Settlement Agent Murdoch

Offer accepted in Murdoch? This is the next step

Part of Perth’s southern suburbs, Murdoch sits roughly 15 km south of the Perth CBD. Once an offer on a Murdoch property is accepted, the transaction moves from the real estate agent to a settlement agent, and that is where we come in.

Our office sits about 4 km to the north-west, so meeting at your place, including on a weekend, is easy to arrange.

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 Murdoch. 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.

The kind of settlements we handle here

Suburbs like Murdoch sit in Perth’s middle ring, where the original blocks have gradually been developed and the titles now show a mix of original green title and newer survey-strata lots.

In practice, most Murdoch settlements come down to doing the routine work well: searching the title, checking for anything registered against it, obtaining the rates, water and any strata figures, arranging duty and having everything ready before settlement day rather than on it.

Settlements we regularly handle around here include:

• subdivided lots being sold individually
• established green-title transfers
• survey-strata rear lots and shared driveway arrangements
• villa and townhouse strata settlements, including levy adjustments
• rates, water and levy adjustments calculated to the settlement date

None of this is complicated, but all of it is time sensitive. Most settlements that run late do so because something was requested a fortnight later than it should have been, not because the transaction was difficult.

Neighbouring areas we work in include conveyancing in Winthrop, Bateman, Kardinya, Bull Creek and Willagee.

The work behind a settlement that runs on time

Once a contract is signed, a series of searches, enquiries and payments have to happen in the right order. We search the certificate of title and check what is registered against it, raise enquiries with the local shire or council, Water Corporation and any strata company, prepare and lodge the transfer documents, attend to transfer duty through State Revenue Online, calculate the adjustments so rates, water and levies are shared fairly to the day, and complete settlement electronically.

If settlement is going to be late, the contract usually has something to say about it, including interest. Telling us early gives us room to sort it out; telling us on the day does not.

Settlement in WA is now conducted electronically, which means no one drives across town with bank cheques. We complete it online and let you know the moment it is through.

Settlement services we provide

Whatever the property is, the settlement work is covered:

• 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.

If what you need is not on that list, ask anyway. Most property questions have a straightforward answer, and it costs nothing to find out.

Appointments to suit you

We come to Murdoch clients rather than expecting them to come to us. From our Myaree office, about 4 km away, we can meet you at home, including on weekends, to go through the documents and complete the verification of identity check required of sellers.

Prefer to keep it simple and do it all by phone and email? That is entirely workable. Settlement itself is completed electronically in WA, so nobody has to attend in person. Call Shelley on 0428 336 878 to sort out a time.

We offer cost-effective and stress-free settlement

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

Common questions from clients

Can you tell me what is registered against a property before I make an offer?

Yes. A title search is inexpensive and quick, and it will show ownership, encumbrances and any notifications. It is a sensible first step if anything about the property is unclear.

Do I pay transfer duty before settlement?

Not with us. We arrange stamping through State Revenue Online, so duty is dealt with as part of the settlement rather than needing to be paid beforehand.

What does a settlement agent cost for a Murdoch property?

Our fee depends on the property and what the transaction involves, so we quote before you commit. Ask for a quote and you will get a clear figure rather than an estimate that moves later.

Don’t have time to get to an office?

Our services include Murdoch 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.