Make your home HIP

"Dear Busy Girls Experts. I'm hoping to move home soon but have been a bit put off hearing about these new HIP packs. I'm very confused about what this means, in terms of requirements and extra costs. Any help you can give would be great. Thank you!" Jenny M, Crewe

Dear Jenny,

Firstly, please don't worry, this is all quite simple to sort out, you just need to know the basics... I'll walk you through everything you need.

Do I need a HIP now?

If you have a 4 bed+ house then you need a HIP now. For 3bed- you'll need a HIP from 10th September.

What does a HIP entail?

A HIP is a Home Information Pack, which contains everything a buyer needs to know about a property, to ensure it is in good condition & easier to work through a sale.

A HIP needs to contain the following:

1 An index listing the documents contained in the pack & an explanation if any required documents are missing
2 An energy performance certificate & recommendations for improvements
3 A sale statement - setting out what's being sold & the basic terms
4 Evidence of Title Land Registry documents
5 The results of standard searches
6 Other information as required (copy of lease, details of landlord or managing agent, management rules, details of service charges, etc)

Who prepares the HIP?

If your house requires a HIP, your estate agent & most solicitors will provide one for you. You only require proof that it has been started before the marketing of your home can begin. The providers of HIPs will be able to sort all this out for you. In most cases all you need to do is phone the estate agent & they can sort it all out for you.

How can I tell if the agent is doing it properly?

Estate agents selling homes with HIPs need to belong to an approved scheme, either The Ombudsman for Estate Agents scheme, www.oea.co.uk or the RICS scheme, www.rics.org, simply check that they are doing so before you appoint them. When you receive the HIP, simply check the list above to ensure you have everything you need.

How much does getting a HIP cost?

The lowest quotes are around £300, but larger properties are more expensive. Luckily, you can also pay by deferred payment if you need to.

Finally...

Please don't let HIPs put you off selling your home, it's a straight forward process but just delays the marketing of your home initially as you have to purchase a HIP before you can proceed.

Vivienne Law
Mov'In Property Agents

Mov'In Property Agents are a dynamic online Cheshire estate agent. Whether you're trying to sell your property or ready to move into that perfect new pad, Mov'In will professionally handle every element of your sale including HIP requirements, for a very competitive commission.