Home information packs (HIPs) can cause a lot of heartache. For first time buyers this might also prove to be another potential barrier for them to get on the housing ladder. Also known as a HIP, the home information pack is a set of information documents that provide each homebuyer with all the details on the house to by purchased. The idea is that the buyer can obtain all the information on a property before buying, cutting down on potential risks and unforeseen costs after the purchase date. No-one wants to have problems in the future that will put people more out of pocket and likewise, sellers can have the confidence that they know everything about this own home. Key components in the HIP are:

• Property Informaiton Index
• Sale statement
• evidence of title
• energy performance certificate
• sustainability information

 The above list is an example of the compulsory documents in a freehold property and be advised that you need to include a copy of the lease for Leasehold properties. 

From 2006, it has become compulsory for a seller of a property to provide a HIP on the property and this has to be added to the costs of selling your home. It can be quite costly to put together as you can hire the help of an Estate Agent, solicitor or HIP agent to compile all of the documents for you. However, this does not mean you cannot compile the HIP yourself and cut down on some of your marketing budget. For those who wish to sell their own property, the marketing budget can be kept to a mimimum by preparing all the documents yourself. As the seller, you are required to bear the costs of the HIP but compiling it yourself can cut out the administration fees of an agent. Vital to this process is obtaining the appropriate documents from the corect sources. If you want to take the time to compile the pack yourself, the Direct Gov website can be a good place to start (www.Direct.Gov.uk).

If you wish to use an agent to do it for you, make sure to shop around as fees can vary considerably along with the necessity of making sure they are acredited. A good place to start would be a list of acredited HIP providers, and a good website to begin your search can be found here.

Lastly, HIPs can be quite a task to interpret and sometimes agents will be able to do this for you. However, if you are marketing your own property then you are under no obligation to help the propective purchasers interpret the documents. This is where the help of the solicitor can make the difference to the buyer.

If you are interested in creating your own Home Information Pack and sell your house privately, www.UkHousing.com provides all the advice, help and information you need to get the ball rolling. We have a FAQ page dedicated to answering all your most important questionson on HIPs along with free resources to market your property online for free.