Conveyancing Fees and Property Lawyer Costs
What you pay for, what costs extra, and how to compare quotes
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Conveyancing quotes are hard to compare. One firm quotes a low fixed fee and adds searches and settlement charges later. Another quotes a higher figure that already includes them. The number that matters is what you will have paid by settlement, and what you got for it.
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 and ask for an estimate
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.
What a conveyancing bill is made of
- The professional fee. What the conveyancer or lawyer charges for the work itself. It may be fixed, capped or charged by time, and GST applies.
- Searches and certificates. Title and plan searches, council and water certificates, strata or owners corporation records, and land tax and planning searches. These are passed through at cost and vary by state and property.
- Electronic settlement fees. Most settlements now run through an electronic platform such as PEXA, which charges a fee per settlement.
- Government charges. Transfer duty is by far the largest cost for most buyers, followed by the fees to register the transfer and any mortgage.
- Extra work. Contract negotiations, delayed settlements, off-the-plan matters and disputes can all add to the professional fee.
Why two quotes for the same property differ
- What is included. Some quotes include the searches and settlement fees. Others list them separately.
- How the fee is set. A fixed fee, a capped fee and an hourly rate behave very differently once a matter becomes complicated.
- What triggers extra charges. Contract changes, a delayed settlement, an off-the-plan contract or a purchase in another state.
- Who does the work. A solicitor, a licensed conveyancer, or a clerk supervised by one of them.
Questions to ask before you engage anyone
- What is the total estimate, including searches, settlement fees and GST?
- What is not included?
- What do I pay if the sale falls through?
- Who will do the work, and can I speak to them?
- How do you charge if something goes wrong?
Conveyancer or property lawyer, on cost
A licensed conveyancer is often the cheaper option, and for a straightforward purchase that can be good value. A property lawyer usually costs more because the fee includes legal advice: what to change in the contract before you sign, what a disclosure problem means for your rights, and representation if the sale turns into a dispute. Whether that is worth paying for depends on the property and how much is at stake. Read more in conveyancer or solicitor.
How we charge
Under the Legal Profession Uniform Law we must disclose our costs, and we give you an estimate before any work starts. We begin with a free initial contract assessment: 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.
Buying or selling in another state
Searches, settlement processes and duty all follow the state the property is in, not the state you live in. A purchase in Queensland or Western Australia carries that state's duty and searches. See interstate conveyancing for how the states compare.
What clients say
“Pricing was very reasonable and when the final invoice came it matched what was committed to at the start of the engagement.”
Anthony Gage, Google review
Questions about conveyancing fees
Is a conveyancer cheaper than a property lawyer?
Often, yes. A property lawyer’s fee usually includes legal advice on the contract and representation if the sale is disputed.
What is the biggest cost when buying a property?
For most buyers it is transfer duty, also called stamp duty. The rate and any first home buyer concessions depend on the state.
What are disbursements?
Costs paid to third parties on your behalf, such as searches, certificates and settlement fees. They are passed on at cost.
Do I pay if the sale falls through?
It depends on the agreement you sign. Ask before you engage anyone.
Related: Contract of sale review | 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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