In this guide(12 sections)
Buying a place is the biggest cheque most of us ever write — so before you sign a contract or bid at auction in Victoria, it's worth having a real lawyer actually read what you're buying. We'll do that first read for free: no cost, no obligation, no credit card, no catch. Here's how it works, what we look for, and what it costs only if you decide to go ahead.
At a glance — free contract review in Melbourne
| What you get | A free first review of your contract of sale and/or Section 32 vendor statement |
| Who reviews it | Elisa Rothschild BA/LLB, a qualified solicitor (not a paralegal) |
| Cost of the review | Free 15-minute read — no obligation, no credit card |
| Full written review (optional) | $330 — and we credit the full $330 off your conveyancing fee if you go ahead |
| Turnaround | Same day for most; 24 hours (or same-day) for auctions |
| Cost if you proceed | Fixed-fee conveyancing $660–$990, disbursements at cost, no hidden charges |
| Where | Victoria-wide; office at 84 Chapel Street, St Kilda |
| How to start | Book online, call 03 4328 5084, or request a callback below |
Can I get a free conveyancing contract review in Melbourne?
Yes — Fogarty Oliver Rothschild offers a free review of your contract of sale or Section 32 vendor statement before you sign, anywhere in Victoria. Send it through (or book a free 15-minute consultation) and principal lawyer Elisa Rothschild BA/LLB will personally flag the obvious risks at no cost and no obligation. If you then choose to proceed, full senior-lawyer conveyancing is a fixed fee of $660–$990, with disbursements at cost and no hidden charges.
Request your free contract review → | Call 03 4328 5084
Is a free contract review really free — what's the catch?
There is no catch. The first review is genuinely free: no fee, no credit card, and no obligation to engage us afterwards. You get an honest read of the main risks in your contract or Section 32, and you decide what to do next. We only charge if you ask us to act on the full conveyancing — and that fee is fixed and agreed up front before any work starts, so there are no surprises.
A free first read is worth having because the riskiest moment in a property purchase is the moment before you sign. Catching a problem then costs nothing to fix; catching it after settlement can cost tens of thousands.
How much is a full written contract review?
A full written contract and Section 32 review by a senior solicitor is $330 — and here's the part that matters: if you go ahead with us for the conveyancing, we credit the whole $330 off your fee, so it costs you nothing extra. Plenty of cheaper services charge a one-off review fee you never see again, even when they then do your conveyancing. We don't — your review money goes straight onto the job.
So your options are simple:
- Free 15-minute read — we flag the obvious risks before you sign, at no cost and no obligation.
- Full written review — $330 — a clear, plain-English rundown of every risk in your contract and Section 32, credited in full off your conveyancing fee if you proceed.
Either way, you're never paying twice.
What does the free review actually check?
A genuine review looks past whether the documents are simply present and reads what they mean for your purchase. In the free first read, a senior solicitor checks the high-risk items:
- Restrictive covenants — height, materials or use restrictions that could block your renovation or rebuild
- Easements — drainage or access rights running through where you planned to build
- Planning overlays — heritage, flooding, bushfire and other controls on what you can do
- Owners corporation red flags — signs of special levies, defects or disputes in a strata building
- Special conditions in the contract that shift risk onto you
- Section 32 completeness — whether a defect gives you a right to rescind before settlement
This is the difference between a paralegal confirming documents exist and a solicitor reading what they actually say. (See our full Section 32 guide for what must be disclosed.)
How do I get my contract or Section 32 reviewed before I sign?
Getting your contract reviewed in Victoria takes three steps: send us the contract of sale and Section 32 (ask the selling agent for them — you're entitled to receive them before signing or bidding), book a free 15-minute consultation or request a callback, and Elisa will call you back personally — usually the same day — with an honest read of the risks.
You don't need to have decided anything yet. The earlier you send it, the more we can catch before you're committed.
Book your free review → | Call 03 4328 5084
Can you review a contract urgently before an auction?
Yes — we offer 24-hour, and often same-day, contract and Section 32 reviews for auction properties in Melbourne. This matters because a property bought at auction has no cooling-off period in Victoria: once the hammer falls you are bound, with no 3-day window to change your mind. Pre-auction review is the only chance to find a problem while you can still walk away. Send the contract the moment the agent provides it.
