Conveyancing Darwin

Licensed Conveyancing in the Northern Territory

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About Us

Qualified Local Conveyancing: Seamless Property Transactions

At Aquarius Conveyancing, our unwavering dedication is always focused on your best interests. We are licensed conveyancing agents who assist with all kinds of property transactions, including purchases, sales and auctions. Our professionals work closely with clients to ensure your experience of buying or selling a property is as seamless as possible.


We know that selling or buying a property is one of the biggest decisions of your life. That's why our conveyancers take pride in delivering personalised, precise solutions to meet your unique needs. Our team's commitment, paired with our extensive knowledge of the Northern Territory's property market, makes us the perfect choice for all your conveyancing needs.


To arrange a consultation with our conveyancing agents, please contact our office on (08) 8942 2811. We operate all throughout the Northern Territory, including Darwin, Howard Springs, Girraween and Palmerston.

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Established in 2007

Your Local Conveyancers

We offer comprehensive conveyancing services to meet your individual needs. Our conveyancing agents will be with you every step of the way, from the initial offer through to the final settlement.

We believe in building lasting relationships with our clients. Our team of conveyancers is committed to providing reliable customer service and we always aim for the best outcome for your property transaction.

Who We Are

Residential & Commercial Conveyancers

Navigating property transactions can be daunting, but with Aquarius Conveyancing by your side, we make it as simple as possible. Our conveyancing agents provide comprehensive assistance throughout the sale or purchase of your property, ensuring no detail is overlooked. We’re here to guide you through:


  • Making an offer
  • The contract
  • The deposit & contract conditions
  • Stamp duty
  • Settlement


Aquarius Conveyancing is your partner in residential and commercial property transactions. Our know-how extends to various property types, including houses, land, units and commercial premises. We understand each transaction is unique, and we tailor our services to meet your specific needs, helping to provide peace of mind as you embark on your property journey.

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Comprehensive Services

From The First Offer Through To Settlement

Buying property is a lot more complicated than it looks in the movies. From making an offer through to drawing up a contract, making a deposit and making sure all contract conditions are met, it's a lot to handle. There's also stamp duty, insurance and final settlement to consider. That's why you need the right conveyancing agent by your side.


At Aquarius Conveyancing, we help clients with every aspect of their property transactions. Our licensed conveyancing agents know the process inside and out, and we have local knowledge that we aim to leverage to your advantage. We'll help you understand all the steps involved and work to make sure your rights are protected throughout the entire process. For more information, please don't hesitate to contact us.

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Why Do I Need A Conveyancer?

At Aquarius Conveyancing, we will handle every aspect of your residential or commercial sale or purchase including:


  • Obtaining a title search
  • Obtaining copies of any registered covenants/caveats/leases
  • Preparing or examining the contract
  • Preparation of the Transfer of Lot
  • Arranging inspection reports
  • Liaising with your bank
  • Arranging payment of stamp duty
  • Arranging adjustments of Council rates and/or body corporate levies and rental adjustments
  • Attending settlement at the Lands Title Office
  • Notifying statutory bodies of the change of ownership


Whether you're buying your first home or expanding your commercial portfolio, we are here to guide you through the complexities of conveyancing in Darwin. With our knowledge of the local market and conveyancing processes, we’ll walk you through various stages of property transfer. We follow a detailed approach to address the specific needs of your property transaction. Contact us today to learn more.

What Are the Stages of Conveyancing for Buyers?

Buying property comes with considerable risks, from financial loss to property issues. That’s where conveyancing comes in. Conveyancing is the process by which property is formally and legally transferred from one owner to another. Here is a brief guide to the conveyancing process across the stages of purchasing property.

Making an Offer

Great, you’ve found the perfect property for you! It’s time to make an offer. Firstly, you must inform the real estate agent; the communicator between yourself and the seller, who will present your offer to the seller.


If there is no real estate agent involved (private sale), you must present your offer directly to the seller. Your offer must include any conditions (ie. subject to finance, subject to inspection reports, deposit amount and settlement date). 


If the seller is interested, negotiations will begin. Once the seller has accepted your offer, a contract will be prepared by either the real estate agent or seller’s conveyancer.

The Contract

In the Northern Territory, real estate agents and conveyancers must use an approved version of the standard contract. In most cases, real estate agents prepare the contract and arrange for both seller and buyer to sign it. 


They will then exchange the contract and deliver a copy to each party’s nominated conveyancer. The buyer will then have a cooling off period that runs for 4 business days from the date that the contract is received by the buyer’s conveyancer. Your conveyancer will be in touch with you within the cooling off period to discuss the terms of the contract and the process moving forward.


In private sales where there is no real estate agent, the seller’s conveyancer will prepare the contract and deliver a copy to the buyer’s conveyancer and the conveyancers will then arrange for the parties to sign the contract. In private sales, the buyer does not have a cooling off period after exchange of contracts.

The Deposit

The deposit is payable on exchange of contracts and will be held in either the real estate agent’s trust account or the seller’s conveyancer’s trust account.

Contract Conditions – Cooling Off

The cooling off period runs for 4 business after the buyer’s conveyancer receives the exchanged contract. The cooling off period gives the buyer the right to withdraw their offer for any reason whatsoever. The deposit would then be refunded in full to the buyer.

