Prior preparation and assembly of the information that relates to your ownership of the property will save on legal costs later.

Most of these documents will have been provided to you when you originally bought your home. Details can also be obtained from Property Tax / Rates Invoices that come quarterly from local City Authorities.

Assemble all of the paperwork that relates to the ownership of your property or house.

• A copy of the Sale and Purchase Agreement that you received when you originally bought the house
• A copy of the lawyer's report that you should have received at the time of the original purchase
• Deed, title, proof of ownership. Include the Legal Description of the property (Lot Number, Deposited Plan Number, Certificate of Title, Title-freehold, leasehold, cross lease, joint title, unit title, company title, etc)
• Area of property (square metres or square feet), house area (square metres or square feet), garage area (square metres or square feet). Know where your boundaries lie.
• Any covenants, caveats, easements that have been applied to the property
• Details of outstanding mortgages on the property
• Details of taxes or rates levied on the property
• Details of the valuation of the property and the year of the most recent valuation
• Details of your property insurance
• Any tax implications or financial trusts that relate to the house sale