It depends. About 3 months, on average.
You’ve found some farm land within your price range and are now ready to make an offer and tackle the legal steps.
We can help you with drafting any special conditions you wish to submit with your offer. Common conditions include making your offer subject to finance, seeking early access to the property before settlement, selling your current property as a condition of proceeding with the purchase, or requiring that the vendor does certain work (like boundary fencing) to the property prior to settlement.
The vendor's lawyer or conveyancer prepares the Contract of Sale and Vendor’s Statement, also known as a Section 32. We’ll review these documents, make sure your offer has properly been reflected in the contract, seek further information about the property where necessary, and raise any red flags with you before signing. Farm land often involves multiple titles and lots, and this can make things more complex!
Then we'll make sure that the contract has been signed and properly exchanged, and work with you to make sure the deposit has been paid.
We will make sure any special conditions have been fulfilled (or that they are on track to being ticked off before settlement).
Then we will prepare the documents for settlement, and we'll apply any available farming concessions or exemptions which may apply to your purchase (these sometimes get missed when lawyers or conveyancers who are not familiar with farming land are involved).
We will calculate and provide you with the amount required to settle, and work with you and your financier to make sure the funds required are in the right place at the right time.
You should make sure you have insurance and any other connected services sorted out and effective from the settlement date, and that you inspect the property in the seven days prior to settlement to make sure that livestock are removed and the property is in the same condition it was in when you signed the contract (subject to fair wear and tear).
At settlement we will require that the vendor's mortgage is discharged and that any other matters affecting the title (such as caveats or notices) are withdrawn or dealt with in accordance with the contract. We make sure you the settlement funds have been applied correctly in the online settlement workspace and that the vendor has contributed their proportion to the rating period for any rates and outgoings (and that arrears are paid from funds due to the vendor). We check stamp duty has been properly assessed, that your correct name and address will be registered on title, and your manner of holding is recorded on title in the way you have instructed us.
We'll let you know as soon as we can once settlement has been completed and it's time to celebrate! Following settlement, we will notify the council, water authority and State Revenue Office that you are the new owner of the land.
How exciting! Let the agent know to send the paperwork through to your lawyer at Sewells so we can review it carefully and give you some advice before you sign on the dotted line. If you've purchased at auction then send us through the signed contract as soon as you can. That way our land and business team will be on the front foot to help the process go smoothly for you and we can chat about the next steps.
A conveyancer can only assist with straightforward property and business transfers and cannot provide legal advice. A lawyer is qualified to practice much more broadly (e.g. we can help make your will, or assist you with a dispute) as well as helping you with property and business matters. Not all contracts progress smoothly. It really helps to have a lawyer on your side from the get-go. That way we are ready to guide you to prevent and resolve any issues simply and quickly.
Our Meags grew up on a dairy farm near Cobden and has a genuine knack for people. It’s no wonder that she’s a wonderful host and embraces every moment she can, feeding food (and wine) to her friends and family at home. We all wish we could score an invite to her place at Christmas. Just maybe not when the Magpies are playing on TV. Yep, another Collingwood nutter!
You don’t have to drive too far to see Bec slaying her guitar with her pub rock cover band. The volume is quite a contrast to her upbringing on a peaceful farm! Bec comes from three generations of dairy farmers in Camperdown. That’s a lot of legacy, life experience and appreciation for practicality – all of which she naturally applies in her advice. And her clients love her for it.
Shaun cherishes the sense of community living in Camperdown, having moved from Geelong seven years ago. It’s no wonder he enjoys playing team sports, such as cricket, tennis and soccer. He and his lovely wife also have a young son and two dogs to run around after.
Grace loves the convenience of how close everything is in the country. From work, family, the supermarket and of course, her home. She grew up in Colac and learnt a lot of life experience from her parents who run a business in the ag industry. If you haven’t been lucky enough to meet her in the office just yet, find her watching the local Colac Tigers come the weekend.
Ash's upbringing revolved around shearing sheds, saleyards and running amok in the NSW bush. She's now enjoying bringing up her young son on the Bellarine and enjoying all that this area has to offer. If you ask Ash about football, she’ll tell you the Bombers are due for some strong finals action. We think she'll be waiting some time yet!
Our Saint ’Nick’ is not just a St Kilda supporter. He’s an avid video game player and enjoys listening to music to accompany the relaxing atmosphere of country life. We’re not sure if it’s his choice in football teams that makes him ultra-resilient or his two younger brothers. Maybe ask him when you chat to him next.
As a Colac local for over 40 years, chances are you’ve met Dave. He loves socialising with his mates, enjoying a weekend walk or getting his hands dirty in the garden. When it comes to footy, he’s been one of those lucky ones to taste regular glory. Yep, if we let him, you’d hear ‘We are Geelong, the greatest team of all…’ on repeat.
Have you had the pleasure of meeting Trac? A self-dubbed ‘Colacian’ for her entire life, Trac has 3 kids, 5 grandkids and one very spoilt dog named ‘Jax.’ She loves spending time with her family. She also enjoys spending time outdoors and soaking in fresh air; in the garden, out walking or riding her bike.
Kevin’s kids are so fortunate to have a dad who loves getting involved with whatever activities they’re into. Whether it be cricket, footy, bike-riding - he and his family love getting out and about. If you haven’t been lucky enough to meet Kevin just yet, there’s a good chance you’ll bump into him at the local footy and cricket clubs.
Peta was born and raised in Camperdown. She’s now in the life chapter of growing her own family with her hubby, one beautiful girl and two big fur babies. When they find a quiet weekend - by day, they’ll be in the garden or renovating their home. By night, cooking tea and snuggling up with a glass of wine and a good movie.
If you’re one of those patient Essendon supporters waiting to ‘see the Bombers fly up', you’ll gravitate to Kelly who’s loyal through and through. A member of our conveyancing team since 2017, Kelly gains a lot of satisfaction from helping our clients smoothly reach settlement day. Outside of work you can find her pounding the pavements of Cobden with her best fur-friend, Remi the Labrador.
Kristy embraces the peaceful time she gets in her garden, as well as the moments and memories shared with her adored partner, Brett. Together they live in Camperdown and have five awesome kids. If you’re trying to find a non-Geelong supporter to confide in, you’ve finally found someone in Kristy.
Aside from her family, Renea loves nothing more than being able to pick a bunch of flowers from her own garden. She lives on a mixed cropping and sheep farm with her husband and three children. Then there’s Mandy, their Cavoodle dog. She's considered their fourth child, and certainly takes the highest ranking of all the animals on their farm.
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