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By the time a Queensland property contract is in front of you to sign, most of the big decisions feel already made. This is exactly the point where a short, deliberate pause and a few direct questions can save a lot of stress later, whether you are buying with a standard REIQ contract or a developer’s off-the-plan version.
What Is Actually Included in the Sale
Contracts list inclusions and exclusions separately from the property description itself, covering fixtures, fittings and chattels such as blinds, light fittings, dishwashers, and garden sheds. Read this list carefully against what you actually inspected and expected to receive, since anything not listed as included can technically be removed by the seller before settlement.
What the Finance Clause Actually Says
If your purchase is subject to finance, check the finance clause for the exact amount, the lender or type of finance specified, and the notice date by which you must confirm finance is approved or unable to be obtained. Missing this date without formally acting on it can mean losing the protection the clause was meant to give you. Our guide on what happens if finance falls through covers this in more detail.
What the Building and Pest Clause Covers
A standard building and pest inspection clause sets a deadline for the inspection and a defined standard for what issues allow you to terminate or negotiate. Confirm the inspection date is realistic given how quickly you can book a licensed inspector, and understand whether the clause covers only structural issues or a broader standard.
Whether a Body Corporate Applies
If the property is a unit, townhouse, or any lot within a community titles scheme, confirm the contract references the correct Community Management Statement and that you have been given the required body corporate certificate. Our guide on body corporate checks for units and townhouses covers what to review before you commit.
The Settlement Date and What It Assumes
Check that the settlement date is realistic for your finance, any sale of your own property, and moving logistics. If your purchase depends on selling another property first, make sure that dependency is actually reflected as a special condition in the contract rather than just assumed informally.
What Seller Disclosure Has and Has Not Told You
Queensland’s seller disclosure scheme requires a Form 2 statement and prescribed certificates before you sign, but disclosure is not the same as your own independent research. Our guide to Queensland seller disclosure explains what the scheme requires and, just as importantly, what it does not cover.
Special Conditions Added to the Standard Contract
Special conditions can add to, remove, or override standard contract terms, so read them as carefully as the printed contract itself rather than assuming they are minor administrative additions. If a special condition is unclear or seems to work against your interests, ask before you sign, not after.
Your Cooling-Off Rights, If Any Apply
A statutory cooling-off period generally applies to most residential contracts in Queensland, but it does not apply in every situation, including some auction and off-the-plan purchases. Confirm whether cooling-off applies to your specific contract and, if so, exactly when it starts and ends. Our guide on how the cooling-off period works covers the detail.
Who Should Actually Answer These Questions
A solicitor or conveyancer reviewing the contract before you sign is the appropriate way to get definitive answers to most of the questions above, particularly anything involving special conditions, finance clauses, or how a specific clause interacts with your circumstances. Our guide on choosing a conveyancer or solicitor covers the difference.
Where This Fits Into Your Wider Research
Contract review is one part of a broader research process that also includes property inspections, title checks and area research. The free Queensland Property Research Checklist brings the full list together, and Property Review can help with an independent research pass on a specific property.
This guide is general research information only, not legal or conveyancing advice. Always have a Queensland-licensed solicitor or conveyancer review a property contract before you sign.
One of the most useful documents to ask about early is the title search — our guide to reading a Queensland property title search explains what each part of it actually tells you.
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