Contract of Sale Review by a Property Lawyer
Find the problems before you sign, not after
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The cheapest time to fix a problem in a property contract is before you sign it. After that, you are relying on a cooling-off period that may be short, may cost you money, or may not exist at all.
Optimum Lawyers is a property law firm in Parramatta Square, led by principal solicitor Wisam Assi. We act on purchases, sales, settlements and transfers in every Australian state and territory.

Send us the contract before you sign it
We offer a free initial contract assessment. It is a brief first look at whether the contract appears ready for a full paid legal review. It is not the full review, and it is not free conveyancing.
How much time you get after signing
| State | Cooling-off |
|---|---|
| NSW | 5 business days, 10 for off-the-plan. 0.25% forfeited |
| Victoria | 3 clear business days. Greater of $100 or 0.2% forfeited |
| Queensland | 5 business days from receiving the signed contract. Up to 0.25% kept |
| South Australia | Ends 2 clear business days after the Form 1 is served |
| ACT | 5 business days. 0.25% forfeited |
| Northern Territory | 4 business days |
| Western Australia | None required by law |
| Tasmania | None required by law |
No state gives a cooling-off period on a purchase at auction.
What a full review covers
- The title. Who owns it, mortgages, caveats, easements and covenants.
- The seller's disclosure. The documents each state requires, such as the Section 32 in Victoria, the Form 1 in South Australia and the Form 2 in Queensland, and whether they are complete.
- Special conditions. Clauses that shift risk to you, limit your rights or change the standard terms.
- Finance and inspection conditions. Whether they protect you, and whether the dates work.
- Planning and strata. Zoning, overlays, approvals, and the strata or body corporate records.
- Money. The deposit, adjustments, GST and anything that changes the price you really pay.
- Off-the-plan terms. Sunset dates, what the developer can change and how the deposit is held.
The free initial contract assessment
Send us the contract and we will take a brief first look at whether it appears ready for a full paid legal review. It is not the full review and it is not free conveyancing, but it tells you quickly whether there is something to worry about and what a full review would cost.
How it works
- Send us the contract and any disclosure documents.
- We do the free initial assessment and give you a cost estimate.
- If you go ahead, we do the full review and advise you in writing or by phone.
- We negotiate changes with the agent or the seller's lawyer.
- If you buy, we can act on the purchase through to settlement.
Off-the-plan contracts
Off-the-plan contracts are long and written for the developer. See buying off the plan for the main risks, and send us the contract and disclosure statement before you sign.
What clients say
“Wisam at Optimum Lawyers recently helped me through the purchase of an investment property. He knows exactly what he's doing and what to look out for”
David Muscat, Google review
Questions about contract reviews
Is the free initial contract assessment a full review?
No. It is a brief first look at whether the contract appears ready for a full paid legal review.
Can you review a contract for a property in another state?
Yes. A solicitor holding a current Australian practising certificate can act on property in any state or territory.
How quickly can you review a contract?
Tell us your deadline when you send it. Cooling-off periods are short, so send the contract as early as you can.
Should I get a contract reviewed before an auction?
Yes. There is no cooling-off at auction, so the review has to happen beforehand.
Related: Conveyancing fees | Property lawyers | Interstate conveyancing
From Our Clients
We are the leading interstate Queensland conveyancing property lawyers in Sydney for a reason. Ethical, Trusted, Optimum Lawyers Parramatta at your service. Still unsure? We let our reviews do the talking.
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