How to Get a Free Contract Review Before You Sign

Knowing how to get a free contract review before you sign can protect the choices still available to you. The review is most useful before you make an unconditional offer or bid at auction, when a qualified property professional can identify unusual terms, missing information and deadlines.

Conveyancers Australia helps eligible buyers send an unsigned contract to a participating conveyancing provider. We are a comparison and referral platform, not a law firm, and the professional, not the platform, performs the legal review.

Have an unsigned contract? Submit it as early as possible and state your offer, signing or auction deadline. “Urgent” is more useful when it comes with a date and time.

What a pre purchase contract review is for

A pre purchase contract review helps you understand the legal document attached to a specific property. It is not a building inspection, valuation, loan approval or tax opinion.

Moneysmart advises buyers to get a solicitor or conveyancer to review the contract before signing. That simple sequence matters: review first, commit second.

A reviewer may identify and explain:

• the parties and property described in the contract;
• deposit and settlement requirements;
• title details, easements, covenants or restrictions;
• included and excluded items;
• finance, building, pest or other conditions;
• disclosure material required in that jurisdiction;
• special conditions that shift risk or create extra obligations;
• cooling-off terms and auction implications;
• issues that need a search, report or further advice.

What a free conveyancing contract review may include

“Free” should describe the price for the stated review, not create an assumption that every legal task is included. Before uploading, check the provider’s eligibility criteria and written scope.

A focused free conveyancing contract review may include an initial read of the unsigned contract, a short written or telephone summary, identification of obvious issues and an explanation of next steps. It may exclude negotiation, searches, detailed tax advice, strata-record analysis, document amendments or acting through settlement.

Questions to confirm before relying on the review

1. Who is reviewing the document, and are they entitled to act in the property’s jurisdiction?
2. What documents and issues are included?
3. Will the advice be written, verbal or both?
4. Is there a page, property-type or urgency limit?
5. Does the provider need to be engaged for the transaction?
6. What work would attract a fee?
7. What turnaround has the provider accepted for this request?

PROCESS AT A GLANCE

The journey, step by step

1. 1Check eligibility
2. 2Upload contract
3. 3State deadline
4. 4Provider reviews
5. 5Discuss issues
6. 6Choose next step

Contract of sale review: what to upload

Upload the complete, current contract rather than selected pages. Disclosure statements, title documents, plans, special conditions and annexures can contain the information that changes the advice.

You should normally provide:

• the full unsigned contract and every attachment;
• the property address;
• the state or territory;
• the auction, offer or proposed signing deadline;
• whether you are buying personally, jointly, through a company or trust;
• known finance or inspection conditions you want considered;
• concise questions about anything the agent has said.

Do not alter the document after review without telling the reviewer. A revised contract can contain new conditions.

Contract review conveyancer: checking the provider

A contract review conveyancer should have the appropriate licence or authority for the jurisdiction and the property type. In some places or circumstances, a solicitor may be the appropriate professional. The rules are not identical nationally.

Ask for the provider’s business name, responsible practitioner, jurisdiction and engagement terms. Verify credentials through the relevant state or territory regulator or professional body when needed.

The NSW Government says buyers and sellers can use a licensed conveyancer or solicitor and should ask about experience, costs and insurance. Treat that as a useful due-diligence pattern, while checking the rules where your property is located.

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USEFUL FACT

A free review is usually a defined pre-signing service, not an automatic agreement to handle the entire transaction through settlement.

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PRACTICAL ADVICE

Upload every page, including annexures and special conditions. Missing pages can hide the clause that matters most.

Turnaround: fast is useful, complete is better

Contract review services often advertise rapid turnaround. The realistic time depends on document length, complexity, jurisdiction and current workload. An off-the-plan contract with extensive annexures is not the same job as a short established-home contract.

Submit early. If your deadline is close, ask the provider to confirm they can meet it. Do not treat an automated receipt as confirmation that legal review is complete.

