Ordering a HIP

[Lubyloo]

We have finally finished decluttering, painting and all the little jobs that we have been meaning to do for ages but never got round to it! I am just waiting for one last job to be done and then we can put the house on the market.

I thought I could try and speed up the proces by ordering a HIP now. Has anyone ordered a HIP online and if so would you recommend it? Where is the best place to get a HIP?

Just a little bump

When we put our flat on the market, the estate agent arranged the HIP for us. It seems that the cost can vary quite a bit and to be honest it seemed such a minefield that I just went with his advice. The other agent who valued our property also had a list of companies that he recommended. The HIP only took 2 weeks to complete, and during that time the agent did the photos, details etc so we were ready to roll pretty quickly.

Off the point really, but I'm very jealous of your HIP only taking 2 weeks. The company doing ours have been really rubbish and so far, it's taken 3 months, yes 3 months. Apparently there was a hold up with our water survey to start with, and they forgot to chase it up, and ended up having to re-order the whole thing. Grrrrrrrrr.

We ordered ours on line. Just googled 'cheapest hip' - done in about a week and cost about £150 plus VAT. One issue is that some have personal local searches and some have full local authority ones. Your buyer may winge if it's a personal one, but it is perfectly compliant. If they don't like it tell them to do their own.

Littlefish - the Estate Agent did say that some companies take ages, again partly why I just went with his suggestion. But three months - that's awful!

BTW, I asked the agent how potential clients would get hold of a copy of our HIP, when they tend to ask for it, ie is it when they put an offer in, or before etc and he said he had NEVER BEEN ASKED FOR ONE on any of the sales he'd had since they became compulsory!! . So in other words they are completely pointless, slow things up and although they cut out work for the solicitors I bet the solicitors fees aren't less are they?

Three months!

I went and spoke to a local estate agent this morning and the person they use will only take a couple of weeks to get it done. He also said that he has never known anyone request to see one and that they are just an extra headache.

Must admit to being tempted to do an online HIP and avoid lining the EA's pockets anymore.

I went with the estate agents one, took about 1 week. Complete waste of time IMO. Haven't even looked at the one for the house we're buying.

Well, our HIP finally arrived today! WoooHoo. What a ridiculous waste of time and money.

Our buyers have never asked for it either, but you cannot complete on a sale without one.

Basementbear - I'm not sure it does save work for the solicitors. Our solicitor says that they re-do all the searches anyway just to be sure!

Lubyloo - unless there is some kind of "kick-back" arrangement, you wouldn't be giving the Estate Agents any more money. We paid our HIP person directly - they were just recommended by the Estate Agent, but we were free to go with whoever we liked.

Good news littlefish - BTW I'm not sure but I just had a feeling that our agent must be in cahoots with the HIP company, I bet they do get commission for recommending people!

You are probably right about the solicitors re-doing everything too now I come to think about it - which makes the HIP packs even more ridiculous doesn't it

Congratulations Littlefish!

It seems that some estate agents may be making some money from HIPS - here.