The HIP Process

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Step by step guide to HIPs

If you're a little confused about HIPs, you are not alone! HIPs are a brand new legislation and they have caused a lot of confusion. So to help you understand how it all works, and what you are expected to do, we have compiled the following simple step by step guide to HIPs. For more detailed information about HIPs themselves, please visit our HIP Information section.

1. Decide to sell your home
So you have decided to put your house on the market. As usual will need to find a good Estate Agent, or you may wish to save thousands of pounds and sell your house privately with MagnoliaProperties.co.uk!
The Estate Agent will ask you if you have a HIP, or at least a HIP order confirmation. Current legislation states that the HIP just needs to have been ordered for marketing to take place.
2. Order your HIP
Estate Agents may try to persuade you to purchase a HIP from them, but you are not obliged to, and we recommend that you do not. Most Estate Agents buy HIPs from HIP Providers, and add a very large mark-up for themselves. You will therefore be paying well over the odds. Also if you decide to change agents, you may find that the agent does not allow you to take their HIP with you, and you will end up having to buy another one. Ordering a HIP from a HIP Provider such as MagnoliaProperties.co.uk means you will be paying the trade price for your HIP, and it will belong to you.
To order a HIP you can either call us on 0844 745 1990 or you can fill out our simple online order form. You will be given the choice of being able to pay securely online, or you can send a cheque in the post.
3. Property Information Questionnaire
As soon as you have placed your order we will send you a confirmation email, this will contain a link to our online Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) form. The PIQ is a document which contains useful information about your property, it must be completed by the seller. Click here to view a sample PIQ.
4. The energy inspection
Shortly after you have placed your order, you will receive a call from one of our accredited Domestic Energy Assessors (DEAs). They will arrange with you a convenient time to visit your property. The inspection will take approximately 30 minutes to one hour and will involve counting light bulbs, measuring rooms and accessing your loft. If you are keen to obtain a high energy rating for your property, please view our guide on how to improve the energy efficiency of your home.
Unless your property is a new build, arranging the energy inspection with our DEA is the only involvement you will have in the production of your HIP.
5. Start marketing your property
As soon as the PIQ has been completed by the seller, and the Energy Inspection has taken place, we will be able to email you a link to your "Basic HIP". This HIP contains all of the documents except the searches, and lease (leasehold properties only) and allows marketing of the property to commence. Our average turn around time for the Basic HIP is 3 working days.
6. Receive your completed HIP
Once we have compiled all of the necessary search reports, and your HIP is complete, we will send you an email containing a link to your HIP. You will be able to view your HIP through your Internet browser. You will need to forward the HIP to your Estate Agent, so that they can provide it to any potential buyers. If you are selling your property privately, you will need to forward this link to any potential buyers yourself. You will also need to provide your solicitor with access to your HIP, when you come to exchange.

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