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Pre-Contract Signing Advice

Most people don't realise that in Western Australia there's no cooling-off period once a property contract is signed — and that the contract is usually prepared by the real estate agent, who is engaged by and acting for the seller. By the time you sign, the terms are largely set.

 

Engaging a settlement agent to review your contract before you sign is one of the most protective steps you can take, and one of the least known.

 

Our Pre-Contract Signing Advisory Service provides:

  • A consultation on your specific needs and circumstances, so we understand what matters most to you before we look at the contract

  • A review of the contract for any unusual conditions that could expose you to additional expense or obligation

  • Advice on conditions you may want to add to protect your position — such as finance, building and pest, or settlement date flexibility

Buying Property

Buying a property is one of the biggest decisions you'll make, and the period between signing your contract and getting your keys can feel like a lot of unfamiliar steps happening at once. We manage the legal and financial detail in the background, explain each milestone in plain English, and keep you updated so nothing catches you by surprise.

We help with:

  • Contract review

  • Liaising with your lender

  • Calculating settlement adjustments

  • Preparing and lodging settlement documents

  • Coordinating settlement with all parties 

  • Registering your ownership with Landgate

First Home Buyers

Buying your first property is exciting — and, for most people, genuinely unfamiliar territory. The contracts, the timelines, the lenders, the agents  and the language everyone uses to talk about them,  can feel overwhelming when you're encountering them for the first time. We take the time to explain every step clearly, answer your questions along the way, and make sure you always know what's happening with your file and what's coming next.

 

We'll:

  • Keep communication open between you, your mortgage broker, your real estate or land agent and any other parties involved in your purchase

  • Walk you through each document before you sign it

  • Explain your obligations, your key dates and what happens if things change

  • Be available to answer questions throughout the process — no question is too basic.  If you haven't yet signed a contract, our Pre-Contract Signing Advisory Service is also worth considering before you commit.

Vacant Land

Buying a block of land to build on follows a different process to buying an established home — and one of the biggest differences isn't visible on the day you sign the contract. When you purchase a lot in a new estate, there's a good chance the Certificate of Title for your block doesn't exist yet. Title is issued once the survey plan is registered, and until that happens, your finance can't fully progress to settlement. In a fast-moving estate, the timing between title issue and your settlement date can be tight — and in a slow one, the wait can be longer than expected.

 

We'll:

  • Monitor the progress of your title so nothing catches you off guard

  • Keep your lender informed as title issue approaches, so your finance approval is ready when it's needed

  • Explain the details recorded on your title, including any easements, covenants or other encumbrances — so you fully understand what you're purchasing

  • Coordinate settlement promptly once title issues and all conditions are met

Selling Property

Selling involves more moving parts than most people expect — your bank, your real estate agent, the buyer and their settlement agent all need to be coordinated at the right time. We manage that coordination on your behalf, so you can focus on your move rather than the paperwork.

 

We manage:

  • Mortgage discharge

  • Settlement figures 

  • Liaising with your real estate agent

  • Coordination with the buyer's representative 

  • Financial adjustments

  • Settlement attendance

Buying or selling privately without an agent?

We'll handle the contract and the settlement, so nothing is left to chance.

Change of Name Certificate

When your legal name changes, whether through marriage, divorce or deed poll — the name on your Certificate of Title doesn't update automatically. While this might not feel urgent if you're not planning to sell, it's worth attending to sooner rather than later. Discrepancies between your title and your current identity documents can complicate any future sale, refinance or estate planning.

 

We can assist you with:

  • Liaising with your bank to obtain the necessary consent

  • Preparing the required documents for your specific circumstances

  • Lodging all relevant documents with Landgate.

 

The documents required differ depending on the reason for your name change, so we'll confirm exactly what's needed once we understand your situation. Even if you're not currently planning to sell, it's worth getting the title updated while the process is straightforward.

Family & Related Party Transfers

Transferring property between spouses, de facto partners, family members and related parties, including gifts, co-ownership transfers and separation transfers. We handle these transfers with discretion and professionalism, and explain any duty or ownership implications clearly so everyone involved understands exactly what's happening.

 

Ideal for:

  • Gifts between family members

  • Divorce and separation transfers

  • Adding a spouse or de facto partner

  • Family arrangements and restructures

  • Transfers as part of estate planning

Subdivisions

Subdividing land is one of the more complex property transactions a landowner can undertake — the documentation, consents and coordination involved go well beyond a standard settlement. Each subdivision is different, and the scope of work depends heavily on your specific circumstances, your surveyor's timeline and what's registered against your current title.

 

We'll guide you through the process from start to finish, including:

  • An initial consultation to understand your circumstances and provide a clear outline of the work and costs involved

  • Liaising with your surveyor and obtaining a copy of the proposed plan

  • Preparing the necessary documentation

  • Arranging consents from any external parties, including your mortgagee if applicable

  • Arranging for any existing covenants to be modified or discharged if required

  • Lodging all documents with Landgate once the plan is confirmed as “In Order for Dealing"

Deceased Estates

Settling a deceased estate is rarely simple, and it often falls to someone who's never been through a property transaction before, at a time when they're already dealing with loss. We work closely with the executor and their solicitor, explain each step clearly, and handle the property transfer with the care the situation deserves.

 

We assist with:

  • Executor-to-beneficiary transfers

  • Transfers between multiple beneficiaries

  • Liaising with the estate's solicitor throughout the process

  • Ensuring all documentation meets Landgate's requirements

 

SMSF Purchases

Buying property through a Self Managed Super Fund involves structures most settlement agents rarely see — custodian trustees, bare trusts and lender requirements that all need to align precisely with your fund's documentation.

 

We have specific experience in this area and know exactly what needs to match before settlement can occur.

 

We understand:

  • Custodian and bare trust structures 

  • Limited recourse borrowing arrangements

  • Lender-specific requirements for SMSF purchases

  • Ensuring the purchaser name matches your trust deed exactly

Private Sales

Selling or buying property privately,  without a real estate agent, is more common than people think, particularly between people who already know each other. What's less commonly understood is that without an agent involved, there's also no one responsible for preparing the contract. An incorrectly prepared or incomplete contract can expose both parties to significant risk, especially in Western Australia where there is no cooling-off period once a contract is signed.

 

We’ll:

  • Preparing a contract that protects your interests and reflects the agreed terms

  • Advising on appropriate conditions to include before the contract is signed

  • Managing the full settlement process once the contract is in place

  • Liaising with lenders, Landgate and any other relevant parties through to settlement.

Whether the contract is yet to be written or already signed, we can step in at whatever stage you need us,  and ensure the transaction  proceeds correctly from that point forward.

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Professional settlement services tailored to your individual needs.

Ready to Get Started?

What ever stage of your transaction you're at, we're here to help.

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