Buying a home is already an expensive project in itself. The last thing you need is to spend money on tasks that you can undertake yourself. One process that potential homeowners prefer to DIY is conveyancing. In Australia, the law doesn't require you to hire a conveyancer to oversee title transfer. However, proceeding without one exposes you to various risks such as roadblocks down the road, delayed ownership or even a bad title.

Working with a professional conveyancer comes with numerous benefits. In addition to giving you peace of mind throughout the process, professional conveyancing offers the following benefits:

Due Diligence on Property

One key role of a conveyancer is to conduct due diligence on a property. The process involves checking the title for problems and ensuring the following:

• There are no outstanding notices or infringements on the property
• There are no boundary disputes
• All property taxes and rates are paid in full
• There are no third parties with legal interests in the home

DIY conveyancing may cause you to miss some of these issues, especially since you're not trained to conduct property searches and due diligence. Some problems with the title can cause delays or render the ownership transfer impossible. For example, an existing notice to tear down a fence can cost you money in the future if the seller hasn't complied. Working with a professional conveyancer gives you peace of mind that the property has no issues.

Assessment of Contractual Terms

Property sellers use their conveyancer to draw up the contractual agreement. This document outlines the terms of sale which are legally binding upon appending your signature. Some of the contractual terms are indicated in legal jargon that only an expert would understand. Going in without professional help may cause you to agree to unfavourable conditions.

For example, the contract may state that the seller has no liability over any discoveries made about the property upon its sale. If you find out that the house has problems, you cannot charge the seller to pay for repairs. A conveyancer can interpret contracts and check the fine print. They will explain the contract, pick out unfavourable terms and negotiate for better ones on your behalf. 

Handling of Paperwork

Conveyancing involves a lot of paperwork which can easily stress you out during the process of buying a home. You have mortgage documents, property searches, settlement statements, transfer details and certificates of land title, among others. 

Analysing all these documents with a professional eye can be tough for the average DIY-er. You may miss information that would be pertinent to the sales process. A conveyancer takes away all the stress by handling the legal paperwork. All you need to do is put your finances in order and prepare for the move. 

Conveyancing can determine whether you end up with a bad title pr become a homeowner. Thus, hire a professional conveyancer to walk you through the process as you look forward to buying the home of your dreams.

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