In the loop - November
HIPs Package Provides The Complete Solution
15 November 2007
A top property industry chief executive recently slammed home information packs (HIPs) as a “total waste of time” and quoted statistics suggesting that only 10% of potential home buyers are reading the information contained within the packs.
As an industry, we need to face reality and positively promote the benefits of better informed buyers and sellers. Evidence suggests that when the HIPs legislation is fully embedded, the lengthy delays experienced during the legal process of buying or selling a house will be reduced. Information which would have only been available after a sale will now be, in many cases, in place prior to a sale even being agreed.
movewithus has noted that many buyers are interested in the information contained in the HIP. The key is to make the information easily accessible.
Zoe Sutterby, solicitor relationship manager at movewithus, says; "An agent contacted us on behalf of a buyer asking how they can access the HIP. As the movewithus system is built for ease of use for all parties to the transaction, including potential buyers, we provided a web link which the Agent could forward to the buyer. This way, the buyer has access to the information contained within the HIP which they can rely on for their conveyancing or view the EPC to see how energy efficient the property is."
As a HIP provider, we have been working hard to ensure that our package is competitively priced and delivered swiftly with minimum hassle for the vendor so that it fulfils its purpose – to speed up the buying and selling process and reduce the number of abortive sales.
The movewithus’ HIP service has seen phenomenal growth and customer satisfaction since its introduction. Our EPCs are being produced in a market leading 2.12 days. That means more part-exchange properties on the market, ready for agents to sell.
With new instructions becoming increasingly difficult to win, we have placed our emphasis on providing our clients with a competitive and complete solution. movewithus has been working with the NHBC (National House Building Council) to evolve our HIP package to incorporate all properties in a developer’s portfolio. The move sees the NHBC provide HIPs for new-build and movewithus for second hand properties, giving developers a one-stop shop for all their HIP requirements.
The package is proving to be extremely popular. This month alone, corporate HIP orders shot up by 41.5%.
Sylvia Giles, HIP director at movewithus, commented; “As we all know, getting a property on to the market is the name of the game. The movewithus HIPs service is designed to help get a vendor’s property on the market as quickly, easily and smoothly as possible. This is why we are proud of our quick turnaround of EPCs as it delivers clear market advantage to our clients”
We realise that ordering a HIP needs to be as clear and painless as possible. Clients have commended our online ordering process for its speed and simplicity. This month sees the launch of our new 'online office' which incorporates a new HIPs tracking service for agents, allowing them to progress a HIP faster, thereby getting your corporate property on the market and sold quicker.
At movewithus, we’re continually enhancing our HIPs service to give our clients the most efficient and hassle-free package on the market.
