The checklist
- Look up the address. Flood, bushfire, heritage, zoning and easements, before you spend a Saturday at the open home. (Flood: VIC · NSW · QLD, bushfire, easements)
- Check the school zone if it matters to you, for the year your child will start. (School zones)
- Look at the sales history of the house and similar homes nearby. (Sales history)
- Get the seller’s documents and read them (see below).
- Book a building and pest inspection with a licensed inspector.
- Strata? Get a strata report and read the by-laws.
- Get a quote for home insurance, including flood cover, before you commit.
- Have a conveyancer or solicitor review the contract before you sign.
- Know your cooling-off rights, and that there are none at auction.
The seller’s documents, by state
| State | What you should get | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria | The Section 32 Vendor Statement: title, mortgages, easements and covenants, zoning, rates and other outgoings, and whether it’s in a bushfire prone area. Agents must also make a due diligence checklist available at inspections. | It doesn’t cover the building’s condition. From June 2027 it must be available earlier, within 14 days of advertising. |
| New South Wales | Documents attached to the contract: the section 10.7 planning certificate, title search and deposited plan, easement documents (including section 88B instruments), a sewer or drainage diagram, strata documents and any pool certificate. | Agents must disclose material facts, such as flooding or bush fire in the last five years. |
| Queensland | The Seller Disclosure Statement (Form 2) and certificates, before you sign: title and encumbrances, zoning, contamination, pools, notices, body corporate information. | It doesn’t cover flooding, structure or past building approvals. If it’s not given or is materially wrong, you may be able to end the contract before settlement. |
Cooling-off periods
| State | How long | Cost to pull out | No cooling-off when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | 3 clear business days from when you sign | $100 or 0.2% of the price, whichever is more | Bought at auction, or within 3 clear business days before or after an auction |
| New South Wales | 5 business days from exchange, ending 5pm (10 for off-the-plan) | 0.25% of the price | Bought at auction, or on the same day after it passed in; or waived with a section 66W certificate |
| Queensland | 5 business days from receiving the signed contract, ending 5pm | Up to 0.25% of the price | Bought at auction, or within 2 business days after a failed auction by a registered bidder; or waived in writing |
At auction you’re buying unconditionally. Do every check on this list before auction day.
How MapView helps
Put the address into MapView first. In about a minute you’ll see the Must Knows (flood, bushfire, heritage, easements on the title, contamination and more), the school zones, the sales history and the planning permits nearby, so you know which homes are worth paying to inspect.
Common questions
How long is the cooling-off period?
Victoria: 3 clear business days from when you sign, costing $100 or 0.2% of the price (whichever is more) to pull out. NSW: 5 business days from exchange, ending at 5pm, costing 0.25% (10 business days for off-the-plan). Queensland: 5 business days from receiving the signed contract, ending at 5pm, costing up to 0.25%.
Is there a cooling-off period at auction?
No, not in Victoria, NSW or Queensland. Some sales just before or after an auction are also excluded, so do your checks before auction day.
What is the Queensland Seller Disclosure Statement?
Since 1 August 2025, Queensland sellers must give buyers a disclosure statement (Form 2) and certificates before the contract is signed, covering the title, zoning, contamination, pools and more. It does not cover flooding, structural soundness or past building approvals.
Is a building and pest inspection worth it?
Yes. Official consumer guidance recommends one before you sign. Use a licensed inspector; in NSW, reports must meet an Australian Standard. An inspection isn't a warranty, so read the report and ask questions.
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules and official tools change, so check the sources below and talk to your conveyancer or solicitor before you commit.
