HOME INFORMATION PACKS (HIPS)

What is a HIP?
Home Information Packs, usually known as HIPs, are now required for all houses and flats offered for sale to improve and streamline the home selling and buying process.

A Home Information Pack must be provided by the seller and has to include information on ownership of the property, local searches and an Energy Performance Certificate, or EPC, which assesses the energy efficiency of the property. The vendor may also choose to include a Home Condition Report in their Home Information Pack.

HIPs have been introduced by the Government with the intention of reducing the number of sales, which fall through due to some unexpected discovery about the property late in the sales process.

Home Information Packs are available from a number of providers and inevitably local estate agents and solicitors have seen this newly added legal requirement as a way of making some extra money when the fees for their traditional services are under pressure. With our low overheads and efficient dedicated service, imoveonline is able to offer a highly competitive Home Information Pack service. Just click the link on the right for an instant online Home Information Pack quote.

What is an Energy Performance Certificate?
An Energy Performance Certificate provides buyers & vendors with ratings from A to G on their homes, quite like a fridge rating. It also includes a list of practical measures to cut their fuel bills & carbon emissions.

By acting on the recommendations listed in the Energy Performance Certificate, homeowners could save on fuel bills and help to reduce the UK's carbon emissions.

What is a Home Condition Report?
The Home Condition Report contains information about the physical condition of the property. It would be sufficient for vendors, buyers and lenders to be able to rely legally as an objective and authoritative report.

Vendors who decide to provide a Home Condition Report will then have the great opportunity to carry out repair work on the property or obtain quotes prior to placing it on the market.

Another benefit is that potential buyers will be made aware of repairs that they might need to make and fund, or they will be reassured that the property is in good condition, in both cases before they decide to put in an offer. This should help see less sales fall through due to survey issues. Lenders can also benefit by using the reports to inform their valuations, which may reduce time and cost for all parties!

What are searches?
These will show, amongst other things, anything from planning applications to whether the roads have been adopted and whether your drains are connected to the main sewer. They will also occasionally show trees that have Tree Preservation Orders attached to them.

There are other environmental searches available if requested but these are not compulsory within the Home Information Packs.

What is Our Home Information Pack Service?
Our Home Information Pack service offers you great quality service and value for money.

We aim to be the most competitively priced provider and will offer to beat any genuine quote you have already received for a similar Pack. The quote to beat must include the same Pack contents as we are offering, or more.