HIPs have taken a lot of flak for their part in the housing market slowdown, criticism which could be largely unfounded according the Group's executive chairman, Stephen Shipperley.
Shipperley believes that there is clear evidence to suggest the Packs are helping buyers and sellers move more quickly by identifying any potential issues early.
“There’s no doubt that having a HIP available up-front helps speed things up. Local Authority searches can sometimes take weeks, so by having the information early means the conveyancing process can begin straightaway.
"More importantly, if the buyer drops out the next buyer doesn’t have to start the process all over again, which can save months.”
One particular case dealt with by the business involved a buyer looking for a quick sale who had been encouraged to view a property on the grounds that it already had a HIP.
She said: “We wanted a quick move and having to wait for all the searches takes time. Having gone through buying a house where everything went through so smoothly I think HIPs work.
"Having a HIP and an estate agent who kept me informed made my move happen very quickly and I am very happy with how it went.”
Shipperley concluded: “Customers have been pleasantly surprised at how helpful HIPs are. We know that some estate agents and solicitors are still resisting HIPs, but we took part in early Government trials to ensure that from day one our branches, dedicated law firms, energy assessors and HIPs suppliers are working together to process transactions more quickly.”
