The aim of Easier2move’s ‘Easierhips’ is to provide the firms’ advisers and estate agents with the potential to increase customer loyalty as well as their revenue through the branding of HIPs.
Easier2move said it would continue its trial until there was more information on the future of HIPs. The HIPs it is to offer are free and include the mandatory Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), as well as a HCR
Karen Babington, director of sales and marketing at Easier2move, said: “In terms of the trial still running, we still firmly believe in the value of HIPs providing as much information included as possible. For example, as part of our trial, we are still including HCR and environmental efficiency report.”
Peter O’Donovan, mortgage manager of Bestinvest, commented: “Because valuations were not included in HIPs, which I think was the most important part, HIPs only have a limited use to perspective property buyers. I think selling them would be of little use. HIPs will have their uses for certain properties, but why pay for it unless you absolutely need to get it done? I don’t think we would have sold HIPs to our clients anyway. Our clients are those buying the property, it’s up to the people selling to provide a HIP.”
Ken Sives, partner at Sives Financial Services, added: “A lot depends on whether clients go to see an estate agent first or go to see an intermediary about their mortgage. I think there will be a lot of estate agents selling HIPs as it will be the most obvious place for customers to purchase one. If a HIP is branded with an estate agent with a well known name, it will give consumers that extra confidence.”
