Cheap HIPS (Home Information Packs)

cogibear

I replied to a thread a few minutes ago and then I thought it was a useful subject to cover on its own thread so sorry if you read this before.

I recently priced up HIPS (Home Information Packs) in my local area and the average price from Estate Agents and Solicitors was £360 with the highest being £400 plus VAT. So I looked online and found a site selling the same product with the same searches and legal requirements for £229 all in. www.goodhips.com if anyone wants to see for themself. It was an offer but i dont know how long it was lasting. I spoke to them and they have reduced the price. They were the cheapest i found on the search engines i looked on. Provided a good service and i double checked that the estate agent would take them as i was worried they might not. Apparently its a legal requirement for them to accept them. I was told also that most agents are on a kick back for selling the HIPs (or creaming some off the top as they say) which i think it disgusting.

Anyway..........hope this helps anyone thinking of selling soon.

Cogi Cogi Bear :-)

nelly_2

does anyone bother reading them?

I looked at about 20 houses last year anever asked for one once and I still havent looked at the one for the house I bought.

Get some A4 paper and some crayons and do one yourself I say for all the good they are

chickmug

Cogibear wrote: »

I was told also that most agents are on a kick back for selling the HIPs (or creaming some off the top as they say) which i think it disgusting.

But why is it disgusting as in your other posting you have said perhaps you could get commission unless you were joking?

sundog

I understood that you could produce your own HIP pack once the energy survey has been completed

http://www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk/consumer/3_Whats_in_a_Home_Information_Pack.html

cogibear

Yes i was kidding about commission. Come on though.......estate agents already make money for not doing much. Why on earth would you want them to make money on the HIPs too? Its the same product but cheaper online with companies like goodhips.com

As for making them yourself........it says you can but when i looked at that you cant. You need insurance for the personal searches which you cant get if your Joe public and the other option is the full search which makes it more expensive than buying it from an online firm.

I take the point about people not looking at them. Out of the 20 viewings i had only 6 looked at it and they only looked at the energy part to see the rating. The other things are really to speed solicitors up and we all know they arent the quickest :-) (no offence of course)

chickmug

Cogibear wrote: »

Yes i was kidding about commission

You may be shocked to hear I have come across EA's who take bungs from far more than HIPs or finance intros. Also from companies offering removals, furnishing, landscaping, building work and any other thing they can act as middle peopl for.

cogibear

Shocked......but not surprised......it is disgusting but i guess they see it as a referral payment but really people should not be so trusting and just find these companies themselves. Its the same with HIPs though. I have a friend who worked for a EA in Bristol. People would come in to market their house and just take it as normal to pay £400 + vat for the HIP. Why dont these people get some sense and shop around?