Step 1: Pre-purchase enquiries

Before moving ahead, there are three key areas we assess to help you make an informed decision. Finance If a loan is part of your plan, it’s important to have unconditional approval from your lender in place before committing. Proceeding without it can put you at financial risk if the bank later declines the full amount. Condition of the property Property is purchased in its current state. That means any structural problems, pest issues or compliance matters become your responsibility after settlement. To protect your interests, we recommend inspections such as pest and building reports for houses or a strata inspection for apartments and townhouses. Depending on the property, it may also be useful to arrange a survey, check for building approvals or look into council records. Contract for sale We review the contract with care and explain what you need to know. Even a standard-looking agreement can contain terms that affect your rights. We check and clarify details such as: Items included with the property (e.g. blinds, air conditioning, fixtures) The land’s measurements and any listed restrictions or easements Strata by-laws and responsibilities if the property is part of a strata scheme How the land is zoned and any restrictions on development Sewer diagrams showing connections or infrastructure The form of ownership (such as joint tenants or tenants in common) Stamp duty figures and any available concessions or first-home grants This early stage allows us to raise potential issues and help you move forward with greater certainty.

Step 2: Exchanging contracts

This stage confirms the legal agreement between buyer and seller. Up until contracts are exchanged, the seller is free to consider other offers. Once the exchange is complete, both sides are locked into the sale under the conditions set out in the contract. There are two main ways this usually happens: Option 1: Exchange facilitated by the agent After your offer is accepted, you sign the contract at the real estate agency and pay a holding deposit of 0.25 percent. This stops the seller from accepting other offers. As the buyer, you receive a five business day cooling-off period during which you can exit the contract for any reason. If you choose not to proceed, the deposit is forfeited. Buyers commonly use this period to complete inspections and finance checks mentioned in Step 1. Option 2: Exchange coordinated by the seller’s legal representative You meet with your conveyancer or solicitor to go through the contract in detail, sign the document, and allow them to send it to the seller’s representative for formal exchange. This approach is generally taken once all necessary checks have been completed and you’re ready to move forward without relying on a cooling-off period.

Step 3: After exchange of contracts

Once contracts are exchanged, the focus shifts to completing your loan paperwork. Signing and returning the required mortgage documents to your lender without delay helps keep your settlement date on schedule. During this stage, our team conducts checks with relevant authorities, including Sutherland Shire Council, your local water provider, and Roads and Maritime Services. If the property is part of a strata plan, we’ll also contact the Owners Corporation to verify that contributions and accounts are up to date. You’ll also need to complete a final walk-through of the property to make sure its condition remains as agreed.

Step 4: Completion of your purchase – settlement

Settlement is the day everything comes together. This is when the balance of the funds is paid, legal ownership is transferred into your name, and you gain the right to take possession of the property in Heathcote. We coordinate with your lender to confirm the final figures and prepare for settlement. This includes calculating adjustments for council rates, water charges, stamp duty and related expenses. Once the transaction is complete, we notify the relevant government departments to update ownership records. We’ll also confirm with both you and the agent so that the keys can be handed over and your new property is ready to move into.

Expertise

Buying Your Property

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Fixed Fee Conveyancing

Our conveyancing services in Heathcote are on a fixed-fee basis, so you know where you stand from the start. Whether you're buying or selling, we handle the process with efficiency and transparency, helping to reduce delays and keep things on track.

Dedicated Team

Our conveyancing team is led by a NSW Law Society Accredited Specialist in Property Law and includes licensed professionals and experienced solicitors. Together, we bring a coordinated approach to each matter, offering timely updates and practical outcomes.

Extensive Experience

We handle a wide mix of property transactions, from residential homes and units to commercial premises and off-the-plan contracts. Whether you're having a first-time purchase or dealing with a more detailed transaction, our team has the experience to keep things moving smoothly.

Here To Help

Buying property is a major decision, and it’s important to know exactly what’s in front of you. Have the contract terms been reviewed? Are there any obligations you haven’t considered?

What starts as an exciting milestone can turn stressful without the right checks in place. Unfavourable conditions, unexpected costs, zoning restrictions or title complications can easily cause setbacks. Many of these risks can be addressed early with the right approach.

Our fixed-fee conveyancing service is designed to simplify the path to property ownership. Whether you're securing your first home in Heathcote or making a new investment, we handle the legal requirements, explain what matters, and keep the process clear from start to finish.