How much does conveyancing cost after the free review?
If you proceed after the free review, conveyancing at Fogarty Oliver Rothschild is a fixed fee of $660–$990 depending on complexity, with the work done by a qualified solicitor. Disbursements (searches, certificates, PEXA) are passed on at cost with no markup, and there are no file-closure fees, no urgent-auction surcharges and no surprise charges. You'll have the fixed figure in writing before any work begins. See our full conveyancing fees guide for the complete breakdown.
Free review vs a cheap online quote — what's the difference?
The difference is who reads your file. A $440 online conveyancer typically uses a paralegal working from a template to confirm the documents are present. A free senior-solicitor review reads the substance — covenants against your plans, owners corporation minutes, heritage citations, special conditions — and that's where expensive problems are caught.
Two recent examples (details modified): on a Brighton purchase, pulling the heritage citation showed demolition would almost certainly be refused — the buyer walked before signing. On a Carnegie apartment, the owners corporation minutes revealed a $22,000 special levy the Form 23 hadn't yet disclosed — the buyer renegotiated. In both, a templated review had passed the file as clean.
Do you only cover certain Melbourne suburbs?
No — we act for buyers and sellers across Victoria, with our office at 84 Chapel Street, St Kilda. We regularly handle conveyancing in the bayside and inner-south suburbs, including St Kilda, Brighton, Elwood, Elsternwick, Caulfield, South Yarra and Toorak — but distance is no barrier, because Victorian conveyancing settles electronically through PEXA.
Frequently asked questions
Is the contract review really free?
Yes. The first review of your contract of sale or Section 32 is free, with no obligation and no credit card required. You only pay if you choose to engage us for the full conveyancing, at a fixed fee agreed before any work starts.
Who reviews my contract?
A qualified solicitor — Elisa Rothschild BA/LLB, principal of Fogarty Oliver Rothschild, in practice since 2012 and a member of the Law Institute of Victoria. Not a paralegal working from a template.
How quickly can you review my contract?
Most reviews are done the same day. For auction properties, where there is no cooling-off period, we offer 24-hour and often same-day turnaround — send the contract as soon as you have it.
Do I need a contract reviewed before signing in Victoria?
It's strongly advisable. For a private sale you have only 3 clear business days of cooling-off after signing; at auction you have none. A pre-signing review is your best opportunity to find a problem while you can still negotiate or walk away.
What will conveyancing cost if I proceed?
A fixed fee of $660–$990 depending on complexity, with disbursements at cost and no hidden charges. The exact figure is agreed in writing at the free consultation before any work begins.
How much does a contract review cost?
A free 15-minute read costs nothing. A full written review by a senior solicitor is $330 — and we credit the full $330 off your conveyancing fee if you go ahead, so it's effectively free if you proceed. Many services charge a one-off review fee (around $199) that isn't credited even if they do your conveyancing.
Do I need a conveyancer or a solicitor?
In Victoria both can do conveyancing, often at a similar price. A solicitor can also handle FIRB, trusts, deceased estates and family-law-related transfers a conveyancer must refer out — so for anything complex, a solicitor is usually better value.
Can you review commercial property contracts too?
Yes. We review contracts and Section 32 statements for both residential and commercial property sales in Victoria.
What do I need to send for the review?
The contract of sale and the Section 32 vendor statement (the selling agent can provide both). If you don't have them yet, we can still talk through your situation in the free consultation.
Ready for your free contract review?
The first review is free — no obligation, no credit card.
📧 info@fogartyoliverandrothschild.com.au
📍 84 Chapel Street, St Kilda VIC 3182
🌐 Request your free contract review online →
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm. After-hours for auction weeks.
Written and reviewed by Elisa Rothschild BA/LLB — Principal Lawyer, Fogarty Oliver Rothschild. Admitted to legal practice in Victoria. Conveyancing and property law in Melbourne since 2012.Last reviewed 26 June 2026.
This guide is general information about Victorian conveyancing, not legal advice for your specific situation. For advice on your matter, book a free 15-minute consultation.