Accidental conveyancer Denise’s drive to be the best – and not the cheapest

SHE may have started her conveyancing career later in life but Denise McKay has certainly made her impact on Adelaide’s property scene, earning the kudos of her peers along the way.

“My philosophy in business was to be known as the best conveyancer and not the cheapest conveyancer,” says Denise, 68, founder of McKay Business Services and former President of AIC South Australia.  

“I have worked very hard for that to become a fact and am proud of the reputation that I have within the industry.”

It was hardly by design that Denise became a conveyancer.

“It was purely by accident, really,” she says. “After having children, and with my love of figures and accuracy, I firstly became a bookkeeper. In 1995 I became an office manager and legal secretary for a solicitor, who also did conveyancing. I discovered a passion for property and all things conveyancing in particular.”

Denise studied at TAFE and graduated as a conveyancer in 2003 at the age of 46.

“Since then I have built up my business and become respected as a knowledgeable, high-end conveyancer,” she says.

“We have become the go-to for many other conveyancers to assist with sale and purchase of businesses, commercial property and leases, as most conveyancers only do residential conveyancing.”

Denise loves working in the buoyant Adelaide property market.

“The market has been quite strong for some time and there appears to be plenty of activity,” she says. 

“This could be partly due to the rate cuts and also the fact an election is imminent. An election usually slows down the property market for a month or two and then it bounces back when things settle. It will be interesting to see if that happens this year.”

For Denise, 2025 sees her taking a tentative step towards semi-retirement.

“My goal is to support my business in moving forward by being a consultant and mentor to the new owners of McKay Business Services,” says the 2023 winner of the SA PEXA Award for outstanding service in the industry.

“I have an innate ability to set up systems and strategies for the business. I love getting my teeth into improving the systems, procedures, workflows and precedents to make our work day more streamlined and efficient. 

“I am always happy being busy not only with the business but also with everyday life. My family and four grandkids are a priority, along with exercise and tennis, while also making time to come up with new innovations and procedures for the business.

“I’m also aiming to support the industry by assisting with seminars and other training roles. 

“I am not retiring as such but rewiring into a new stage of my life where I intend to be as active as possible both personally and within the conveyancing industry.

“When I look back over the past 27 years I realise I achieved what I always wanted and that is to be recognised as one of the best conveyancers in SA and respected by all my peers.”