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The legal side of property doesn’t need to be confusing. Our playbook breaks it down simply, step by step.

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Learn from real-world property experts
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Step-by-step guidance for buyers and sellers
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Strategies to help you make decisions

Property moves fast, and so do we. That’s why agents, brokers and other industry professionals partner with Prepared.

Together, we make buying and selling smoother, faster and clearer for clients and less stressful for you.

Found a property you love?

Don’t wait on the legals. Upload your contract now and our expert property lawyers will review it within 4 business hours where possible. We’ll flag any risks, explain the fine print in plain English, and give you the confidence to move forward, or walk away knowing exactly where you stand.

 

Know where you stand before you buy.

Get a Free Contract of Sale and Section 32 review, no obligation, back within 4 business hours.

See at a glance what’s safe, what’s a risk, and what to question before signing.


GET MY FREE CONTRACT REVIEW
Before auction day · Victoria

Contract review before you bid.

At a Victorian auction, you accept the contract's terms when you bid, and there's no cooling-off if you win. Send us the Contract of Sale and Section 32 before auction day.

  • No cooling-off at auction. Review first.
  • Free. No obligation. No credit card.
  • In before 2pm, back before you need it

Start your journey here.

Takes a minute. We reply the same business day.

No obligation. No payment to get started. We'll call or email with your fixed quote.

Reviewed by Victorian property lawyers
Before auction day
Same-business-day response
No obligation. No credit card.
What it costs

Free review. Fixed-fee conveyancing. One team if you want to keep going.

You don't need to appoint us to get your contract reviewed. Start with the free review. If you decide to buy the property, you can then choose whether you'd like Prepared to handle the conveyancing.

Free

Contract and Section 32 review

No charge. No obligation. No credit card. You're not limited to one property.

Government charges, searches and land transfer duty are additional and are payable to the relevant authorities or third parties. No hourly billing. No surprise legal bill. No pressure either way.

Why review first

Your bid accepts the contract as it stands.

Before an auction, the contract is on display. By bidding, you accept those terms, and if you win you can't add conditions like finance or a longer settlement unless the seller agrees.

Before you bid, we check:

  • the deposit amount and how it must be paid
  • the settlement date, since you can't renegotiate it after
  • special conditions that change the standard terms
  • title restrictions, easements and covenants
  • owners corporation fees and levies
  • planning and zoning information
  • anything to raise with the agent before auction day

We'll tell you what we found, why it matters and what you may want to do next.

What's included

What does a pre-auction contract review include?

We read both documents in full before you bid. Your review is done by Australian property lawyers who work in Victorian property law.

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  • Contract of Sale We look at the terms and conditions, including special conditions, settlement provisions and buyer obligations.
  • Section 32 Vendor Statement We review the information provided about the property and identify matters that may need attention or further investigation.
  • Special conditions Special conditions can materially change the standard transaction. We'll explain the ones that matter.
  • Title and restrictions We'll identify relevant easements, covenants and other restrictions appearing in the documents.
  • Owners corporation Where relevant, we'll flag owners corporation information and issues that may affect the property.
  • What happens next We'll explain the practical next steps so you know what to ask, investigate or negotiate before proceeding.
Deposit

Plan your deposit before auction day.

No law sets the deposit amount, but it's usually 10% of the price. The contract on display tells you what's required.

Want to pay a smaller deposit? Ask the seller before the auction. It needs a change to the contract, and they may say no.

Check with the agent how they'll accept payment on the day.

Section 32

What is a Section 32?

The Section 32 tells you what the seller is disclosing about the property. In Victoria, the seller's Section 32 Vendor Statement provides important information about the property and its title. It can include information relating to:

It can include information relating to:

  • ownership and title
  • mortgages and other registered interests
  • easements
  • covenants
  • planning
  • owners corporation matters
  • notices and charges
  • services
  • other information the seller is required to disclose

A Section 32 isn't simply another document to tick off your list. What's disclosed, what's missing and what it means can matter before you commit to the purchase.

Found a problem?

You stay in control.

A review doesn't tell you that you have to buy the property. It gives you information before you make the decision. Depending on what we find, you may choose to:

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  • Walk away If the property or contract isn't right for you.
  • Negotiate Ask for a change to the contract, price or other terms.
  • Investigate further Get the right building, pest, planning or other advice.
  • Proceed Move forward knowing what you're agreeing to.
Offering before auction?

Close to auction day, cooling-off disappears too.

If the seller accepts your offer less than three clear business days before the auction, there's no cooling-off period. The same applies within three clear business days after a public auction.

Treat a pre-auction offer like an auction bid. Get the contract reviewed first.

More than one property?

Send them all.

You're not limited to one property. If you're still searching, you can use Prepared to review the contracts you're considering before you decide which property is right for you. No charge. No obligation.

The right time to get legal advice isn't after you've bought the property. It's before you commit.

How it works

Four simple steps.

Upload your contract

Send us the Contract of Sale and Section 32 securely online.

We review it

A property lawyer reviews the documents and identifies the issues that matter.

Get your review

We'll return your review with clear explanations and practical next steps.

Decide what to do

Walk away, negotiate, investigate further or proceed. There's no obligation to use Prepared for conveyancing.

Why use a property lawyer?

Your contract deserves more than a tick-and-flick.

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Same business day where possible

Property moves quickly. Submit before 2pm and we'll aim to have your review back before you need it. If we can't meet that timing, we'll tell you.

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Reviewed by property lawyers

A property contract isn't just paperwork. It creates legal obligations. Our reviews are completed by experienced Australian property lawyers working in Victorian property law.

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Melbourne-based, Victorian law

We're Melbourne-based and work with Victorian residential property every day.

Melbourne property lawyers

Auctions across Melbourne and Victoria.

We review auction contracts for property across Melbourne and regional Victoria. Send them in before auction day.

Don't see your suburb? If it's in Victoria, we can help. Send us your contract.

FAQs

Straight answers.

Is there a cooling-off period at auction in Victoria?

No. There's no cooling-off if you buy at a public auction, or within three clear business days before or after one.

Can I make my auction purchase subject to finance?

Not unless the seller agrees. The winning bidder signs the contract on the terms displayed before the auction.

How much deposit do I need at auction?

The contract sets it. No law fixes the amount, but it's usually 10%. If you want to pay less, ask the seller before the auction.

How early should I send the contract before auction?

As early as you can. We aim to return reviews the same business day, and sending early gives you time to ask the agent questions or arrange inspections.

What if the property is passed in?

The highest bidder usually gets the first chance to negotiate with the seller. A contract signed within three clear business days after the auction has no cooling-off, so the review still matters.

Is the review really free?

Yes. There's no charge, no credit card and no obligation to appoint Prepared for conveyancing.

Do you review commercial or off-the-plan contracts?

No. The free review covers residential property in Victoria. It doesn't cover commercial or off-the-plan purchases.

Get Started Today

Auction coming up? Get the contract reviewed first.

Free. No obligation. No credit card. Same-business-day response.

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