The best time to get a conveyancer or property lawyer is before you sign a contract or bid at an auction. Once you sign, the contract sets your obligations, and the options to change them shrink quickly. A conversation before signing can still change the deal; the same conversation afterwards often can't.
This guide helps you decide when to bring someone in, what to bring to the first conversation, and how to check they are qualified.
The moments that matter
| Your situation | Why it is a good time |
|---|---|
| You are seriously interested and have the contract and Section 32 | There is time to read the documents properly and ask questions without pressure |
| You are about to make a written offer in a private sale | In Victoria you usually make an offer by signing the contract. Conditions such as finance or a building inspection need to be in it before you sign |
| The property is going to auction | There is no cooling-off at auction, and you can't add conditions afterwards without the seller's agreement. The review has to happen before auction day |
| The agent wants an answer today | This is when mistakes happen. A quick call can tell you whether anything needs a closer look |
| You have already signed | Call straight away. Cooling-off, if it applies, lasts only three clear business days, and conditions have deadlines |
Many people wait until an offer is accepted. By then, in a private sale, they have usually already signed. Our step-by-step conveyancing guide shows where this decision sits in the wider process.
What to bring to the first conversation
You will get more useful answers, and a more accurate quote, if you bring:
- The full contract of sale and Section 32, as one file if possible, not just the listing
- How you are buying: private sale or auction, and the auction date if there is one
- Your plans for the property: live in it, rent it out, renovate, extend, subdivide
- Your finance position: approved, pre-approved, or not yet arranged
- Your timing: when you need to settle, and any other property you need to sell
- Your questions: anything in the documents you didn't understand or that didn't match what you were told
If you are close to signing, our checklist before signing a house contract helps you gather all of this in one place.
Conveyancer or solicitor?
Either can handle a typical home purchase. Consumer Affairs Victoria says conveyancers can do conveyancing work, check the Section 32 and advise on contract terms, while lawyers can do the same and also give broader legal advice. If your purchase involves something unusual, such as a dispute, a complicated title, or a business or trust structure, ask whether the person you are speaking to can advise on that part too.
For a plain-English overview of the role, see what conveyancing is.
Check they are qualified
In Victoria, conveyancers must be licensed by the Business Licensing Authority and lawyers must hold a current practising certificate. Both must have professional indemnity insurance. You can check:
- conveyancers on the public register of conveyancers
- lawyers on the Victorian Legal Services Board's register of lawyers
A website, a referral or a review is not the same as a check of the register.
Questions to ask before you engage them
- Can you review the contract before I sign, and how quickly?
- Who will actually work on my file, and how do I reach them?
- What does your quote include, and what would cost extra?
- Have you handled purchases like this one, such as an apartment, an auction or an older house?
Get your questions ready first
AI4Convey reads a Victorian contract of sale and Section 32 and emails you a plain-English report, usually in about five minutes. It lists the key dates, the clauses that could cost you money and what each special condition does, which gives you a clear list to take into your first conversation. You can upload both parts as one PDF for free.
A licensed conveyancer or property lawyer from our panel receives the same report and may contact you. You are free to use any professional you choose. The report is general information, not legal advice, and it can miss things.
Sources: Consumer Affairs Victoria, Seek expert advice on property, Buying property by private sale, Buying property at auction and Conveyancers public register; Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner, Register of lawyers. Checked 12 October 2026.
This article is general information only and is not legal advice. AI4Convey is not a law firm or a licensed conveyancer. Always have a licensed conveyancer or lawyer review your full contract before you sign or settle.