HIP Selling Your Home

The HIP costs are with the seller, £400 to £1000

If you are selling your home, then you will need to produce a qualified home information pack, before you market your property.

The associated costs are entirely your own responsibility and can be either paid, up front to the home inspectors company, or the costs can be packaged, as part of a deal from an estate agents.

If part of a package, you may want to look for one that pays for the home information pack out of the proceeds of the sale.

Be warned, if you do not sell your home, you must still pay for your home information pack.

What you get in your HIP

The home information pack comprises of the following type of items.

• The cost of the sale and terms of deposit 
• Proof of title ownership
• Proof of ground rent payments
• Copies and replies of standard searches
• Building control, NHBC certificates, if applicable
• Agreements and directions
• Guarantees by contractors for work done 
• All replies to any preliminary enquiries conducted by buyers
• A home condition report based around a home inspectors survey of the property
• Planning consent and approval
• Drainage and flood risk assessments
• All replies from land searches
• Contaminated land and underground gasses
• Electrical interference studies
• Ground stability and subsidence in the area
• An energy efficiency assessment report

The advantages of a home information pack

Although the costs are substantial, the need for many of the searches, carried out by others is included in the pack.

Your new buyer may feel comfortable enough with your home information pack, to not require a full survey.

When you have a quality home and have work carried out by professional trades people then your property will carry a home information pack that reflects the quality of your property.

It is worth bearing in mind that any receipts and guarantees for any work done should be safely stored away.

Your home inspector is unlikely to give you any indication of costs involved to carry out any necessary repairs to your home, should the need arise. These must be priced by you and, if you do not wish to do the work before you sell, the quotes can be included in your home information pack.