Why the Cheapest Conveyancer Isn’t Always the Cheapest Option

You’ve just agreed to buy a property.

You’ve paid for a building and pest inspection. You’re budgeting for stamp duty. The bank has given you approximately 73 forms to sign.

And now you’re comparing conveyancing quotes.

You have three sitting in front of you. One is noticeably cheaper than the others. Naturally, your eyes go straight to that one.

We get it! Nobody wakes up on a Saturday morning excited to spend money on conveyancing.

But when you’re buying or selling one of the most valuable assets you’ll ever own, choosing your conveyancer based solely on who can do it cheapest may not be the best place to save a few hundred dollars.

Aren’t All Conveyancers Basically Doing the Same Thing?

Technically, we’re all trying to achieve the same broad outcome.

If you’re buying, you want to become the registered owner of the property. If you’re selling, you want to transfer it to the purchaser and receive your money.

Simple…

Except there’s A LOT that happens between “Congratulations, your offer has been accepted!” and “Congratulations, your property has settled!”

• Contracts need to be reviewed.
• Titles need to be checked.
• Special conditions need to be understood.
• Amendments may need to be negotiated.
• Deadlines need to be monitored.
• Banks need to be chased.
• Settlement figures need to be checked.
• Problems need to be identified.

And occasionally, somebody needs to explain why the thing everyone agreed would definitely not be a problem has, in fact, become a problem.

That’s conveyancing.

Why Are Conveyancing Quotes So Different?

Because not every conveyancing service is the same.

Some firms operate on a high volume model. They may handle a very large number of transactions, use highly automated systems and divide different parts of the matter between different team members. That model may suit some clients perfectly well.

Other firms offer a more hands-on service, with greater access to the person managing your matter and more individual attention throughout the transaction.

Neither business model is automatically right or wrong. But they aren’t necessarily the same product simply because both quotes have “conveyancing” written at the top.

It’s a little like comparing airline tickets. Both planes may get you to Melbourne. But it’s worth checking whether one of them has quietly charged extra for your luggage, seat and the privilege of breathing onboard.

Ask What’s Actually Included

A low headline price can look very attractive. Before comparing conveyancing fees in NSW, make sure you’re comparing like with like.

Ask:

• Is contract review included?
• Are negotiations before exchange included?
• Are there additional fees for acting on your mortgage?
• Are there extra charges associated with electronic settlement?
• Are searches and disbursements additional?
• Is there an extra fee if settlement is delayed?
• Are there additional charges for extensions or changes to the contract?
• Who will actually manage your file?
• Can you speak directly to that person when you need them?

There may be perfectly reasonable reasons for additional fees. The important thing is knowing about them before you choose your conveyancer, rather than discovering them one invoice at a time.

That bargain headline fee can look quite different by the time everyone has finished adding things to it.

The Cheapest Quote Isn’t Necessarily Bad

Let’s be clear about this. A lower-priced conveyancer isn’t automatically a bad conveyancer. And an expensive conveyancer isn’t automatically brilliant.

Price alone tells you very little about whether someone is good at their job. What matters is the service, experience, communication and scope of work behind the quote.

If you’ve found an experienced conveyancer with excellent reviews, a clear scope of work, responsive communication and a lower fee? Fantastic. Take the win.

We’re not going to suggest you pay more money purely for the character-building experience. The problem is choosing only on price without looking at anything else.

You’re Not Really Paying Someone to Fill in Forms

This is probably one of the biggest misconceptions about conveyancing for buyers and sellers.

Yes, there are forms… SO many forms. But the value of an experienced conveyancer isn’t their ability to type your name into them. It’s knowing when something isn’t right.

• It’s reading a special condition and recognising that it shifts a risk onto you.
• It’s noticing something on title that needs to be explained.
• It’s knowing when an amendment is worth requesting and when it probably isn’t.
• It’s recognising that a settlement timeframe may be unrealistic before you commit to it.
• It’s knowing what needs urgent attention and what absolutely does not warrant ruining your weekend.

You aren’t just paying for paperwork. You’re paying for judgment, experience and skill.

“But My Purchase Is Really Straightforward”

It might be. We hope it is. Most conveyancing transactions aren’t legal thrillers.

But the problem is that you don’t always know which matter will become complicated when you first ask for the quote.

A perfectly ordinary purchase can suddenly involve a finance delay, an unusual special condition, a title issue, a missing inclusion, a problem at final inspection or a vendor who can’t settle when they said they could.

