Ep. 111: The critical role of a Conveyancing Expert for your property purchase, with Melissa Barlas

In this episode of the Geared for Growth podcast, Mike collaborates with Melissa Barlas, Founder and Director of Conveyed, a property law firm based in Melbourne. Together, they delve into the often overlooked realm of property conveyancing and the underappreciated role of conveyancers in the process.

Arguably one of the most crucial aspects of any property transaction, conveyancing can add substantial value by identifying clauses in contracts that may favor the seller to the detriment of the buyer. While it might not carry the same allure as securing financing or receiving an offer acceptance, Melissa argues that this lack of appeal stems from its inability to provide immediate gratification.

In this conversation, Melissa elaborates on the reasons why opting for a solicitor over a conveyancer might entail a higher cost, highlighting the extra benefits that come with having a solicitor engaged from the beginning, especially when complications arise with the contract. Mike and Melissa delve into the disparity in educational requirements between the two professions, shedding light on the variance in costs.

Despite these differences, Melissa is a strong advocate for having either a conveyancer or solicitor involved in the process, included in her three top tips for investors looking to purchase. While this might not have been a priority in previous purchases, you’re sure to benefit from Melissa’s insights on this highly important step in the transaction process.

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https://conveyed.com.au/

Mike collaborates with Melissa Barlas, Founder and Director of Conveyed, a property law firm based in Melbourne. Together, they delve into the often overlooked realm of property conveyancing and the underappreciated role of conveyancers in the process.

• The similarities and differences between a property conveyancer and a solicitor
• Why you shouldn’t make a decision on conveyancing based on price alone
• Challenging the preconception that conveyancers and solicitors cover the same ground
• Understanding what’s involved in the conveyancing process
• What you might expect to pay for a conveyancer vs solicitor
• Typical items that are often a variation to a standard contract
• Key variations in the contract process from state to state
• Melissa’s top three tips for purchasers

“I would argue that conveyancing is probably the most under celebrated and undervalued property professional in the grand scheme of things when you buy or you sell a property” 1:12

“It’s very important when you’re making the biggest financial decision of your life that you’re engaging experts on your side to help manage your risk and manage that process properly and smoothly all the way through to settlement” 4:07

“The difference is it’s really the scope of service that you get and the level of training that you get from a solicitor versus a licensed conveyancer” 6:16

“There’s lots of very unique examples where you may find it handy to have engaged to solicitor, a conveyancing solicitor from the outset just to make sure you’ve got the expertise on hand from the beginning just in case something curly happens” 10:33

“If you’re picking up the phone and calling a conveyancer for the first time you want to make sure that the call gets answered ’cause that’s going to give you a good indication of how quickly does this firm respond to my needs” 14:21

“Anything can be resolved by way of communication. If you can communicate as a solution to any scenario that arises before settlement things can get resolved if that’s all it comes down to, it can be as simple as picking up the phone with the other party” 19:38

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