1. Rich. Buying: six stages from the firm's own flowchart, five terms. The terms are experimental
What happens between your offer and the keys
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Your offer is accepted
We tell you the contract of sale has reached us, and book a time to go through it with you before you sign anything.
Your part: start the loan approval with your lender or broker.
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We read the contract, and you sign it
We read the contract and the vendor statement, check for council notices and permits against the property, and tell you about any covenant, easement or other restriction on the land. Then we go through the contract with you and send the signed copy to the seller's solicitor.
Your part: read our advice, and ask about anything that is not clear.
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The signed contract comes back, and the conditions are met
We tell you when the fully signed contract arrives and send it to your lender. We check that each special condition has been met, finance, building and pest, soil, and confirm with you that you are happy to proceed.
Your part: sign your loan documents as soon as they arrive.
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Searches, reports and forms
We order the property reports and searches, check that no rates or other debts are owing on the property, prepare the Land Titles and State Revenue Office forms, and work out the adjustments for settlement.
Your part: arrange a final inspection, two to seven days before settlement.
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The settlement figures
We confirm the settlement figures with you and arrange with your lender for the funds to be ready on the day.
Your part: have any shortfall in the right account, ready to be drawn on.
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Settlement
We attend settlement, which runs online, tell you the purchase is complete, and tell the council and the water authority that the property is yours.
Your part: collect the keys from the agent.
2. Selling: four stages, two with nothing for you to do, two terms. The terms are experimental
What happens between listing and settlement
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You list the property, and ask us to act
We order the property certificates, prepare the vendor statement and give your agent a draft, then go through it with you and prepare the contract of sale for the agent.
Your part: answer our request for the details of the property.
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You accept an offer
We confirm the terms of the sale with you, look over any special conditions the buyer and the agent have agreed, and prepare the contract with your interests protected. You sign it with us, we send it to the buyer's solicitor, and when it comes back fully signed we tell you.
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Before settlement
We tell you whether the buyer has met the special conditions, prepare the discharge of mortgage with your bank if you have a loan, book settlement with the buyer's solicitor and your bank, and confirm the figures with you.
Your part: sign and return the discharge of mortgage as soon as it arrives, and tell us who is to be paid from the settlement funds.
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Settlement
We tell you the sale is complete, see that the funds reach the account you nominated, and tell the council and the water authority that the property has changed hands.
3. Three stages, no terms. Dealing with a deceased estate, the barest state
What happens, in order
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The grant
We gather what the person owned and owed, and apply to the court for probate, or for letters of administration where there is no will.
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Collecting the estate
With the grant we close accounts, sell or transfer property, and pay what the estate owes, including any tax.
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Distribution
What remains goes to the beneficiaries as the will directs, with a final statement of what came in and what went out.