you don't have a contract if you don't have a contract
Avoiding contract complications and misunderstandings
If you’ve agreed to sell your property to a buyer verbally — that’s a great start. But in Australia, a verbal agreement is not legally binding when it comes to property sales.
Until a written contract of sale is signed by both parties, there is no legal commitment. That means your buyer can walk away at any time — no penalties, no consequences.
Here’s why it’s important to act quickly:
Buyers can get cold feet – The longer things are left informal, the more likely the buyer is to change their mind or find another property.
You risk losing momentum – Delays in formalising the deal can stall the process and make the buyer question their decision.
There’s no legal protection – Only a signed written contract secures the terms and locks in the sale.
To keep the deal on track, get a solicitor to prepare a contract of sale as soon as possible. Once signed, both parties are legally bound — giving everyone peace of mind and helping you move forward with confidence.
A quick note before you dive in:
We share what we’ve learned to help property owners make confident decisions — but we don’t yet know your personal goals or financial situation. So while we hope our advice gets you thinking in the right direction, it’s general in nature and not legal or financial advice.
We’d honestly hate to see anyone make a big decision based purely on what’s on our website — so let’s talk! Book a chat with one of our Owners Agents and we’ll look at your situation together, create a plan that fits, and help you sell with clarity and confidence.
