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Exchanging contracts and settlement

The exchange of contract differs between private sales and auctions. Below are some of the key points of difference. Remember, the contract is legally binding once signed by the seller and ensures the property isn’t sold to a higher bidder.
Exchanging contracts and settlement

Exchanging contracts

  • Deposit due after offer has been accepted and generally at time of signing contract.
  • Contract can be negotiated and conditional (e.g. subject to finance approval or building inspections).
  • A cooling off period may apply (differs by state).

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  • Deposit due immediately after auction, at time of signing contract.
  • Contract is generally unconditional.
  • No cooling off period.
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There’s usually a period between contract exchange and settlement. This varies by state or territory and can be as short as 21 days or as long as six weeks - possibly even longer if the seller agrees to an extended settlement. Your solicitor, settlement agent or conveyancer will advise you of the settlement date based on the contract of sale 

Checklist leading up to settlement

  • Finalise your finance

    This is usually the time to get your final mortgage approval in writing from your lender.

  • Organise inspections and conveyancing

    In a private sale, this is also the time to organise building and pest inspections as well as conveyancing. If you’ve purchased at an auction, you should have already done these things before attending the auction.

  • Pre-settlement inspection.

    You’re entitled to inspect the property before settlement to ensure the property is still in the same condition as when it was sold, barring reasonable wear and tear.

And then, you have the keys!

There are generally two types of settlement that happen with most property purchases:

  1. Settlement of the property is when the balance of the purchase price is paid to the seller. The buyer receives the keys and becomes the legal owner of the property.
  2. Settlement of a loan coincides with settlement of the property. It's when the lender transfers the borrowed funds to the seller or the seller's mortgage holder.

The majority of people hire a solicitor/conveyancer to handle the transfer of the property (download our conveyancing guide below for more information). Once the settlement is complete, your solicitor will need to transfer the name of the property from the vendor to yourself (the buyer). This is called the Registration of Titles, and incurs a separate fee. Then the home is officially yours and it’s time to pop the bubbly after all that hard work!

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