| There are many different reasons why people put a | | | | Once you've agreed on an agent, you are required to |
| property on the market. Often it is to move up the | | | | complete the Home Information Pack (HIP) - a |
| housing ladder to a larger property, or for a new job | | | | property cannot be marketed without it. The agent |
| or family reasons such as death, divorce or | | | | will give your details through to a HIP specialist |
| separation. Of course, it could simply be a matter of | | | | company, so make yourself available to answer |
| wanting to relocate to another part of the country/ | | | | questions and provide details as and when necessary. |
| world. | | | | Don't delay this process as you will be loosing |
| For whatever the reason, selling your home need not | | | | valuable time. |
| be all doom and gloom and I hope the following | | | | A HIP is a set of documents that provides the buyer |
| pointers will help. | | | | with key information on the property and must be |
| Once you've made the decision to sell, the next step | | | | provided by you (the seller) or your agent. It is a |
| is to approach a number of estate agents operating | | | | legal requirement and lets buyers see important |
| in your area - drive around the neighbourhood and | | | | information about the property at the start of the |
| look for agents' boards. Make contact with three or | | | | process, free of charge. This means there is less |
| four of them to request an evaluation on your | | | | chance of buyers becoming aware of any surprises |
| property. | | | | at the end of the process. |
| Once this has been completed don't necessarily | | | | Following changes to the HIP regulations (in England |
| choose to market the property at the highest price - | | | | and Wales) that came into effect on the 6th of April |
| it is often a good idea to ask yourself the following | | | | 2009, the Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) is |
| few questions:o Is this a realistic price for the | | | | now a mandatory requirement in a HIP. |
| property in the economic climate?o Are you likely to | | | | The PIQ has been designed for sellers to complete |
| achieve that price or will it turn off buyers because | | | | without professional help and provides basic, useful |
| the property is priced too high? | | | | information about the property to assist buyers |
| Pricing a property too low is also detrimental to the | | | | when viewing a property or making an offer. It |
| sale, as it could create the impression that you're | | | | contains information relating to the following:o Boiler/ |
| desperate to sell. Instead go with the average, | | | | central heatingo Electricso Flood risko Parkingo TV/ |
| because this takes into account all four agents' | | | | interneto Bills |
| experience and is a good reflection on the market | | | | The HIP and the new PIQ should be viewed as a |
| value. | | | | positive contribution to the home sales market: our |
| I cannot express enough how important it is to do | | | | cars have a service history, a logbook and an annual |
| your homework. Visit agents in your neighbourhood, | | | | MOT. Why should our families and our investment in |
| read the local property supplement and surf the | | | | a home not be at least as protected as our cars? |
| internet to see the price of similar properties in the | | | | Taking a little time to complete the PIQ as fully as |
| area - this will give you a good idea. | | | | possible may well reap dividends in today's difficult |
| Choosing an agent to market your property is as | | | | market. |
| important as the actual sale - if you pick the wrong | | | | A successfully completed HIP can be the difference |
| agent, it could have a detrimental affect on the sale | | | | between selling your property smoothly or not. So, |
| and could leave you stranded. Ask for references | | | | make sure that your PIQ answers are current - it |
| and visit one of the houses the agent is marketing to | | | | could be worth ££££s if |
| identify their sales technique and to see whether | | | | you have your gas boiler inspected now as it creates |
| you're comfortable with it - after all, you're inviting | | | | a better impression than if you answer 'Never' or |
| them into your home! | | | | 'Don't know'. |