Settlement Services

1. Australian Institute of Conveyancers WA Division (Inc.)
2. Independent Settlement Agents Association (Inc.)
3. Strata Title Institute of WA
4. Urban Development Institute of WA
5. Property Council of Australia
6. Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WA)

Staying informed is essential; at Vicki Philipoff Settlements our clients never miss a beat. Our free SMS service ensures you're up to date every step of the way. From the moment your contract is received in our office to the day it settles, our SMS service ensures you are kept in the loop.

As a Vicki Philipoff Settlements client you, your Real Estate Representative and your Finance Broker (if applicable) will be provided a login and password to enable you to have access to your file status online. Our live access system is a popular, powerful tool enabling you to monitor the progress of your conveyancing transaction from the comfort of your own home or work any time of night or day.

Many years of conveyancing experience has proven to us that time is of the essence. Our Fast Track service ensures we waste no time in getting important information out to our clients and agents. Your settlement is processed immediately it arrives at our office. Our unique Fast Track system gives us the capability of starting your file and sending you relevant documentation within 3 working days of your nominating us. If you prefer we can guarantee you preparation of documents within 24 hours of being appointed!

Credit cards offer enormous advantages over other methods of payment. Cardholders who use their card wisely can experience major benefits. For your convenience Vicki Philipoff Settlements are pleased to accept all major credit cards. Why not utilize this service to pay for your deposit, fees or purchase price of property? Contact your conveyancer for more information.

Paying Stamp Duty before settlement takes place is a legal requirement that can make purchasing property cumbersome for some Buyers.

Clauses 3.2 and 3.3 of the Joint Form of General Conditions for the Sale of Land state the Buyer must provide the Seller with a stamped Transfer of Land. The Seller is under no obligation to sign a Transfer of Land that isn't stamped and they may exercise this right.

If you or your client are unable to provide us with a cheque for their duty at least 7 days prior to settlement we can provide assistance:

Option 1 - We offer to pay Stamp Duty on the day of settlement
Option 2 - We offer to pay Stamp Duty within 7 days prior to settlement date.

As well as being an appreciated and effective product, our Stamp Duty service complies with Trust Account Regulations, the Trade Practices Act and the Settlement Agents Supervisory Board recommendations.

We're happy to offer services that help alleviate stresses for first home-buyers. In addition to paying the Transfer Duty (if applicable) we are able to pay a client's First Homeowner's Grant before settlement too! Currently the First Homeowner's Grant can only be obtained prior to settlement if the Buyer is borrowing from an accredited financial institution.

Provided you are paying the government scale fee, Vicki Philipoff Settlements allows you to use any source of finance and will provide you the $7,000. This is simply another way we help our clients Settle With Ease®! For up to the minute information on the First Homeowner's grant click here.

Purchasing or Selling a property in Western Australia but live overseas? Allow Vicki Philipoff Settlements to expedite a straightforward settlement for you. We have the technology to send you your documentation instantly via electronic mail, allowing for a fast and environmentally sound transaction! Additionally, we employ DHL Worldwide Couriers who, in most cases, provide a 24 hour service.

If you're an overseas investor (individual, company or otherwise) our professional staff can assist with your Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approval on your behalf., on the basis that you are paying the government scale settlement fee. For detailed information on state requirements for FIRB approval please click here.

We all have a vested interest in environmental sustainability; it's without doubt the biggest challenge we face in a global community. As a local organisation in this global community, Vicki Philipoff Settlements are committed to incorporating environmentally responsible practices into everyday business processes.

Having achieved SAI's global Quality Accreditation in 2005, this coming year we hope to achieve the 5 Green Ticks of Environmental Accreditation.

We have identified 3 vital steps necessary to achieve being awarded with Environmental Accreditation, namely:

1. ensuring our organisation's equipment is energy efficient
2. changing behaviours through environmental policy and procedures
3. maintaining this commitment through continual improvement

Vicki Philipoff Settlements has established a relationship with "Carbon Neutral" - a WA based company committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere and winner of the State's WA Environment Awards in 2007. We are pleased to offer this environmentally conscious option to our clients:

Once your contract is received in our office rather than receiving a conventional settlement pack via Australia Post, you can elect to support our environment by receiving an online settlement pack via email. Should you nominate the latter option we will reward the environment with a $3 donation to Carbon Neutral who will plant a native tree on your behalf.

We are delighted to be associated with both Carbon Neutral and SAI Global; through utilising modern technology and the implementation of systems we can move toward energy efficient business procedures.

For more information on ways to minimise carbon emissions in your home or workplace please refer to Carbon Neutral's website http://www.carbonneutral.com.au/default.htm

We are thoroughly experienced in all facets of commercial property settlements. GST may be involved with commercial transactions. Vicki Philipoff Settlements identifies the relevant GST clause in accordance with the Joint Form of General Conditions for the Sale of Land.

