How to Compare Conveyancers (Don't Just Take the Referral)

About This Guide LocalAgentFinder has supported Australian homeowners through property transactions since 2007. This guide covers how to compare conveyancers before you sign — including whether to trust your real estate agent's referral. For a qualified conveyancer, we recommend Dott & Crossitt — LocalAgentFinder's Victorian conveyancing partner.

Almost every real estate agent will offer to refer you to a conveyancer. Many are perfectly good referrals — but many aren't, and the mechanics of why the referral happened matter. This guide covers how to compare conveyancers properly before signing anything: what criteria to use, when a referral is worth trusting, and when to walk away and find your own.

This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified conveyancer or solicitor for advice specific to your circumstances.

Want a Victorian conveyancer with fixed, transparent pricing? Book Dott & Crossitt — LocalAgentFinder's conveyancing partner, familiar with the questions in this guide.

Should you use your real estate agent's referred conveyancer?

Generally, no — not without comparing. Agent referrals are often based on reciprocal business arrangements, not on which conveyancer is genuinely the best fit for your transaction. That doesn't automatically make the referred conveyancer a bad choice, but it does mean you're being pointed at one option rather than shown the field. Compare at least two others before you commit.

The right approach is polite but firm: thank your agent for the referral, take the details, and treat that name as one of three quotes you'll gather.

Why do real estate agents refer conveyancers?

Real estate agents refer conveyancers for one of two reasons — genuine confidence in the work, or a reciprocal referral arrangement where each professional sends business to the other. Both can produce competent outcomes, but only one is aligned with your interests as the client.

• Genuine referrals — the agent has personally worked with the conveyancer on multiple settlements, respects their work, and refers them because they'll make the agent look good.
• Reciprocal arrangements — the agent and conveyancer send each other business as a matter of course. No one benefits from asking questions about it, so no one does.

Neither is illegal, and neither is proof of poor quality. But knowing the difference lets you evaluate the referral properly, rather than accepting it on autopilot.

What criteria should you use to compare conveyancers?

Six criteria matter when comparing conveyancers. Score each candidate against all six, not just price.

Experience in your transaction type

Ask directly: "How many transactions like mine have you settled in the last 12 months?" A conveyancer who does 200 residential settlements a year in your state will be faster and less error-prone than one who does 20. For unusual transactions (deceased estates, off-the-plan, commercial, cross-border), the depth of experience matters more.

State-based licensing

Conveyancing is regulated at the state level. Confirm your conveyancer is licensed in the state the property is located — not just the state where their office is. Interstate transactions require someone qualified in the destination state.

Fixed-fee vs hourly pricing

Fixed-fee quotes protect you from cost creep. Hourly rates can be reasonable but leave you exposed on complex settlements. Ask each candidate for a written quote breaking out professional fee, disbursements, and any conditions under which the fee increases.

Response time and communication style

Conveyancing is time-sensitive — a slow-responding conveyancer can cost you a cooling-off deadline or a settlement date. Send an initial enquiry and note how long each candidate takes to reply, and how clearly they explain your options. That first response is a preview of what working with them will feel like.

Independent reviews and testimonials

Google reviews, ProductReview.com.au ratings, and any independent testimonials give you a view your agent's referral doesn't. Look for patterns: repeated complaints about missed deadlines, poor communication, or hidden fees are red flags. One bad review among many good ones is normal; a pattern is a warning.

Insurance and industry membership

Every practising conveyancer must hold professional indemnity insurance. Membership of the Australian Institute of Conveyancers (AIC) or a state-specific body signals ongoing professional standards. Confirm both — legitimate conveyancers will provide details on request.

Compare quotes side by side. Dott & Crossitt publishes fixed fees upfront — a useful benchmark when comparing other quotes.

How to research a conveyancer without commitment

You can vet any conveyancer — including one referred by your agent — without ever contacting them directly.

• Check the state licensing register. Every state maintains a public register of licensed conveyancers. Search the name and confirm the licence is current.
• Search independent reviews. Google the conveyancer's business name plus "reviews," then check ProductReview.com.au separately. Read the three most recent bad reviews carefully — they tell you more than 40 positive ones.
• Check the firm's website. Look for published fees, published turnaround times, and named principals with LinkedIn profiles. Firms confident in their work publish detail; firms that aren't don't.
• Ask on property forums. Whirlpool and PropertyChat threads often contain candid discussion of specific firms — good and bad.

Do all of this before you have any direct contact. You'll walk into the enquiry call already knowing whether they're worth engaging.

What are the warning signs of a poor conveyancer?

Four warning signs come up repeatedly in complaints about conveyancers:

• Vague or verbal quotes. Any conveyancer unwilling to put a written fixed fee in writing is telling you something.
• Slow first response. If it takes them three days to reply to an enquiry, expect the same when you're mid-settlement and something urgent comes up.
• Reluctance to explain terms. A good conveyancer walks you through every clause before you sign. One who tells you "don't worry about it" is a problem.
• Pressure to sign quickly. Legitimate conveyancers understand you're comparing options. Anyone applying pressure — from the conveyancer or the referring agent — is protecting their own interests, not yours.

Key insight: Every practising conveyancer in Australia holds the same statutory licensing and is bound by the same professional conduct rules. What varies between firms — dramatically — is response time, communication clarity, error rate, and fee transparency. Licensing gets a conveyancer through the door; comparison is what identifies the good ones.

Ready to appoint your conveyancer? Contact Dott & Crossitt — LocalAgentFinder's Victorian conveyancing partner, with fixed fees and clear timelines from day one.

Key Takeaways

• Never accept a conveyancer referral without comparing at least two alternatives.
• Agent referrals are often reciprocal business arrangements, not independent recommendations. That doesn't make them bad — but it means you should verify.
• Compare on six criteria: experience, state licensing, pricing structure, response time, independent reviews, and insurance/membership.
• Vet any conveyancer without contacting them — state licensing registers, independent reviews, and property forums all give you an honest view.
• Warning signs: vague quotes, slow responses, reluctance to explain terms, pressure to sign.
• If a referral makes you uncomfortable, disregard it and find your own conveyancer. If it makes you distrust the agent, consider switching agents too.