Conveyancing costs explained

Conveyancing fees vary between providers, and the range is wide enough that comparing quotes can feel confusing. A quote you received last year, a figure a friend mentioned, or a number you found online may bear little resemblance to what you’ll actually pay — and the difference isn’t always explained.

This article explains what drives conveyancing costs, what’s typically included in a professional fee, and how to compare quotes in a way that accounts for what you’re actually getting.

The cheapest quote doesn’t always represent the lowest cost. It sometimes represents the highest risk.

Professional fees versus disbursements

Every conveyancing quote has two components: the professional fee charged by the conveyancer, and disbursements — third-party costs that are passed through to the client at cost.

Disbursements typically include:

• Title search fees
• Property searches (council, water, land tax, and others depending on the property)
• PEXA fees for electronic settlement
• Certificate of title registration fees
• Any other government or third-party fees specific to the transaction

These are not negotiable — every conveyancer pays the same amounts to the same search providers and government bodies. What varies is the professional fee, and what’s included within it.

What drives the professional fee

Professional fees vary based on the complexity and scope of the matter. The main factors include:

• Property type. A standard residential purchase is less complex than a strata-titled property, a rural property, or an off-the-plan purchase with staged completion conditions.
• Contract complexity. A contract with multiple special conditions, unusual clauses, or ambiguous terms requires more time to review and advise on than a straightforward agreement.
• Searches required. The number and type of searches depends on the property, the contract, and what the conveyancer recommends based on the specific risks involved.
• Urgency. Same-day or short-notice work typically attracts a premium because it requires prioritisation over other matters.
• Complications during the matter. Finance extensions, settlement delays, disputes, or issues raised by searches can add time beyond what was initially scoped.

What to look for in a quote

A well-constructed quote will tell you:

• What’s included in the professional fee
• What disbursements are estimated and what they cover
• Whether the quote is fixed or subject to adjustment if the matter becomes more complex
• What’s not included — and what would attract an additional charge if it arose

A quote that provides none of this information is difficult to evaluate fairly. You may be comparing a comprehensive professional service against a stripped-back one, without any way to tell the difference from the number alone.

The cheapest option and what it usually means

High-volume, low-cost conveyancing exists. But it operates on a volume model — which means individual matters receive less time, less communication, and less oversight than a premium service would provide.

That model works well when every transaction is straightforward and nothing goes wrong. It creates problems when:

• A condition date approaches without being tracked or communicated
• A search result raises an issue that needs to be explained and acted on
• Something unexpected arises before settlement that requires attention

The cost of a conveyancing mistake is not the fee you didn’t pay for a better service. It’s the consequence of missing a date, overlooking a clause, or failing to act on information that was available but not communicated. Those consequences can significantly exceed the difference in price between a premium service and a cheaper one.

Transfer duty: the other cost buyers often underestimate

Transfer duty — sometimes called stamp duty — is a government charge payable by the buyer on the transfer of property. It’s calculated based on the purchase price and is one of the most significant transaction costs associated with buying property.

Transfer duty is separate from conveyancing fees entirely. It’s a government charge paid to the state revenue authority, not to your conveyancer. First home buyers may be eligible for concessions or exemptions depending on the purchase price, property type, and eligibility criteria.

If you’re budgeting for a property purchase, your funds-to-complete figure will include transfer duty, conveyancing fees, lender costs, and any other transaction-related expenses. Your conveyancer will calculate and explain each of these before settlement.