Off the Plan Purchases
Buying land or a property that hasn’t been built yet? Off-the-plan contracts are long and complex. We make sure you understand what you’re signing.
Buying off the plan means committing to a property before it exists. The contracts are different to a standard purchase — longer timeframes, more risk, and a lot of fine print. Off-the-plan contracts commonly run anywhere from 100 to 500 pages, and every page matters. Our job is to work through all of it and make sure you know what you’re agreeing to before you sign.
⏱️ Please Allow Up to 48 Hours for Your Contract Review
Off-the-plan contracts often run from 100 to 500 pages. A proper review takes time to do well, so we generally need up to 48 hours. Send your contract to us as early as you can — ideally well before any deadline to sign.
What’s Included
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Disclosure Statement Review
We work through the disclosure statement and contract in full, explaining what each part means for you.
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Sunset Clause Advice
We explain the sunset clause — what happens if the build runs late, and what protections you do and don’t have.
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Deposit Protection Advice
Your deposit is held for a long time on an off-the-plan purchase. We advise on how it’s protected and where it sits.
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Inspection & Settlement
We guide you through the pre-settlement inspections and attend settlement on your behalf when registration of title is complete.
Who This Is For
Off-the-plan conveyancing is for anyone buying land or a property before it’s built, including:
- First home buyers — off-the-plan can be a path into the market, and there may be stamp duty concessions. We’ll make sure you go in with eyes open.
- Owner-occupiers — buying a new apartment or house to live in once it’s complete.
- Investors — adding a new build to your portfolio, often with a long lead time to settlement.
- Downsizers — securing a new, low-maintenance property ahead of a future move.
How It Works
1
Send Us the Contract Early
As soon as you have the contract, send it through. Allow up to 48 hours for a full review.
2
We Review It Fully
We work through every page, flag the risks, and explain the sunset clause, deposit, and key terms.
3
You Sign With Confidence
Once you understand the contract and any amendments are sorted, you sign knowing what you’ve agreed to.
4
The Wait, Then Settlement
When the build is finished, we guide you through the pre-settlement inspection and attend settlement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an off-the-plan contract review take?
Generally up to 48 hours. Off-the-plan contracts are long — often between 100 and 500 pages — and a proper review means working through all of it carefully. The best thing you can do is send the contract to us as early as possible, well before any deadline to sign, so there’s no time pressure.
What is a sunset clause?
A sunset clause sets an end date by which the development must be finished. If the build isn’t complete by then, the contract can be terminated. Sunset clauses can work for or against you depending on how they’re written, so understanding yours before you sign is important — we’ll walk you through it.
How much does off-the-plan conveyancing cost?
See our pricing page for the most up-to-date fees.
What happens to my deposit while the property is being built?
On an off-the-plan purchase, your deposit is held for a long time — sometimes years — before settlement. How and where it’s held matters. We review the deposit arrangements in your contract and advise you on the protections in place.
Can the finished property be different from what I was shown?
Off-the-plan contracts usually give the developer some scope to vary the build, so finishes, dimensions, and inclusions can differ from the contract date, the display suite or marketing material. We explain what variations the contract permits so there are no unwelcome surprises at the pre-settlement inspection.
What is a pre-settlement inspection?
Before settlement, you get to inspect the completed property to check it matches what was promised in the contract. It’s an important step — if something isn’t right, that’s the time to raise it. We guide you through what to look for and how to raise any issues.
Ready to get started?
Book a free consultation and we’ll walk you through your options.