This week we talk about a topic that in the QLD property industry really isn't vocalised enough - pricing for conveyancing.
We want to hear from this audience - please give it some thought and comment below. Why are conveyancing fees in Queensland treated like a commodity?
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Hi everybody - George Sourris, Empire Legal.
Today's topic: You’ll pay $50,000 to sell a Property - but argue over $1,500 in conveyancing?
You'll pay $50k to sell a property, but argue over $1,500 in conveyancing? This might make some people uncomfortable, and that's kind of the point. In a standard Queensland property sale, sellers will happily agree to tens of thousands of dollars in real estate agent commission, $4,000 to realestate.com.au, $3,000 on professional photography, $10,000 on staging, and $10,000 plus on video and marketing.
All of that is accepted as the cost of doing a great job. No one asks the photographer to "sharpen their price". No one tells the videographer, "it's just a camera", and no one says to the agent that their commission is just "opening doors" or "listing a property online". But when it comes to conveyancing fees at $1,500 or $2,500, suddenly the tone changes.
"Can you do it cheaper?" "My client's pushing back." "They found someone online for $699." Why is conveyancing the only professional fee treated like a commodity?
Everyone else is paid to create the deal, but conveyancers protect it. Let's be clear. This isn't by any means an anti-agent rant. Agents earn their commission by winning the listing, driving competition, negotiating outcomes, getting contracts signed. Conveyancers earn their fee by: holding the deal together after signing, managing deadlines and conditions, identifying risk before it explodes, and getting everyone to settlement without a fallout.
Different roles, same transaction. We're all working towards a common goal.
When a deal unravels, marketing doesn't save it. If the photos aren't perfect, the deal still settles. If the staging isn't flawless, the deal still settles. If a campaign underperforms, the deal still settles. But when a disclosure issue surfaces, a special condition is misunderstood, a settlement date is missed, a bank isn't aligned, a deadline is missed, that's when panic sets in - and suddenly conveyancing really matters.
"It's just paperwork" is a dangerous oversimplification. Good conveyancing is invisible when it's done properly. You don't see the risks avoided, the disputes prevented or the problem solved before they reach the agent or the clients. You'll only notice the conveyancing when it fails.
That's why reducing conveyancing to a line item or pushing the cheapest option is not only extremely offensive to the professionals doing the job, it's also really risky for everybody involved. When a transaction falls over, sellers blame the process, buyers get frustrated, agents lose time, momentum, and reputation.
No one wins.
Treating conveyancing as an afterthought doesn't just expose clients, it exposes deals - meaning - everybody loses.
Why Empire Legal prices conveyancing the way we do.
At Empire Legal, our conveyancing is handled by experienced professionals, who manage risk proactively, communicate clearly with agents, don't run files like a factory, don't cut corners to hit volume targets. Our fees reflect: time, attention, accountability, world-class service and pricing certainty. No shortcuts, no bargain bin. Just good honest work, done right, with pride.
A final thought and an open question. People are offended by a $1,500 quote to pay a conveyancing firm. The problem is not the conveyancing fee, it's how undervalued the profession has become in conveyancing. That's exactly why Empire Legal does things differently. We're not a bargain bin factory conveyor belt offering.
At the time of recording this blog, we have over 2,900 five star reviews. We're extremely proud of what we have achieved, and thousands of Australians - we've guided them all successfully through their property journey.
We care about our clients and our referral partners, to the point where we started a podcast called "Raising the Bar", so we can help spread awareness of this major problem throughout Queensland.
Sneaky kickbacks by bargain bin firms paying for clients and greasing the palms of agents and brokers who value $50 needs to stop. People need to wake up. We need to eradicate this in 2026. If sellers can justify tens of thousands of dollars in commissions and $20,000 plus in marketing and presentation, why is a couple of thousand dollars to protect the entire transaction (by lawyers) the stopping point?!
That's not a criticism. It's a genuine question. And why is nobody talking about it? Why is conveyancing the only professional fee everybody tries to discount? I'm genuinely curious. Please comment below. If you're a property lawyer or a conveyancer, I want to hear from you too.
Let's continue this conversation in the comments!
What you want when you're picking a provider to work with is a trusted choice. If you're thinking about engaging someone else, just Google them. Read their reviews. That'll be the true test, what the public says about that company. All the information you need to get started is on our website. Check out our Instagram and if we look like a good fit for your brand, all you need to do is refer us to your clients and we'll take care of the rest.
Guys, that's it for this week. Hope you learned a thing or two. Please feel free to get in touch if you've got any questions. Empire Legal - happy to help. Queensland's trusted choice for conveyancing. Over 2,900 Google reviews with a five star average. There's not many firms out there that have that five star average. With that many reviews, guys, and not to mention over 12,000 deals settled. Thanks guys. We'll see you next week.
Finally, if you haven't heard, we've launched our podcast. It's called Raising the Bar, where we story tell excellence in Queensland property. Here is the link to listen. If you prefer to watch, here is the YouTube link.
Also, stay up to date with our miniseries on Seller's Disclosure.
Thanks guys. We'll see you next week!
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Thanks for reading everybody. See you on the next one.
Ladies and gentlemen, please keep in mind that all advice is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. This is authorised by George Sourris, Empire Legal, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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Note: all information is general in nature and as each matter is unique please contact our office for tailored advices: the above does not constitute legal advice.