Slow Down Before You Sign
A sale and purchase agreement is binding the moment both parties sign it, so it pays to slow down and check the details carefully first — even when there's pressure to move quickly in a competitive market. A short, methodical review now can prevent an expensive dispute later.
This is also the point where a lawyer's review earns its keep: catching a missing condition or an ambiguous chattels list before you sign is far cheaper than trying to fix it afterward.
Final Checks Before Signing
Run through these before you put pen to paper.
Confirm the price and parties
Check the purchase price and every buyer and seller name are correctly recorded.
Check all your conditions
Confirm finance, building report and LIM clauses are included with realistic deadlines.
Review the chattels list
Make sure everything you expect to stay is specifically listed, not just assumed.
Confirm the settlement date works
Check it aligns with your finance, moving plans, and any related sale.
Have a lawyer review it first
Get a conveyancing lawyer to check the whole agreement before you sign, not after.
Skipping the Lawyer Review
Vague Chattels
Catching a missing condition or an ambiguous chattels list before you sign is far cheaper than trying to fix it after you're already bound.
Quick Summary
- Check price, parties, conditions and chattels carefully before signing.
- Confirm the settlement date fits your finance and moving plans.
- Always get a lawyer's review before you sign, not after.