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Conveyancing

Area of Expertise

How Can Our Heathcote Conveyancing Specialists Help?

A property purchase involves more than a signature and a deposit. From contract conditions to council clearances, there’s a lot that can affect the result.

Without proper checks, you could face problems like unexpected levies, undisclosed property issues, missed settlement deadlines or finance delays. It’s not just about ticking boxes—it’s about knowing what can impact the outcome.

We help by reviewing your contract, flagging concerns early, and completing the legal work with care and efficiency. Whether it’s a straightforward sale or a more involved transaction, our team handles the details so you can move forward with confidence.

If you're planning to buy in Heathcote and want a well-managed process from contract to settlement, we’re here to help.

To give you a clearer idea of how we assist with your property purchase in Heathcote, here’s a step-by-step outline of our approach:

Step 1: Pre-purchase enquiries
Before moving ahead, there are three key areas we assess to help you make an informed decision.

Finance
If a loan is part of your plan, it’s important to have unconditional approval from your lender in place before committing. Proceeding without it can put you at financial risk if the bank later declines the full amount.

Condition of the property
Property is purchased in its current state. That means any structural problems, pest issues or compliance matters become your responsibility after settlement. To protect your interests, we recommend inspections such as pest and building reports for houses or a strata inspection for apartments and townhouses. Depending on the property, it may also be useful to arrange a survey, check for building approvals or look into council records.

Contract for sale
We review the contract with care and explain what you need to know. Even a standard-looking agreement can contain terms that affect your rights. We check and clarify details such as:
- Items included with the property (e.g. blinds, air conditioning, fixtures)
- The land’s measurements and any listed restrictions or easements
- Strata by-laws and responsibilities if the property is part of a strata scheme
- How the land is zoned and any restrictions on development
- Sewer diagrams showing connections or infrastructure
- The form of ownership (such as joint tenants or tenants in common)
- Stamp duty figures and any available concessions or first-home grants
This early stage allows us to raise potential issues and help you move forward with greater certainty.
Step 2: Exchanging contracts

This stage confirms the legal agreement between buyer and seller.

Up until contracts are exchanged, the seller is free to consider other offers. Once the exchange is complete, both sides are locked into the sale under the conditions set out in the contract.

There are two main ways this usually happens:

Option 1: Exchange facilitated by the agent
After your offer is accepted, you sign the contract at the real estate agency and pay a holding deposit of 0.25 percent. This stops the seller from accepting other offers.

As the buyer, you receive a five business day cooling-off period during which you can exit the contract for any reason. If you choose not to proceed, the deposit is forfeited. Buyers commonly use this period to complete inspections and finance checks mentioned in Step 1.

Option 2: Exchange coordinated by the seller’s legal representative
You meet with your conveyancer or solicitor to go through the contract in detail, sign the document, and allow them to send it to the seller’s representative for formal exchange.

This approach is generally taken once all necessary checks have been completed and you’re ready to move forward without relying on a cooling-off period.
Step 3: After exchange of contracts

Once contracts are exchanged, the focus shifts to completing your loan paperwork. Signing and returning the required mortgage documents to your lender without delay helps keep your settlement date on schedule.

During this stage, our team conducts checks with relevant authorities, including Sutherland Shire Council, your local water provider, and Roads and Maritime Services. If the property is part of a strata plan, we’ll also contact the Owners Corporation to verify that contributions and accounts are up to date.

You’ll also need to complete a final walk-through of the property to make sure its condition remains as agreed.
Step 4: Completion of your purchase – settlement

Settlement is the day everything comes together. This is when the balance of the funds is paid, legal ownership is transferred into your name, and you gain the right to take possession of the property in Heathcote.

We coordinate with your lender to confirm the final figures and prepare for settlement. This includes calculating adjustments for council rates, water charges, stamp duty and related expenses.

Once the transaction is complete, we notify the relevant government departments to update ownership records. We’ll also confirm with both you and the agent so that the keys can be handed over and your new property is ready to move into.

OUR TEAM

Our Expert Conveyancing Lawyers

Get Expert Conveyancing Advice in Heathcote

Looking to buy, sell or finalise a property matter in Heathcote? Have questions before you begin? Contact our team and we’ll be in touch to help you take the next step with clarity and confidence.

Call (02) 4221 9311

Request a Callback