What to do if the auction is tomorrow

• Send the entire contract immediately.
• Put the auction date and time in the first line.
• State the property jurisdiction.
• Tell the provider if finance or inspections are incomplete.
• Wait for express advice before assuming the contract is acceptable.

Privacy and document security

Property contracts can contain names, addresses, signatures and financial details. Before uploading, look for a clear privacy policy, secure connection, explanation of who receives the file and a way to ask about retention or deletion.

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner explains that covered entities must take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. The exact legal coverage depends on the organisation, but the security questions are sensible for any service handling your documents.

Never send settlement funds because of instructions in an unexpected email. Independently verify bank details using a trusted contact method.

What happens after the review

A useful review does not finish with “good” or “bad”. It should help you decide what to do next.

Possible next steps include:

• proceed without requesting a change;
• ask for a condition to be amended or added;
• obtain a building, pest, strata, survey or other report;
• clarify finance timing with your lender;
• request further legal or tax advice;
• decide not to sign or bid;
• engage the reviewing provider or another professional for the full conveyance.

The seller can accept, reject or counter a requested amendment. A review identifies choices; it does not guarantee that the other party will agree.

Free review versus full conveyancing

Free initial review	Full conveyancing engagement
Focuses on the contract before commitment	Manages the transaction through settlement
Usually narrow, defined scope	Searches, documents, liaison and settlement work
May identify questions for investigation	Provides continuing advice within the retainer
No promise that negotiation is included	May negotiate amendments if included

If you proceed, ask for a written cost disclosure before engaging the provider for the full matter.

Common misunderstandings

“The agent said it is a standard contract”

Standard forms can contain transaction-specific special conditions. The agent represents the seller, not the buyer.

“I have a cooling-off period, so I can review later”

Cooling-off rights vary and exceptions apply. Auction purchases commonly have no cooling-off period. Withdrawing may also carry a financial consequence. Review before signing wherever possible.

“My lender approved me, so the contract is safe”

Finance approval and contract risk are different questions. A lender assesses credit and security; a contract reviewer considers legal terms and transaction issues.

“Free means the provider will act for me until settlement”

Not unless the offer says so. Confirm the boundary between the initial review and paid ongoing work.

QUICK SELF-CHECK

Test what you have learned

Answer all three questions, then check your score. This quiz is educational and is not legal advice.

1Should you upload the complete contract?

Yes No

2Does a free review automatically include full conveyancing?

No Yes

3Should an auction deadline be disclosed?

Yes No

CHECK MY SCORERESET QUIZ

COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions

Is the free contract review really free?

The initial review should have no professional fee if your request meets the participating provider’s stated eligibility and scope. Searches, negotiation, amendments or ongoing conveyancing may be separate. Read the terms before submitting.

Can I get a contract reviewed after signing?

You can seek advice, but your options may be narrower. Contact a qualified professional immediately and provide the signed contract and relevant dates.

Does a contract review include building defects?

Usually not. A legal review and a physical building or pest inspection serve different purposes. You may need both.

Can every Australian property contract be reviewed?

Availability depends on jurisdiction, property type, document length, urgency and provider capacity. The service should confirm whether the request is accepted.

Will my contract remain confidential?

The reviewing professional owes duties under their applicable rules and engagement. Also read the platform’s and provider’s privacy terms so you understand collection, sharing and retention.

Request your review

Upload the complete unsigned contract, add the property location and deadline, and list your main questions. Conveyancers Australia will route an eligible request to a participating provider. Submission does not itself create legal advice or guarantee acceptance; wait for the provider’s confirmation.

Ready to start? Use the free contract review request before you sign. If you still need a provider for the full transaction, compare conveyancers.

Sources and further reading

• Moneysmart: Buying a house
• NSW Government: Conveyancing for property buyers and sellers
• OAIC: Australian Privacy Principle 11

This page provides general information. A participating professional must assess your contract and circumstances.