Likewise, a perfectly straightforward sale can become much less straightforward when the purchaser requests 14 contract amendments at 4.53pm on Friday.

Straightforward is our favourite kind of conveyancing. We just don’t assume it will stay that way.

Communication Matters More Than You Think

Before you buy or sell property, conveyancing probably looks like a technical legal service. Once you’re actually in the transaction, you quickly discover that it’s also a communication service.

You will have questions:

• Has the contract exchanged?
• Has the deposit been paid?
• Is my bank ready?
• What does this condition mean?
• Is settlement still happening tomorrow?
• CAN I PICK UP THE KEYS YET?

If you’re buying your first home, you’ll probably have twice as many. That’s completely normal.

When choosing a conveyancer, ask how communication works. Will you have a person responsible for your matter? Can you contact them? Will they explain things in language you understand? Will someone tell you what’s happening if there’s a problem?

A cheap conveyancing quote feels considerably less exciting when you’ve called three times and still don’t know whether you’re settling tomorrow.

Experience Matters When Something Goes Wrong

Anyone can look calm when everything is going according to plan. The real value of experience tends to become apparent when it isn’t.

• The bank isn’t ready.
• The final inspection has revealed a problem.
• Settlement can’t proceed.
• An inclusion has disappeared.
• There’s an unexpected title issue.
• The other side has sent an email beginning with “URGENT”.

This is when you want someone who knows what the contract says, understands your options and can tell you what actually needs to happen next. Preferably without sounding panicked themselves.

How Much Does a Conveyancer Cost in NSW?

There isn’t one standard conveyancing fee in NSW.

Fees vary between firms and can also depend on the type and value of the property, the complexity of the transaction and what’s included in the service. There will also usually be disbursements and third party costs associated with the transaction.

Rather than asking only “Who is cheapest?”, ask “What am I getting for the fee?”

Read the Reviews

This is one of the easiest ways to find out what dealing with a conveyancing firm is actually like.

Don’t just look at the star rating. Read what clients say. Do they mention communication? Responsiveness? Clear advice? Problems being resolved? Feeling informed throughout the process?

A firm’s website will naturally tell you they’re wonderful. We are yet to find one with a homepage saying: “We’re reasonably good, provided nothing unusual happens.”

Reviews give you an idea of what actual clients experienced.

Local Knowledge Helps, but Experience Matters More

Whether you’re looking for a Sydney conveyancer, a Central Coast conveyancer or someone elsewhere in NSW, you don’t necessarily need a conveyancer physically around the corner. Conveyancing is now largely electronic.

What matters more is whether your conveyancer regularly handles the type of property you’re buying or selling and understands the issues that can arise.

At MG Conveyancing, we act for buyers and sellers across Sydney and the Central Coast, from the Inner West, Eastern Suburbs, North Shore and Northern Beaches through to Gosford and the wider Central Coast.

Different properties can raise different issues. The important thing is having someone who knows what to look for.

So… Should You Choose the Cheapest Conveyancer?

Maybe.

If you’ve compared the service, checked what’s included, looked at the reviews, understand who will manage your matter, and you’re comfortable with the firm… absolutely!

But don’t choose a conveyancer just because they’re the cheapest quote in your inbox.

When you’re dealing with one of the largest financial transactions you’re likely to make, saving a relatively small amount on the person responsible for the legal transfer isn’t necessarily the bargain it first appears to be.

We’re biased, obviously. We are conveyancers.

But we also spend a fair amount of time dealing with property transactions, and there are plenty of places we’d happily try to save some money. The person responsible for getting the property into your name probably isn’t one of them.

What Do You Get With MG Conveyancing?

We’re a boutique conveyancing firm specialising in NSW property transactions.

We don’t try to be the cheapest conveyancer in NSW. We try to provide a service that makes our clients feel that their matter is actually being looked after.

That means reviewing the contract and title, explaining the things that matter in plain English, negotiating amendments where appropriate, managing the conveyancing process, keeping an eye on deadlines, coordinating settlement and being available when something needs to be discussed.

We’ve been doing conveyancing for more than 25 years. We’ve seen the straightforward ones. We’ve seen the complicated ones. And we’ve seen the ones that started with “This should be really simple…” (Those are always fun.)

Buying or selling property in NSW? Get in touch with us and find out what’s included in the MG Conveyancing service.

Then compare us. We don’t mind. Just make sure you’re comparing more than the number at the bottom of the quote.