How to choose a conveyancing lawyer for a new launch

Choose a conveyancing lawyer for a Singapore new launch by asking who will handle the transaction, what is included in the fee and when you can ask for advice before signing. A quote for “conveyancing” can refer to different work and assumptions. The buyer needs a professional who can explain the agreement and timetable for the actual unit, not just the lowest headline fee.

Which work do you need the lawyer to cover?

List the stages you expect help with: review of the Option to Purchase and Sale and Purchase Agreement, title and project checks relevant to the transaction, stamp-duty filing, CPF and loan documentation if used, payment milestones, key collection and completion. Ask the firm which of those are included, which are handled by someone else and what triggers an extra fee. URA's home-buyer guide says that buyers who engage a lawyer should clarify the scope of services and legal fees. It also explains that the Sale and Purchase Agreement is a private contract between the developer and purchaser and should be reviewed before signing. Your lawyer should answer questions about your actual documents, not a generic online summary.

Use the Law Society's lawyer and firm finder as one starting point for identifying a firm, then verify its current practice area, availability and engagement terms directly. A directory listing is not a recommendation from NewLaunchGuru, and it does not say whether a particular lawyer is suitable for your transaction. Ask whether the named professional will handle the matter or whether routine communication comes from another team member, and who you contact when a deadline is close.

How do you compare two fee proposals?

Send both firms the same information: developer and project, unit type, proposed price, whether you will use CPF and a bank loan, citizenship or ownership issues that may matter, and the expected booking date. Ask for a fee breakdown that separates professional fees, government payments and third-party disbursements. Ask what happens if you decide not to proceed after reviewing the agreement, if the loan offer changes, or if a document needs unusual work. IRAS's Buyer's Stamp Duty page is an official source for the tax itself; a law firm's professional fee is a different line item.

For an illustrative comparison, Firm A quotes one amount for a cash purchase and a separate amount when a bank loan and CPF are involved. Firm B gives a single figure but leaves loan-document work undefined. The example contains no real fee numbers. Ask both firms to price the same fact pattern before deciding. A slightly higher all-in quote with a clear named contact and included work may be easier to budget than an incomplete quote, but the choice depends on the actual written terms and service you need.

Which questions should you ask before signing an engagement letter?

Ask when the firm needs the developer's documents, how quickly it can review them, who checks stamp-duty deadlines, which payments you make directly, and how it reports a concern. Ask what documents you will receive at completion and how they will be stored or returned. If you are buying with someone else, ask how the firm handles instructions from both buyers and potential conflicts. A guide cannot interpret an agreement or decide ownership structure. Bring those questions to the qualified lawyer before you commit.

Keep the fee proposal, engagement letter, signed documents and payment calendar in the new-launch research file. The questions beyond the showflat help collect issues before the appointment, and research guides cover the earlier search. You may send NewLaunchGuru an editorial question about what to ask a firm; we do not give legal advice, select a lawyer for you or promise a referral. Any future introduction would require your separate permission to share details.

Common questions