Auction Property Conveyancing

Buying at auction in Queensland is different from a private treaty purchase in one crucial respect: there is no cooling-off period. The 5 business day cooling-off window that applies to most residential contracts does not apply to property bought at auction, and it also does not apply to a registered bidder who buys within 2 business days after an auction. That means once the hammer falls you are committed, with no built-in window to change your mind. Brisbane Conveyancers is a referral service, not a law firm, and we connect auction buyers with Queensland Law Society-member solicitors who review everything before you bid, not after.

Because there is no safety net after the auction, all the checks that a private buyer might do during cooling-off have to happen beforehand. The solicitor we refer you to reviews the contract and any special conditions, examines the title search for encumbrances, easements or caveats, and confirms the deposit terms and settlement date. Where the property is a unit or townhouse, they review the body corporate records and strata disclosure so you understand the levies and obligations before you commit a cent.

Finance is another area where auction buyers need to be ready. There is no finance condition at auction in the way there can be in a private contract, so you generally need unconditional finance arranged before bidding. The solicitor explains how this interacts with the contract and what your obligations are if you are the successful bidder. They will also confirm whether a building and pest inspection (a pre-settlement check of the structure and for pests such as termites) should be arranged before the auction, since you cannot make it a condition afterwards.

Queensland's seller disclosure regime still applies to auction sales: from 1 August 2025 the seller must give a Form 2 Seller Disclosure Statement and prescribed certificates before you sign, which at auction means before the auction. The solicitor checks that disclosure has been provided and reviews it as part of the pre-auction work.

This service suits anyone planning to bid at a Brisbane auction, for houses or units. On cost, many solicitors in our network offer a fixed professional fee for a routine auction purchase, with government charges, search fees and other disbursements confirmed separately in writing. We are a referral network and never set or charge the fee.

If you have your eye on a property going to auction, get the contract reviewed first. Share a few details and we will connect you with a Queensland Law Society-member solicitor, usually within one business day.