Conveyancing Quote Comparison: Put Fees on the Same Basis

Short answer

Two conveyancing quotes cannot be compared fairly if one shows only the professional fee and the other includes searches and settlement charges. Put each quote into the same table, use the tax treatment stated by the provider and leave unanswered items marked unknown.

After clarifying the scope, use the Property Purchase Cost Calculator to place the relevant costs in the wider buying budget. The calculator cannot tell whether a quote covers the legal work a particular property needs.

Start with the same job

Ask each provider to quote for the same property, transaction and work. A quote for a straightforward purchase may not describe the same service as one covering unusual title issues, several contract reviews or extra negotiations. Ask which work is included rather than deciding from the fee label alone.

Consumer Affairs Victoria's guidance on choosing property experts recommends obtaining written quotes from several providers and discussing disbursements. Its licensing links concern Victorian providers; use the relevant local authority elsewhere in Australia.

A comparison table to copy

Do not add GST again to a GST-inclusive amount. Do not apply a blanket percentage to every disbursement: ask for the total payable on each quoted line. This worksheet does not determine the GST treatment of a service or government charge.

Worked example: the lower headline is not the lower total

These are invented quotes for an identical, defined scope, not Australian market averages. Assume the provider has confirmed the tax treatment shown. The disbursement totals already include any applicable tax. Transfer duty, land registration charges, inspections and lender fees are excluded from both quotes and must be budgeted separately.

A totals $1,100 + $110 + $440 = $1,650. B totals $1,320 + $180 = $1,500. Although A's advertised professional fee is lower, its comparable total is $150 higher.

That is a price comparison, not a recommendation to choose B. The assumed identical scope must be checked against real written quotes. Experience, communication, availability and the work required are separate questions.

What if one quote leaves a cost unknown?

Suppose B has not confirmed whether a separately required $220 item is included. Record B as $1,500 plus an unresolved item, rather than declaring it cheaper. If the provider confirms that the extra $220 is payable and otherwise the scope remains identical, B becomes $1,720, which is $70 more than A.

If a provider confirms an item was already included in its quoted total, adding it again would be wrong. Ask for an itemised explanation. An estimate can change; label the comparison with the quote date and any expiry or assumptions.

Move the figure into the buying budget once

ASIC's Moneysmart buying-a-house guidance includes legal and conveyancing work among the costs to allow for beyond the deposit. Keep the final quote beside the other purchase costs and check for overlaps.

For example, if a quote includes a land registration charge that your wider worksheet already lists separately, count the charge once. Do not delete it simply because the provider groups it under disbursements. Reconcile the labels and totals first.

The house-hunting cost ledger covers a different question: fees already spent across earlier properties. The settlement funds transfer checklist covers payment preparation. Neither establishes which services a professional must provide under your engagement.

Questions to ask before relying on the total

Does fixed fee mean every possible cost is included? Read the written scope and exclusions. Ask what changes the fee and how extra work is authorised and charged.

Is an estimate the same as a capped price? Do not assume so. Ask the provider to explain how the amount can change and record the answer with the quote.

Can the table assess the quality of legal work? No. It compares stated prices and scope. Ask a qualified professional about the actual property, contract and any issues outside the quoted work.

Sources and limits

CAV and Moneysmart guidance were checked on 16 October 2026. The table and arithmetic are original budgeting examples. No national fee range, compulsory search list, tax ruling or legal service standard is asserted. Requirements and permitted professional roles vary by jurisdiction.

General information only, not financial, legal, tax, credit or investment advice. This is not a conveyancing quote, provider recommendation or settlement statement. Confirm scope, charges and obligations directly with an appropriately qualified professional.

Last updated: 16 October 2026.