so do you guys recommend we hire a solicitor/conveyancer before signing the final contract.. wont this cost us money even if the sale doesnt go through?
The conveyancer doesn't really cost that much. And if the sale doesn't go through due to finance, they won't have had to do too much anway. It is later on (close to hand over) when they get copies of titles, water info etc that they come in really handy. They know exactly where to obtain everything so can do it much more efficiently than doing it yourself.