Private house sale and HIPs packs

huskypup

Hello

I have to sell my 4 bed house soon due to divorce, I live in a small village and 4bed houses are in short supply, I have been contacted recentley by two interested couples about buying myself, the jungle drums in the village have gone into overdrive.

Both have offered me the price I am asking (less a discount on what I would have paid estate agents).

I have asked them both to provide me with a DIP - which I am assured is what the local estate agent asks for to prevent time wasters looking out at houses for fun - you can never totally stop this though. I have also checked we aren't going to use the same solicitors.

As I have been told that since I did not advertise the property at all and that both of the interested parties approached me to sell the house, I donot need so supply them with a HIPS pack - is this correct? If not where do I start to get one - can my solicitor sort itout for me.

Thank you

courtjester

You are correct - you do not need a HIP as the property has never been marketed and the two applicants who have approached you are effectively 'private sales' - specifically exempt from the HIP regulations.

If you place the property on the 'open' market, it is at that point that you must get a HIP - you can buy this from many sources, including your solicitor, a direct HIP supplier or many of the online property advertising websites have arrangements. What you should avoid is taking a 'free' HIP offered by many estate agents - these in fact are not free at all (of course), but will tie you in to that particular agent and you will have to pay for the HIP eventually, probably in the form of a much higher level of commission, more than you would buy the HIP pack for yourself... :cool: