What is attached to an NSW auction contract?

The same prescribed documents as a private sale: the title search, drainage diagram, council planning certificate and any pool documents.

How much deposit do I pay at auction?

Usually 10% on the day. If you want a lower deposit or a deposit bond, ask the agent before the auction.

Yes, for your first 90 days. Send the contract before 2pm and it is back the same business day.

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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.

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Before auction day · NSW

Contract review before you bid.

At an NSW auction, you exchange when the hammer falls, and there’s no cooling-off if you win. Send us the Contract for sale and attached documents before auction day.

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

Get my free contract review Ready to buy? $1,900 fixed-fee conveyancing

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.

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 review

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

Fixed fee $1,900

Conveyancing, if you buy

Incl. GST, for a standard residential purchase. Covers contract review, title and plan review, special conditions and negotiation, exchange and cooling-off, transfer duty calculation and lodgement, reviewing building, pest and strata reports, searches and requisitions, preparing settlement statement and adjustments, liaising with your bank, PEXA settlement and regular updates.

Government charges, searches and 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
strata levies and by-laws
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 the contract and every attached document in full before you bid. Your review is done by Australian property lawyers who work in NSW property law.

Contract of Sale We look at the terms and conditions, including special conditions, settlement provisions and buyer obligations.
Attached documents 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.
Strata Where relevant, we’ll flag strata 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.

What’s attached

What’s attached to an NSW auction contract?
The seller attaches the prescribed documents to the contract, the same as for a private sale. They can include information relating to:

It can include information relating to:

ownership and title
mortgages and other registered interests
easements
covenants
planning
strata manager and by-laws
drainage and sewerage
notices and charges
services

The above list is not a complete list. Every property is unique. 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:

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.

How it works

Four simple steps.

Upload your contract

Send us the contract securely online.

We review it

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

Get your review the same business day

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.

Get my free contract review Or call 1300 018 099

Why use a property lawyer?

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

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.

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 NSW property law.

Sydney office, NSW law

Our Sydney office is in Chippendale, a short walk from Central Station.

Sydney property lawyers

Auctions across Sydney and NSW.

We review auction contracts for property across Sydney and regional NSW. Send them in before auction day.

We also review contracts across Greater Sydney and regional NSW, including Parramatta, Blacktown, Penrith, Liverpool, Bankstown, Chatswood, Bondi, Manly, Gosford, Terrigal, Erina, Woy Woy, Newcastle, Maitland, Port Stephens, Nelson Bay, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Tweed Heads, Shellharbour, Kiama, Nowra, Jervis Bay, Batemans Bay and Ulladulla.

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

Inner Sydney & CBD

Haymarket Surry Hills Ultimo

Inner south

Alexandria Darlington Erskineville Eveleigh Redfern Waterloo Zetland

Inner west

Camperdown Glebe

Free contract review Sydney Contract for sale review NSW Contract review before buying NSW Lawyer contract review NSW Fixed-fee conveyancing Sydney

FAQs

Straight answers.

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

No. There’s no cooling-off if you buy at auction, or if you exchange on the same day after a pass-in.

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 exchanged on the same day after a pass-in 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 NSW. It doesn't cover commercial or off-the-plan purchases.

Melbourne office
Level 1, 33 Cremorne Street,
Cremorne, VIC 3121

Sydney office
20–40 Meagher Street,
Chippendale NSW 2008

Phone: 1300 018 099
Email: contracts@prepared.com.au

Contract Reviews

For Buyers

For Sellers

Why Prepared

Prepared.com.au Pty Ltd – ABN 97 688 614 066
Provides information-only contract reviews sold via partner real estate agencies. Not a law practice. Not legal advice.

Prepared Legal Services Pty Ltd – ABN 94 688 125 180
Australian legal practice. Legal Services Board Entity Number E0030050.
Provides legal advice and conveyancing to clients who retain us.

Buying property should feel exciting, not overwhelming. We’re here to give you speed, clarity and confidence, so you can move on your next home without the stress.

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We’re more than property lawyers. We’re the team reimagining conveyancing to put people first.