Try Ian at 127 Degrees Cleaning – he’s an expert at tough cleans and would love the job: feel free to mention I referred you: https://www.facebook.com/127Degrees

Try Gary Peer and Associates, St Kilda Office. Ask for Brittany; please feel free to say I recommended her.

Yes, it is a requirement in Victoria under section 53 of the Estate Agents Act:

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/eaa1980145/s53.html

A week or two is reasonable time for delivery of a signed copy. Anything beyond that is unreasonable and the vendor’s lawyer should be reminded of this.

Step 1: ring the City of Monash and ask them about the possibility of subdivision on your block: http://www.monash.vic.gov.au/Contact/Call-Visit-Us

You should be able to sell, with the consent of the vendor/developer. Your solicitor should contact them and obtain their consent. They may even be able to “buy it back”.

You are being very reasonable. Lawyers cannot charge their clients without advising them of their fees in advance and obtaining their informed consent. The Legal Services Commissioner/equivalent in your State will be able to clarify your rights.

My firm provides informal “cold call” advice via phone and email all the time (especially in relation to conveyancing) and we never charge for it.

If you are obtaining a second mortgage, the first mortgagee will probably need to consent: this is a standard condition of mortgage contracts.

You can enter into a joint venture agreement. Best to talk to your accountant about the tax implications, as well as a lawyer who can draw up the agreement. Each owner should obtain their own independent legal advice.

This article might be of interest: http://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/neighbourly-approach-to-selling-nets-big-rewards-from-developers/story-fndba8uq-1227033731861

Good luck!

Find out the name of the Council and look up the planning scheme to see what zoning and overlays affect the land, and what’s permissible/possible development-wise: http://planningschemes.dpcd.vic.gov.au/. Then ring the Council to find out more information about the specific site.

It is unlikely that three dwellings will be permitted on such a small site, due to minimum habitable space, density and set-back requirements.

In Victoria, the standard procedure is that the purchaser prepares the Transfer of Land and signs it (but doesn’t date it), then sends it to the vendor for signature and safe-keeping until settlement day.

At the settlement and once they have been paid out in full, the vendor will hand the fully signed and dated Transfer back to the purchaser (or the purchaser’s lender, if there is one) for registering at the Land Titles Office.

The introduction of electronic conveyancing later this year will gradually remove the need to exchange the Transfer in this manner; rather, it will all be done in a secure online environment run by PEXA: https://www.pexa.com.au/

It is disappointing that your solicitor or their staff member did not take 60 seconds on the phone to explain this to you: that’s what you’re paying them for.

Good luck!