual special conditions, easements or title issues can add work beyond a standard contract review.
Whether the Fee Is Fixed
A fixed fee agreed upfront protects you from cost growth if the matter takes longer than expected. An hourly rate does not.
How We Price Every Matter
Fixed Before We Start
You receive a fixed professional fee before any work begins, based on your actual transaction, not an average.
Disbursements Itemised
Search fees and other third-party costs are itemised separately, so you know exactly what makes up your total.
No Surprise Add-Ons
If something genuinely unusual arises, we tell you before proceeding, not after the invoice.
Conveyancer Fee FAQs
What is included in a conveyancer's fee?
A professional fee for the conveyancer's time and expertise, plus disbursements such as title searches, council certificates and PEXA lodgement fees paid on your behalf.
Why can't I get an exact figure from an online calculator?
Generic calculators rely on averages and cannot account for your specific property type, state or contract complexity. A fixed-fee quote based on your actual transaction is more accurate.
Is a fixed fee better than an hourly rate?
For most standard transactions, yes, because it removes the risk of cost growing if the matter takes longer than expected.
Do fees differ between solicitors and licensed conveyancers?
Generally yes. Licensed conveyancers typically charge less than solicitors for the same standard settlement work.
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