When purchasing a property, most of the legal and technical aspects involving the transfer of the property deed into your name happen behind the scenes. You will need a conveyancer, and while their input is essential, you might not even meet them face-to-face. Without a conveyancer, the whole process of transfer can be derailed, leaving you with little room for legal recourse.
To ensure that the process remains safely on track, here are some of the things you should consider when looking for your conveyancer.
Choose a Registered Conveyancer
It's in your best interest to choose a conveyancer who is a member of the Australian Institute of Conveyancers (AIC). Registered AIC members are licensed and certified.
Certification and Area of Expertise
Is their certification appropriate for your needs? There are some generalities applicable to conveyancing, but it's best to select a conveyancer certified in your specific area of need, whether this is residential conveyancing or commercial conveyancing. There are additional fields of expertise that should be addressed, such as if you're buying multiple investment properties (a block of units).
Fees and E-Conveyancing
Is there a flat fee for the service or will you receive an invoice covering the individual tasks your conveyancer has been required to perform? A flat fee service is often (although not exclusively) utilised in cases of electronic conveyancing, and it might be that the individual or company performing the work isn't even located in your area. This is not detrimental to the process, and Australia has a dedicated e-conveyancing platform, known as Property Exchange Australia (PEXA). PEXA has been in use since 2014. E-conveyancing is generally sufficient in straightforward conveyancing matters, although specialist transfers might require additional support.
Adequate Indemnity Insurance
Does your conveyancer possess adequate indemnity insurance? They certainly need to be insured in order to protect you in the event of complications, which can jeopardise the legal transfer of the property as well as your deposit. In instances of conveyancing a high-value property (whether residential or commercial), you must ensure that the indemnity insurance has the ability to reimburse the required amount should some obstacle prevent the completion of the deed transfer.
Conveyancing is an integral aspect of buying or selling a property, and as such, the process cannot be an afterthought. By choosing the best individual or organisation for your needs, the transfer will be streamlined and settlement will be as uncomplicated as possible.