IT'S been a long few months: you've spoken to dozens of agents, brokers and banks, builder friends and family members and you've decided on the dream home.

The agent prepares the contract and asks if you want the usual 'get out of jail' clauses - pest and building inspections and a finance clause.

You and the seller sign the contract, but because cash is a bit tight you decide against talking to the lawyers straight away.

After all you'd rather not run up a bill just yet until you know your finance application, pest and building inspections are all fine.

As expected they are all fine and you tell the seller everything is good to go

Contact is then made with the lawyers who begin to go through the contract.

The questions posed seem to be fairly standard but then the lawyer asks whether or not it is understood if the house and shed have been council approved.

Although you're not 100% sure, the house looks great and you've just had two inspectors say everything checks out.

The lawyer goes on to explain the building inspection has nothing to do with whether the improvements are legal and to make matters worse there's nothing in the contract fine print to say improvements must be council approved.

A bunch of questions then start to arise.

Will your insurance cover you? Do you have to make the house compliant? What about your renovation plans now?

PD Law promises to ensure this won't be the case when dealing with their experienced staff.

Despite all fees being completely fixed regardless of when a call to them is made, it is important not to delay making contact.

Common issues just like the above plus many others are discussed up front and the team welcomes as many questions as desired to put clients at ease.

Remember the important Latin legal phrase - caveat emptor - buyer beware.