Online conveyancing costs and price guide

The cost of conveyancing in Melbourne and across Victoria varies more than most clients expect. The professional fee is only part of the picture — searches, certificates, government charges and electronic settlement costs all contribute, and the scope of what is actually included varies between providers. This guide explains how online conveyancing is priced, what to look for in a quote, and why the lowest headline price is not always the best value.

Specific fees vary by transaction and by provider. The aim of this article is not to publish a fixed price list but to help buyers and sellers compare quotes intelligently and ask the right questions before they engage.

What does online conveyancing usually cost?

An online conveyancing quote typically has two components: a professional fee for the work done by the conveyancer or lawyer, and disbursements for third-party costs such as title searches, certificates and government charges. The professional fee is usually fixed; the disbursements depend on the property and the searches that are needed for that particular matter.

Buying a property generally costs more than selling, because there are more searches and certificates involved in due diligence and a transfer of land needs to be lodged. Selling involves preparing the Section 32 statement and assisting with settlement, which is a different scope of work.

Professional fees versus disbursements

Professional fees are what the conveyancer or lawyer charges for their work — reviewing the contract, attending to title and PEXA, dealing with the other side, preparing documents, and managing settlement. Disbursements are the third-party costs they incur on your behalf:

• title searches and property certificates;
• council, water and owners corporation certificates;
• land tax and planning certificates;
• Land Use Victoria registration and lodgement fees;
• PEXA transaction fees for electronic settlement;
• bank discharge and registration fees, where applicable.

A quote that looks unusually low often achieves it by excluding some of these costs from the headline figure. A like-for-like comparison needs the full picture — professional fee plus expected disbursements — not just one of them.

What affects the price of conveyancing?

Beyond the buy/sell split, several variables can push the cost up or down:

• first home buyers may need additional work to apply for duty concessions or grants;
• off-the-plan and house-and-land contracts are usually longer and more technical than established titles;
• SMSF, company and trust purchases require structural review and additional documentation;
• commercial property generally requires more detailed contract and lease work;
• complex titles — easements, caveats, owners corporation issues — typically require additional time;
• tight settlement timeframes or interstate buyers can add coordination work.

Buying property costs

For a buyer, the work usually includes pre-contract review, advice on the Section 32 and contract of sale, signing logistics, title and certificate searches, advising on cooling-off and conditions, preparing the transfer, attending to PEXA workspace and lender requirements, and completing settlement. The disbursements typically include title and statutory certificates, transfer registration fees and the PEXA settlement fee.

Selling property costs

For a seller, the scope usually includes preparing the Section 32 vendor statement with the supporting certificates, reviewing or drafting the contract of sale, dealing with the buyer's conveyancer, coordinating with the discharging mortgagee, and attending to settlement through PEXA. Disbursements typically include the certificates needed to compile the Section 32.

Electronic settlement and PEXA-related costs

Almost all Victorian residential settlements now occur electronically through PEXA. Each party in the workspace pays a transaction fee per matter. PEXA does not eliminate the conveyancer's work — the workspace still has to be created, populated, reconciled and signed — but it has changed the way settlement runs and removed some of the older logistics around bank cheques and in-person attendance.

Why the cheapest quote may not be the best quote

Conveyancing is a low-margin, high-consequence service. A small saving at the quoting stage can be wiped out many times over by a contract issue that was not picked up, a missed special condition, or a settlement that does not complete on the agreed date. The cheapest quote tends to be the one with the narrowest scope; the most useful quote is the one where the scope is clearly explained and the price reflects the actual work needed.

It is reasonable to compare quotes — and to ask why they differ. The right question is rarely 'who is cheapest' and almost always 'what is included, who is doing the work, and what happens if something goes wrong'.

Questions to ask before choosing a conveyancer

• what does the professional fee cover, and what is treated as additional?
• which disbursements are estimated in the quote, and what is the typical range for this kind of property?
• who will actually do the work — the named lawyer or conveyancer, or a junior file-holder?
• is the contract review done by a lawyer, and is that included or extra?
• what is the process if a special condition, caveat or unusual title issue is identified?
• how is settlement run, and what happens if there is a problem on the day?

Key takeaways

• Online conveyancing quotes typically have a professional fee plus disbursements; both matter.
• Buying generally costs more than selling because more searches and registrations are involved.
• The price varies with the property type, the buyer/seller structure and the complexity of the title.
• PEXA fees and government charges are real costs that should not be hidden in a low headline.
• The cheapest quote is usually the one with the narrowest scope — compare scope, not just price.
• Ask who is doing the work and what happens when something goes wrong.