Schindlers Attorneys & Conveyancers

Felt like the conveyancers protected the seller, not the agreement

My experience with HBGSchindlers Attorneys during my property transfer was extremely disappointing and stressful. An Addendum was signed to protect me as the purchaser by retaining funds and setting clear timelines for resolving compliance and building plan issues. Despite this, I repeatedly felt the firm’s approach prioritised the seller’s convenience and preferred service providers, rather than strictly applying the Addendum as written. I raised serious concerns about the validity of the gas, electrical and electric fence compliance certificates and disputed them in writing. Instead of treating those disputes with the seriousness they deserve, I was repeatedly pushed toward proceeding on the seller’s terms and even encouraged to accept the seller’s ‘new’ gas person, while my objections were treated as an inconvenience. On the building plans, I challenged the completeness of the ‘approved’ plan pack immediately when it was sent to me, including highlighting discrepancies between the plans and the as-built condition (structural/layout changes in the main living area), and I also pointed out that one of the attached plans appeared to be for a different property. Rather than resolving the substance of the issues, responses leaned on ‘plain reading’ arguments and third-party statements, without demonstrating how the plan set was actually verified against what exists on site. The overall pattern left me feeling that my role as purchaser—and the protections built into the Addendum—were treated as secondary, while the seller’s preferred outcomes were defended and advanced. Communication became circular and the process felt designed to reach a quick payout outcome rather than a proper, contract-compliant resolution. I strongly recommend that anyone using this firm independently verifies all compliance certificates and approved plan sets early, and gets independent advice if there is any dispute. Based on my experience, I would not use this firm again. I expected neutral administration of retained funds and fair adherence to the signed Addendum. What I experienced felt one-sided and dismissive of legitimate purchaser concerns.