We believe in transparency about legal fees, even when matters are more complex.
At Penmans, we believe clients should have a clear understanding of what their legal services are going to cost.
That’s particularly important when buying or selling property. For many people, it’s one of the largest financial transactions they will ever undertake, and knowing what their conveyancing will cost is an important part of planning that transaction.
One thing we’ve heard consistently from clients is that they want to know what their conveyancing will actually cost. They don’t want to have to add GST, disbursements and other charges to an advertised fee to work out what they’re likely to pay. They want a clear, straightforward figure so they can budget with confidence.
That’s why we’ve expanded our approach to fixed-fee residential conveyancing, introducing three packages that include GST and standard disbursements.
In developing these packages, we wanted to do more than simply advertise a competitive fee for straightforward transactions. We also wanted to provide meaningful fee transparency for clients whose property transactions might be a little more complicated.
After all, not every property transaction is straightforward.
Three fixed-fee packages
Our residential conveyancing packages apply to both sales and purchases.
For most straightforward residential transactions, our Standard Residential Conveyancing Package at $1,990 will be appropriate. We also offer a Moderate Complexity Package at $2,750 and a High Complexity Package at $4,400.
All three packages include GST and standard disbursements, subject to certain exclusions explained in our Residential Conveyancing Fact Sheet.
For transactions exceeding $5 million, or involving exceptional complexity, we provide a tailored fee proposal.
Why three packages?
Buying an established home in your own name is generally quite different from buying property through a complex trust structure, dealing with unusual title issues or purchasing an off-the-plan property where there are additional contractual complexities.
The value of a property can also be relevant. While a higher purchase price doesn’t necessarily make a transaction more complicated, it does increase the value at risk and the responsibility involved in acting for the client.
It’s relatively easy to advertise a fixed fee for a simple conveyancing transaction. But what about clients whose circumstances aren’t quite so straightforward?
We don’t think they should miss out on the benefits of transparent pricing. In fact, we think fee transparency is particularly important for clients with more complex transactions. They should be able to understand what their conveyancing is likely to cost before they engage a law firm or conveyancer, rather than discovering partway through the process that their legal fees will be considerably higher than they originally anticipated.
That’s why we’ve developed three packages, with clearly published fees, so that clients can make informed decisions about their legal costs from the outset, even when their transaction involves additional complexity.
What does our $1,990 Standard Package include?
Our Standard Residential Conveyancing Package is designed for straightforward residential sales and purchases with a contract price of up to $2.5 million, where the other eligibility requirements are met.
It includes the legal work that is ordinarily required to take a transaction from the beginning through to settlement, together with GST and standard disbursements.
If you’re buying, this includes reviewing the contract, providing written advice, guiding you through exchange, carrying out the usual searches, liaising with your lender where required, dealing with transfer duty, and completing settlement.
If you’re selling, it includes preparing the contract for sale and the usual supporting documents, dealing with contract negotiations, arranging exchange and completing the sale.
Some third-party charges, including PEXA settlement fees, registration fees and certain additional searches, are not included. These are explained in our Fact Sheet.
What if my transaction is more complicated?
Our Moderate Complexity and High Complexity packages are designed for transactions requiring additional legal work, carrying greater risk or involving more unusual circumstances.
These might include transactions involving companies or trusts, off-the-plan purchases, rural properties, community title properties or unusual legal and title issues.
You’ll find more information about the circumstances in which our Moderate Complexity and High Complexity packages apply, including practical examples, in our Residential Conveyancing Fact Sheet, which you can download from our website.
When you contact us, we’ll consider the circumstances of your transaction and explain which package applies and why.
And if something unexpected arises along the way that requires substantial work outside the agreed scope, we’ll talk to you about it first, explain any additional costs and obtain your approval before proceeding.
Experience matters in conveyancing
Of course, knowing what your conveyancing will cost is only part of the picture. It’s also important to know who is looking after your transaction, and to have the reassurance that the same person will remain responsible for your matter and be your main point of contact from start to settlement.
At Penmans, we have a dedicated team of licensed conveyancers, experienced property lawyers and skilled paralegals who work in property transactions every day.
Our Conveyancing Team is led by Paula Roberts, a Law Society Accredited Specialist in Property Law.
Most residential transactions proceed smoothly. But occasionally things don’t go quite to plan. When that happens, having experienced property lawyers available within the same firm can make an important difference.
We believe good conveyancing is about more than getting a transaction to settlement. It’s about understanding what you’re buying or selling, identifying potential problems, providing practical advice, and carefully managing the transaction from beginning to end.
Transparent Legal Fees. Experienced Professionals. Genuine Care.
Our expanded conveyancing packages are part of a broader commitment at Penmans to making legal fees more transparent across our practice.
We want our clients to understand what our services cost, what’s included, and what might cost extra. And we want to provide that clarity wherever possible, not just for the simplest legal matters.
When you instruct Penmans, you can be confident that your conveyancing will be managed by experienced professionals who bring expertise and genuine care to every transaction.