Beaconsfield Settlement Agent and Conveyancer

Who handles the paperwork on a property transfer

Beaconsfield sits within Perth’s southern suburbs, roughly 15 km south-west of the Perth CBD. Buying or selling property is straightforward when the paperwork is handled properly, and stressful when it is not.

With our office about 6 km to the north-east, we can meet you at home, including weekends, or handle everything remotely.

Buying or selling a house is a lengthy and complex process and obtaining professional advice will help ensure your smooth and successful property settlement in Beaconsfield. The main job of a settlement agent is to transfer the ownership of the property and depending on whether you are buying or selling has various different components.

Settling Beaconsfield property: the local picture

The housing around Beaconsfield is largely established rather than new, which means most transactions are transfers of existing homes, and a portion involve lots created out of larger original blocks.

Where a Beaconsfield property has been created out of a larger block, the settlement involves the newer lot’s own title and any shared arrangements that came with the subdivision, such as a common driveway or shared services. Those are easy to deal with when identified early.

Around here that usually means:

• older titles carrying notifications or encumbrances worth explaining before settlement
• subdivided lots being sold individually
• beachside apartments and villas where strata by-laws cover short-stay letting
• established green-title transfers
• survey-strata rear lots and shared driveway arrangements

So we front-load the work. Searches and enquiries go out as soon as we have the contract, which leaves room to deal with anything unexpected long before settlement day.

The same applies in the surrounding suburbs: settlement agent White Gum Valley, Hilton, O’Connor, South Fremantle and Samson.

Where settlements come unstuck, and how we prevent it

Settlement is a process with a fixed date and a lot of moving parts. Searching the title and any restrictions on it, arranging for anything that should not stay on the title to be removed, obtaining rates, water and levy figures, preparing the settlement statement and the transfer, attending to duty, completing settlement and notifying the authorities afterwards, all sit with us rather than with you.

Sellers need to complete a verification of identity check before a transfer can be registered. It is quick, but it has to be done by someone authorised, and leaving it to the last week creates unnecessary pressure.

The one thing we ask is that you come back to us quickly when we need something. Everything else, including settlement itself, is handled at our end.

Every part of the transfer, covered

The services we are asked for most, in and beyond the standard transfer:

• Title searches – Shelley can search a title and explain what is registered against it before you commit.
• Transfer duty through State Revenue Online – We arrange stamping, so duty does not need to be paid before settlement.
• Application by survivorship – Transferring a property into the surviving owner’s name.
• Court order transfers – Transfers arising from a separation or family court order.
• Home settlements – Transfers of established houses, duplexes, townhouses and villa strata, for buyers and for sellers.
• Strata settlements – Apartments, villas and survey-strata lots, including strata information and levy adjustments.
• Green title and strata title subdivision – Settlements on newly created lots, including subdivision work.

Not sure which of these applies to your situation? Call and describe the property, and we will tell you what is involved.

Getting your documents signed

Our office is about 6 km from Beaconsfield, which makes home appointments easy, including outside business hours and on weekends. We will bring the documents to you, explain what you are signing and complete the verification of identity check sellers require.

Everything can also be done remotely if you would rather not meet in person. Settlements in WA are completed electronically, so there is nothing to attend on the day. Call Shelley on 0428 336 878.

We offer cost-effective and stress-free settlement

We are licensed in all aspects of conveyancing in Western Australia. Other services that we offer:

What buyers and sellers ask us most

The property is a rear survey-strata lot. Is that different to a normal transfer?

Slightly. A survey-strata lot has its own title, and there are often shared arrangements from the subdivision, such as a common driveway or shared services. We identify those and explain them before settlement.

Can you act for me if I am selling and buying at the same time?

Yes, and it is common. Where a sale and a purchase are linked, the two settlements need to be coordinated carefully, which is easier when one agent is running both.

Who tells the council and Water Corporation about the change of ownership?

We do, as part of the settlement. You do not need to contact them yourself, although you will want to arrange your own connections for power, gas and internet.

Don’t have time to get to an office?

Our services include Beaconsfield home appointments, including weekends to sign confusing documentation and to conduct a verification of identity check for sellers to avoid going to Australia post. However, we are also able to work remotely to do all this over the phone or in person.