See Clause 18 below pertaining to GST- extracted from the Joint Form of General Conditions for the Sale of Land

1. 18. GST
2. 18.1 When Purchase Price does not include GST
   1. unless otherwise expressly stated in the Contract the Purchase Price does not include GST
   2. Without affecting subclause (a), the Buyer is not required to pay to the Seller GST on the Purchase Price at Settlement unless otherwise expressly provided in the Contract
3. 18.2 Margin Scheme Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Contract, the Seller must not apply the Margin Scheme in respect to the sale of the Property
4. 18.3 When GST is to be paid on the Purchase Price
   1. If the Contract provides that GST must be paid on the Purchase Price, the following provisions will apply
   2. On Settlement
      1. The Buyer must in addition to the Purchase Price pay the GST on the Purchase Price and any other consideration payable under the Contract; and
      2. the Seller must provide a Tax Invoice to the Buyer
5. 18.4 GST on Damages
   1. If
      1. a Successful party becomes entitles to damages as a result of default under the Contract; and
      2. the Successful party is liable to pay GST on the damages,
      3. The payment party must pay to the Successful Party the GST payable by the Successful party on the damages at the same time as the Payment Party must pay the damages to the Successful Party
   2. If subclause (a) applies, the Successful party must, on payment of the damages, provide a Tax Invoice to the Payment Party
   3. The provisions of this clause apply whether or not GST is payable on Purchase Price
6. In addition, we always check to see if the seller is actually registered for GST, as this will effect the sale contract for their property. A FREE quick search at www.abr.gov.au will reveal if the seller is properly registered for GST and whether they are actually entitled to receive the GST from the buyer at settlement.

1. The Courts can decide whether a by-law that's already registered on a Strata Plan has legal gravity? (The sole fact that it's registered on the Strata Plan doesn't mean it can't be challenged, overruled or removed).
2. Unit entitlement can be altered under Sections 15 & 16 & 103H of the Strata Titles Act. An owner can lodge an Application to have their unit entitlement re-assessed in accordance with the capital value.
3. Section 36 of the Strata Titles Act can be utilised in creating a by-law to vary a unit's levy payments that aren't in accordance with the unit entitlement.
4. A Management Statement is not "locked in" forever and can be amended much the same way by-laws can be.
5. Sellers should let their Settlement Representative and their Selling agent know if they receive a notice of a Strata meeting before Settlement is effected.
6. The Strata Company is not obliged to give any other minutes to a prospective buyer besides the AGM minutes.
7. There are approximately 49,000 strata properties in Western Australia and 41,000 of those are 2-5 unit complexes.

Vicki Philipoff Settlements are members of the Urban Development Institute of Western Australia. We recognize that a Developer, Builder or Property Investor have specific needs when it comes to choosing a Settlement Agent.

In a development project every cent counts and attention to detail is paramount - Vicki Philipoff Settlements is the trusted choice of settlement agent for your development site.

If you happen to be buying or selling a property without the services of a Real Estate Agent, let one of our experienced staff guide you through the process and assist in preparing your Offer and Acceptance.

Contact one of our Conveyancing Specialists for further details on this service info at vickiphilipoff dot com.au or 6311 4888.

Some Points You Ought to Consider

1. Make all dates for finance and settlement achievable
2. Fully describe the property being sold
3. Clearly list all conditions on the Offer & Acceptance and ,if any, have a time limit state the time given
4. List any chattels not included with the property on the Offer & Acceptance
5. List any defects with the property on the Offer & Acceptance
6. Always have the full names of all parties and signatures independently witnessed
7. Have a search of the Certificate of Title with the Offer & Acceptance to show what Encumbrances will remain on the Deed and be sure to have a diagram of the lot to locate where any covenants may be
8. Ensure a Strata Annexure (if applicable) and the Joint Form of General Conditions for the Sale of Land are given to the Buyer
9. Sellers need to be sure the sale price will cover all registered debts

$20.00 Transfer Duty!

With all the talk of Transfer Duty increases, decreases, exemptions, discounts and changes to the Act - we'd like to share something very simple and pleasing with you, a way to transfer property Ownership for just $20.00! There are a few situations in which a Transferee will only pay what is called a 'nominal' Transfer Duty fee, or on some occasions Transfer Duty may be free!

If your principal place of residence in your name and you wish to transfer half of the property to someone you're legally married to, or your de-facto partner (also applies to same sex couples) then your Transfer Duty will be free.

Under the Stamp Act, a nominal rate of duty also applies to transfers between spouses or de facto partners upon the breakdown of a relationship. A $20.00 Transfer Duty is payable where the parties have a sealed Family Consent order specifying a property Transfer from both parties to one party.

Once you have a Court Order, we can apply to change the names from Joint Tenants and any Transfer Duty on the Transfer is assessed at a nominal rate. Another example of nominal duty ($20.00 being payable is if you are the beneficiary of a deceased estate.

If you are the beneficiary of a Trust, the Stamp Act provides for the assessment of Nominal Duty ($20.00) on the Transfer of property by a Trustee to a beneficiary, except where the Trustee is a discretionary Trustee or a unit Trustee.

There are also certain situations where the Commissioner may exempt Transfer Duty from being payable if you are transferring a property to your superannuation fund. Farming property also has also has a chance for a full or partial exemption from Transfer Duty on the transfer of farming property between family members or by a natural person to a discretionary Trust, subject to certain conditions.