If you’ve been in conveyancing for a while, chances are you’ve worn your long hours like a badge of honour. Many of our Realtime team are former conveyancers and in years gone by, the long days were an indication of how busy and successful your business was.
Early starts. Late finishes. Emails at all hours. The grind has become the norm, and somewhere along the way, “hard-working” became synonymous with “never switching off.”
But the truth is that longer hours don’t always mean better results. And in today’s fast-moving, high-pressure environment, equating hours worked with effort or value is actively holding us back. It’s time to rethink the way we work. Because what matters most now… is efficiency.
For many conveyancers, especially those who’ve been in the industry for many, many years, long hours were simply how things were done. Fewer digital tools. More paper files. Everything was manual. You had to be across every detail, and that meant being at your desk, for as long as it took.
But the world has changed. Your workload hasn’t just increased, it’s become more complex.
Client expectations are higher. Deadlines are tighter. There is more compliance requirements
And despite all the time spent at your desk, it probably feels like you’re always running behind.
In fact, 46% of conveyancers in our 2025 State of Conveyancing Survey reported working more than 41 hours a week. And yet, only 19% are handling more than 41 matters per month. More time doesn’t automatically equal more output.
Burning the candle at both ends comes at a cost. Mentally, emotionally, and physically. All of the conveyancers surveyed who work over 51 hours a week said stress and burnout are a problem. And nearly half (40%) are actively considering leaving their jobs because of it.
Even more concerning? Only 10% of those working 51+ hours believe they have the right tools to do their job well, compared to 90% of all survey respondents. They’re doing more, with less. And it’s taking a toll.
Those working the longest hours were also:
Being a great conveyancer isn’t about how many hours you clock. It’s about how effectively you move a matter from contract to settlement. A great conveyancer has accuracy, attention to detail, and proactive communication. And a key part of succeeding in today’s modern world is knowing what actually needs your expertise (and what doesn’t).
As a result of being more efficient, you can:
And as a bonus? You’re more likely to stay in love with the job you once thrived on.
Efficiency doesn’t mean rushing. And it doesn’t mean doing everything yourself. To be an efficient conveyancer, it means being smart about the tools you use and the processes you put in place. Some examples of how efficiency is changing the game for our clients include:
Conveyancers who’ve adopted new software in the last two years are significantly more likely to describe their workload as “manageable.” (35% vs just 21% of the general industry.)
It’s not about working less.
It’s about working smarter, and giving yourself a shot at finishing on time, without the chaos.
Conveyancers are some of the most passionate professionals out there. You care deeply about your clients, your files, and your reputation. That drive is what makes you good at what you do.
But passion without boundaries leads to burnout.
The most powerful shift you can make (whether as a business owner, team leader or solo conveyancer) is to stop measuring your value in hours. Start looking at impact instead. Because when you focus on efficiency:
With powerful digital workflows, built-in compliance, and integrations designed for conveyancers by conveyancers, Realtime empowers you to get more done, with less effort, less risk, and less stress. Book a free demo with our team today and see what efficiency really looks like.