The Independent on Sunday carried an article (http://bit.ly/6dRHsA) on personal finance in which there was some commentary by the journalist concerning the Home Information Pack.
The piece caught my attention through its reference to some feedback from estate agents. Julian Knights, the journalist, whose view he notes, until receiving this feedback, was that the HIP was not of much value, wrote:
‘I had my views challenged last week by – of all people – estate agents. At HIPs' introduction, estate agents would look to the heavens and bemoan bureaucracy, but of late many have changed their tune. It seems the expense of a HIP (£300-£400), which falls on the seller, is deterring those who just want to test the water. One agent told me that the number of sales falling through had halved. It's not how HIPs were supposed to work – the idea was that they would speed sales up – but at least they are having a partly positive impact, although they could still do with a full structural survey being made mandatory pronto’
How refreshing to see someone put into print something which HIP supporters have been arguing without acknowledgement for some years now. Surely the fact that over 1 million pounds per day, it is estimated, is saved through reducing failed sale transactions is evidence per se of the benefit of retaining and improving the home information pack. Hopefully the likes of Grant Shapps and other HIP doubters will start to think more about the positives of the HIP and begin calling, not for abolition, but rather review.
The piece caught my attention through its reference to some feedback from estate agents. Julian Knights, the journalist, whose view he notes, until receiving this feedback, was that the HIP was not of much value, wrote:
‘I had my views challenged last week by – of all people – estate agents. At HIPs' introduction, estate agents would look to the heavens and bemoan bureaucracy, but of late many have changed their tune. It seems the expense of a HIP (£300-£400), which falls on the seller, is deterring those who just want to test the water. One agent told me that the number of sales falling through had halved. It's not how HIPs were supposed to work – the idea was that they would speed sales up – but at least they are having a partly positive impact, although they could still do with a full structural survey being made mandatory pronto’
How refreshing to see someone put into print something which HIP supporters have been arguing without acknowledgement for some years now. Surely the fact that over 1 million pounds per day, it is estimated, is saved through reducing failed sale transactions is evidence per se of the benefit of retaining and improving the home information pack. Hopefully the likes of Grant Shapps and other HIP doubters will start to think more about the positives of the HIP and begin calling, not for abolition, but rather review.
Brilliant, we can do with more of this!
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