Before you sign anything
What does a conveyancer actually cost?
You pay the conveyancer directly — but their fee is only part of it. The government disbursements are separate, and often larger.
A conveyancer charges a professional fee for handling your settlement — most quote a fixed fee for a standard purchase or sale. The catch is that the professional fee is not the total cost of settling. On top of it sit disbursements: title searches, the land registry's transfer and mortgage registration fees, and PEXA charges — all paid to third parties at cost. And separate again is stamp duty, which usually dwarfs everything else. A cheap-looking quote that quietly excludes disbursements is not cheaper; it is just less complete.
How they actually get paid
- You pay the conveyancer a professional fee, usually fixed for a standard residential matter. This is the number to compare between firms.
- Disbursements are passed through at cost — title and planning searches, the land registry’s transfer and mortgage registration fees, and the PEXA electronic-settlement fee. An honest conveyancer never marks these up.
- Stamp duty is separate and much larger, and it goes to the state revenue office, not the conveyancer. Our stamp duty calculator estimates both the duty and those land registry fees so you can see the full cost of settling before you commit.
The fee structures you'll be offered
Fixed professional fee (most common)
One quoted figure for the conveyancing work, with disbursements itemised separately. The clearest model — just confirm what the fee covers and that disbursements are listed at cost.
Fixed fee, disbursements excluded
A low headline fee that omits searches and registry charges. Not dishonest if disclosed, but only comparable once you add the disbursements back in — ask for an all-in estimate.
Hourly
Rare for a standard residential settlement and it makes your final cost unknowable. For an ordinary purchase or sale, prefer a fixed quote.
Walk away if you see this
- A quote that bundles the professional fee and disbursements into one number, so you cannot see what the firm actually charges.
- Any mark-up on government charges — title searches and registry fees are pass-through costs, not a profit centre.
- A conveyancer who cannot give you a licence number. Conveyancers are licensed by each state’s regulator (a settlement agent in WA, a conveyancing agent in the NT), and you can check the register.
- In Queensland or the ACT, being offered "conveyancer" services — there are no licensed conveyancers there, so settlement must be handled by a solicitor.
Ask these before you sign
- Is your professional fee fixed, and exactly what does it cover?
- What disbursements will I pay, and are they charged at cost with no mark-up?
- Can I have an all-in written estimate — your fee plus disbursements plus stamp duty?
- What is your licence number, so I can check you on the state register?
Where these figures come from
- CompareMyAgents — stamp duty & registry-fee calculator
- NSW Fair Trading — verify a conveyancer licence
- Consumer Affairs Victoria — conveyancers public register
These are category benchmarks, not quotes. Individual fees vary — always get the total in writing before you engage anyone. Reviewed July 2026.
Now compare conveyancers — every one checked against a register.
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