Conveyancing Process in Victoria: A Step-by-Step Guide for Buyers

Conveyancing is everything that happens to move a property from the seller to you: reading the documents, meeting the contract's conditions, sorting out the money and transferring the title. For a buyer in Victoria it starts before you sign and ends after settlement.

This guide walks through the buying process in order, says who usually does each part, and shows where reviewing the contract fits. It links to our more detailed guides rather than repeating them.

The process at a glance

1. Get the documents

As soon as you are serious about a property, ask the agent for the full contract of sale and Section 32 vendor statement. Under the current rules the seller must give you the Section 32 before you sign, but getting it early gives you time to read it. From 1 June 2027 sellers will have to make it available earlier, including at least 14 days before an auction.

If the two documents are new to you, start with our guides to the contract of sale and the Section 32 statement.

2. Choose your representative

Consumer Affairs Victoria recommends having your own legal practitioner or conveyancer. Conveyancers must be licensed and lawyers must hold a current practising certificate, and you can check both on public registers. Ask a few providers for written quotes that spell out what is included. Our guide to conveyancing fees explains what a quote usually covers.

You are allowed to do your own conveyancing, but Consumer Affairs Victoria points out you would not have the professional indemnity insurance a lawyer or conveyancer carries if something goes wrong.

3. Review before signing

This is the most useful time to get help, because you can still ask questions, ask for changes in a private sale, or walk away. Your representative reads the contract and Section 32, explains anything unusual, and can suggest conditions such as finance or a building inspection.

Tell them what you plan to do with the property and when you need to settle. The same clause can matter a lot to one buyer and not at all to another.

4. Inspections and other checks

A Section 32 does not tell you about the condition of the buildings. Consumer Affairs Victoria suggests a building and pest inspection, and an asbestos assessment if the property was built before 1990. Its due diligence checklist covers other things to look into, such as flooding, zoning and services. Talk to your lender about finance before you commit, especially before an auction.

5. Sign the contract

In a private sale you make an offer by signing the contract, and the sale is made when the seller signs too. At an auction, the winning bidder signs on the day, and conditions such as finance cannot be added without the seller's agreement. See our guide to buying at auction if that is your situation.

6. Deposit and cooling-off

You pay the deposit as the contract says. Where an agent is involved, it is held in trust until settlement unless it is released early under the rules. For many private residential sales you have three clear business days to cool off, counted from when you sign. If you do, you lose $100 or 0.2% of the price, whichever is more. Cooling off does not apply to auctions or sales close to an auction, and there are other exceptions.

7. Meet the conditions

If the contract has conditions, each one has its own wording and dates. A finance condition, for example, usually needs you to get approval, or tell the seller you couldn't, by a set date. Missing a date can cost you rights, so put every date in your calendar and tell your representative early if something is running late.

8. Prepare for settlement

Your representative does most of this work. It usually includes checking the title again, working out adjustments for rates and other charges, preparing the transfer documents, and arranging land transfer duty (stamp duty), which the State Revenue Office administers. Most Victorian settlements now happen electronically, so your representative and lender coordinate online rather than meeting in person.

Your job is to answer questions quickly, sign what is sent to you and make sure your share of the funds is ready.

9. Final inspection

Contracts usually let you inspect the property shortly before settlement. Use it to check the property is in the condition the contract requires and that included items are still there. If something is wrong, tell your representative straight away.

10. Settlement

At settlement the balance of the price is paid, the seller's mortgage is discharged, and the transfer is lodged. The property is then yours and you can usually collect the keys from the agent. Settlement is commonly 30 to 90 days after signing, but the contract sets the date.

Common questions

How long does conveyancing take in Victoria?

The settlement period in the contract is usually 30 to 90 days, but the work starts earlier, when you first review the documents. Finance delays or unusual title issues can stretch things out.

When should I contact a conveyancer?

Before you sign or bid. That is when advice can still change what you agree to.

Can I cancel after signing?

Sometimes, through cooling-off or a contract condition such as finance, but there are exceptions and strict rules. Ask your representative straight away rather than assuming a right applies.

Where AI4Convey fits

AI4Convey helps with stage 3. It reads a Victorian contract of sale and Section 32 and emails you a plain-English report, usually in about five minutes, listing key dates, clauses that could cost you money and what the special conditions do. A licensed conveyancer or property lawyer from our panel receives the same report and may contact you.

It does not do conveyancing, manage your dates or handle settlement, and it is general information, not legal advice. If you have the documents and haven't signed, you can get a free report to prepare your questions.

Sources: Consumer Affairs Victoria, Seek expert advice on property, Buying property by private sale, Planning to buy property and New changes to property sales and underquoting laws; State Revenue Office Victoria, Land transfer duty. Checked 12 October 2026.