Contract and Section 32 Reviews in Balwyn

Understand what you are signing before you commit

The best time to get advice on a property purchase is before you sign the contract or bid at auction. Grice Legal reviews your contract of sale and Section 32 vendor statement, explains the issues that matter in plain English and gives you the opportunity to ask questions, negotiate changes or decide not to proceed

Submit a contract for review
Call us 03 9831 5700

What your review covers

We review the general and special conditions, including deposit terms, settlement date, finance clauses, default provisions and any unusual obligations.

Contract of sale review

Your review includes a telephone consultation of up to 20 minutes to talk through our advice and answer your questions.

Telephone discussion

We check the title, easements, covenants, planning controls, outgoings, building permits and owners corporation information disclosed by the vendor.

Section 32 vendor statement review

Because auction contracts are usually unconditional, we can review the documents before auction day so you can bid with a clear understanding of the terms.

Pre-auction reviews

You receive written advice that identifies the key issues and risks, giving you a clear reference when deciding how to proceed.

Written advice

We review contracts for units, apartments and owners corporation properties, as well as off-the-plan and commercial purchases, which often contain additional terms.

Apartments, off-the-plan and commercial purchases

Our contract review process is designed to be quick and simple

  • Business meeting with a woman taking notes while speaking with a male colleague at a desk

    Step 1 – Send us the documents

    Submit the contract of sale and Section 32 statement using our online form, and tell us about any auction or signing deadline.

  • Business professionals reviewing financial reports at a conference table with a laptop, calculator, and charts

    Step 2 – We review the documents

    We review the contract and vendor statement against your intended use of the property and identify any issues that need attention.

  • Woman reviewing and signing documents with a man at an office meeting table

    Step 3 – Written advice

    We send you written advice setting out the important issues, risks and any recommended changes.

  • Businesswoman reviewing documents and taking notes at a desk while a businessman talks on a phone in the background

    Step 4 – Talk it through

    We discuss our advice by telephone and answer your questions, so you know what the issues mean for you.

  • Businesswoman signing documents at a desk while discussing paperwork with a male colleague

    Step 5 – Your next step

    You decide whether to proceed, negotiate or walk away. If you proceed, we can act on your purchase through to settlement.

Our contract reviews are offered at a fixed fee, depending on the type of property

  • White letter G on a dark red background.

    Standard

    Suitable for houses, townhouses and vacant land.

    $440 inc GST

  • White letter G on a blue background.

    Enhanced

    Suitable for units, apartments and owners corporation properties.

    $550 inc GST

  • Blue background with a large white letter G in the center.

    Complex

    Suitable for commercial and off-the-plan purchases.

    $825 inc GST

Contract reviews for buyers in Balwyn and the inner east

Contracts for homes in Balwyn, Camberwell and surrounding suburbs frequently involve heritage or planning overlays, single-dwelling covenants, easements and owners corporation rules. These can affect what you can build or change.

We have been based in Balwyn since 1974 and review contracts for buyers across eastern Melbourne and throughout Victoria.

Why Clients Trust Grice Legal

Grice Legal has been based in Balwyn since 1974. We are a boutique firm advising on family law, property and conveyancing, and wills, estates and structures, with a personal, senior-led approach.

Our Whitehorse Road office in Balwyn has served clients across Boroondara and eastern Melbourne for more than 50 years. 

Local since 1974 

You will know who is looking after your matter and can speak with them directly when questions arise. 

Direct access to your lawyer

Conferences are available in person at our Balwyn office, by telephone or by video. 

Meet in the way that suits you 

Plain-English, practical advice 

We explain your options, the risks and the next steps clearly, so you can make informed decisions. 

We discuss the likely costs at the start and let you know if the estimate changes. 

Open about costs 

Meet the Team

From Our Clients

  • Five red stars aligned horizontally.

    "Nicholas was a patient and a very good listener. He understood my concerns and gave advice accordingly. I feel that I am in good hands."

  • Five maroon-colored stars in a row.

    "After my appointment with Rachael I am confident that I now have the right person handle my legal issues."

  • Five maroon stars aligned in a row.

    "Our initial appointment certainly met and exceeded expectations. It was extremely informative and we received the advice we needed. Thank you!"

  • Five maroon stars in a horizontal row.

    "Anna was very professional, friendly and very helpful"

  • Five maroon five-pointed stars in a row

    "Rachael gives clear, informed goals. She shows understanding and empathy for your particular needs and sets outs steps to achieve them."

  • Five red stars arranged in a horizontal row.

    "Nicholas provided me with excellent, timely, professional service and I am confident he will continue to do so should I require it."

  • Five maroon-colored stars in a row

    "Anna was just a pleasure to have working for us. She was always clear and thorough, advocating for us and advising us along the way of buying our new house. We would totally recommend her and her service."

  • Five maroon-colored stars aligned in a row.

    "I found Grice Legal to be extremely helpful and efficient with their advice and prompt with all the required paperwork in completing my will requirement, veery approachable staff. I can fully recommend their services"

Contract Review FAQs

  • We will endeavour to review your contract in three business days of receipt. If you have an auction or signing deadline, tell us when you submit the documents so we can confirm whether we can meet it.

  • It is especially important. Auction contracts are usually unconditional once the property is knocked down to you, and there is generally no cooling-off period. A review before auction day lets you understand the terms before you are legally committed.

  • Where time allows, we can recommend and request amendments, such as a finance condition, a different settlement date or changes to special conditions. The vendor does not have to agree. For auctions, any changes generally need to be agreed before auction day.

  • Common issues include easements and covenants that restrict building, planning or heritage overlays, owners corporation levies or disputes, building work without permits, unusual special conditions, GST provisions and penalty interest or default terms. Whether an issue is significant depends on your plans for the property.

  • No. A contract review is advice before you commit to buying. Conveyancing is the legal work carried out after you sign, through to settlement. If you proceed with the purchase, we can also act for you on the conveyancing.

  • Not necessarily. Contact us immediately. If a cooling-off period applies, there may still be a short window to end the contract, although a termination amount is usually payable. Even if you cannot end the contract, early advice helps you prepare for settlement.

  • No. A contract review is a legal review of the documents. It does not assess the building's condition. A building and pest inspection is a separate, specialist service, and you should arrange one if you want that information.

  • Yes. We review contracts for properties throughout Victoria. Local knowledge of eastern Melbourne is helpful, but the legal requirements for contracts and vendor statements apply across the state.

  • The contract of sale and complete Section 32 statement, the auction or intended signing date, and any relevant details, such as how you plan to use the property, whether you need finance and who will be buying.

  • We explain the issue, how serious it is likely to be for you and your options. These may include requesting further information, negotiating a change, adjusting your offer or deciding not to proceed. The decision is yours.

Ready to Have Your Contract Reviewed?

Send it to us before you sign or bid. Submit your contract online, or call us if your auction or signing date is close.