Contract Conditions – Inspection Reports

In the Northern Territory, the seller is not required to disclose any defects with the property. The buyer is therefore required to conduct their own enquiries as to whether there are any defects or non-compliant issues with the property.



Your conveyancer will discuss your options and this process with you and will be able to engage inspectors on your behalf to provide reports.

Insurance

In most cases, the property remains at the risk of the seller until the date of settlement. You should make enquiries with insurance providers at least a week prior to settlement to ensure that you obtain insurance that best suits your needs and that you have full cover from the date of settlement.

Stamp Duty

Stamp duty is a form of tax and is charged on all types of property transfers. It is payable by the buyer and in most cases, payable on the day of settlement. Your conveyancer can advise you on the amount payable and ascertain whether you would be eligible for any stamp duty discounts.

Preparing for Settlement

Provided that all contract conditions and finance approval conditions have been satisfied, the contract will be declared unconditional. Your conveyancer will then secure a settlement booking with your lender and calculate the settlement figures.


A settlement statement will be provided to you setting out the amount required to settle and arrangements can then be made to transfer any funds required. The settlement statement will include a credit for the deposit paid, adjustment of the Council rates (and body corporate levies if applicable), fees and any stamp duty.


In the week leading up to settlement, you should finalise your insurance, arrange for the electricity to be connected in your name (if you are moving in) and book in a final inspection with the agent (or seller directly if a private sale).


The final inspection is to ensure that the property has been left in the same condition as it was when you made your offer. Once settlement has been completed, you do not have the right to raise any issues with the seller for rectification.

Settlement

In Darwin, settlements take place at the Lands Titles Office. The buyer and seller are not required to attend. Settlements begin at 11am and take 2 – 4 hours to complete. Your conveyancer/settlement agent will let you know as soon as settlement has been completed and the keys can then be released to you.


Whether you’re a first-time buyer or experienced buyer, our dedicated conveyancing team at Aquarius Conveyancing are happy to help you every step of the way.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the difference between a Conveyancing Agent and a Lawyer?

    A conveyancing agent and a lawyer are different types of jobs with different training and different abilities. To handle the paperwork involved in buying and selling property, a conveyancing agent will have completed some type of training—either a certificate or diploma. If things go wrong, a lawyer can help since they have completed a law degree and are well versed in a wide range of legal issues. A conveyancing agent and a lawyer can both help you with your next move, but each has different capabilities.

  • Am I better off using the same Conveyancing Agent as the other party?

    In short, the answer is no. A conveyancing agent can only represent both parties if they have both parties' written consent. A conveyancing agent could even be required to resign their authority to act on behalf of one or both parties if a conflict arises between the buyer and seller after consent has been granted. It could leave you searching for a new conveyancing agent toward the end of the process. Getting independent advice does not cost you more and can save you time and money in the long run.

  • What makes a good Conveyancing Agent?

    Experience in conveyancing is an important consideration. Find out how long they have been in business and what kinds of properties they have handled. You should consider hiring someone with substantial experience and solid knowledge of the type of property you have.

  • Why choose a Conveyancing Service?

    If you are currently in the process of buying or selling a property, then you will be legally obliged to engage a conveyancing service to handle many of the details and specifics of your situation. Organising things like this can be confusing and overwhelming, especially if you have never dealt in the selling or buying of property before.


    If you need conveyancing in Darwin, then this is what you can expect:


    Management of legal documents: One of the main roles of a conveyancer is the drawing up of all the legal documents that needs to be sent, shared and signed in order to make sure that all parties to the transaction abide by all rule and regulations.


    Legal decision-making: A conveyancer will undertake the bulk of the legal leg work that is needed to help clients make the right decisions in terms of their selling and buying, ensuring the entire process is navigated successfully and seamlessly.


    Seamless settlement: A Darwin conveyancer will help to arrange the final details of the settlement between yourself and the party that you are either selling to or buying from. A conveyancer provides inside knowledge to ensure that nothing is amiss in the final stages of the process.


    All duties finalised: A conveyancer will undertake and perform all of the ‘middle man’ duties that are involved in the property transaction. It might seem like a simple transaction in the movies on and TV, but there are hundreds of small but integral elements that need to be completed in order for the sale to go through without hiccup.

  • What is a Settlement Agent?

    A settlement agent prepares the necessary paperwork for home buyers and sellers. Additionally, they conduct all the necessary searches to ensure that all debts are cleared and you are informed about all relevant information regarding the property you intend to purchase. In other words, conveyancing agents are responsible for the transfer of ownership of real estate, so if you're buying or selling a home, you'll need one.



    A settlement agent can typically:


    • Search for legal documents such as Title Deeds
    • Prepare official Transfer of Title paperwork
    • Ensure all clauses of the offer & acceptance during the sale of the property are met by consulting with all parties involved
    • Ensure a client's finances are sorted & rates are paid
    • Handle settlement on behalf of the client

  • Why do you need a Settlement Agent?

    Settlement agents prepare legal documents and complete financial transactions to transfer property ownership between buyers and sellers. If you don't hire a settlement agent, you aren't going to have a trained professional to help protect your interests.


    Settlement agents have complex jobs, and you need contacts, qualifications and skills to do the job properly.


    Your settlement agent will review the contract, including all the terms that must be met, prepare all legal documents relating to the change of ownership, as well as talk to the banks, the brokers, the real estate agents, various government regulatory agencies and anyone else involved, all to ensure that the settlement transaction is efficient and successful.

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