News

Firsthips Review - October 2008 - For Lawyers

Agents' Review Welcome to the October 2008 issue of the Firsthips Review which includes news, advice and articles from the HIP industry front-line. We welcome comments and suggestions for additional content.

You can rely on Firsthips to get it right

An investigation by Birmingham Trading Standards following a recent survey of HIPs in their area has revealed that many of the details in HIPs are inaccurate, incomplete or missing.

The criticisms centred on the searches within the packs and indicated that information contained in five out of six packs was either inaccurate, incomplete or missing altogether. Many packs claimed information was not available or answered questions with "not as far as is known" even when that information was actually available. Other examples included were packs that mistakenly said there was no planning history or gave inaccurate dates for planning proposals.

Firsthips uses STL Group plc for its personal searches. STL - or Services to Lawyers as it was formerly known - has been established 34 years and was formed to provide services to the legal sector and over the years has built up a substantial client base of some of the top legal firms in the UK. Firsthips chose STL because of its long established reputation for accuracy and consistency in providing searches using its nationwide base of trained personnel. STL is a founder member of CoPSO, the major trade association for the property search industry, and is registered with the Property Codes Compliance Board (PCCB) as a subscriber to the Search Code.

STL checks all public registers, assuming they are available for inspection on the day of the search (including building control, enforcement, contaminated land and highways registers) and reports planning history as standard back to 1977, though they always try and obtain the original planning application if it goes back before 1977

They never answer questions 'not so far as is known'.

Firsthips is aware that some HIP providers are using search providers who have been established for only a short period and often lack the skill and training necessary to deliver an accurate and consistent search result. Many of these providers are offering searches at very low prices, but are proving unable to provide the quality and accuracy of companies such as STL.

Conservatives rethink HIPs

It now looks likely that the Conservative Party may abandon its plans to scrap HIPs. Owen Inskip, adviser to the shadow housing minister Grant Shapps recently told the National Conveyancing Congress in London that the party's plans to abolish HIPs could change by 2010 as their existence is "not all bad". Inskip is considering the introduction of an "exchange ready" pack which would include all the current elements of the pack plus pre-contract enquiries, planning permissions and guarantees, with the requirement that a conveyancer should be instructed before a house is marketed.

Firsthips system is unique in having been designed at the outset to provide an online e-conveyancing module that enables conveyancers to provide the assembled draft contract and other conveyancing documents as part of the HIP package. Buyers conveyancers can log in to the Firsthips system and view and download the draft contract and associated conveyancing documents. The online secure messaging system enables the conveyancers and their clients to instantly communicate online and transfer documents to each other.

Firsthips is the future of property selling and conveyancing. If you are not already a user then contact us now to see how easy it is to set up an account and start ordering HIPs and become part of the growing community of Firsthips users.

Getting the most from HIPs

Automated Deferred Payment

Firsthips has introduced a new clearer, simplified and automated process of deferred payment

Did You Know?

Sellers and buyers can track the HIP and can also communicate with all parties via the message centre
Sellers lawyers can make the draft contract available to the buyer's lawyer through the Firsthips system
You can track when buyers have viewed the HIP

Why They Choose Us!

"The system online is easy and straight forward"
"Despite dreading the introduction of HIPS I was surprised how easy it was to organise instructing a HIP"
"Firsthips have made everything so uncomplicated with a speedy, cost effective service and a very easy to use website that even a technophobe like me can use!"
"With the use of the online training and tracking facility we have found the system both user friendly and professional"
"We have used Firsthips for the production of all our Home Information Packs and have found the system to be user friendly, efficient and the level of support offered to us has been excellent"

View testimonials

Great Value Floorplans

Don't forget that we can offer you great value floorplans and professional photographs!

Any Feedback?

If you have any feedback regarding this newsletter, the firsthips system, HIPs in general or any stories you think are relevant and would like us to publish in the next newsletter, then please contact us.

Help and Advice?

We regularly update our FAQ section with useful and relevant information for our clients. Recent entries include some of the latest government clarifications regarding market concerns such as:

What constitutes marketing, and do 'informal or one-off viewings' trigger the HIP duties?
What constitutes requesting or ordering a HIP?
Do EPC graphs need to be included in the estate agents particulars?

Go to firsthips FAQ

Success stories

97% of EPCs ready within 3 days
Some EPCs produced in less than 48 hours!
HIPs assembled in less than 3 days
Lawyer gains new conveyancing business using Firsthips

Key Features

HIPs at competitive prices
No investment or long term commitment
Seller pays by debit/credit card or deferred payment up to 9 months
Take instructions with a one page simple form
Prospective buyers can securely view and print the HIP online
Estate agent can track viewings
Keep control over the complete process
The most flexible system. Fully automated or use your own suppliers for selected elements
EPC competitively priced from a nationwide panel or use your own DEA
Searches from a nationwide established group or use your own supplier
Communicate with all parties through the secure message centre
Document management enables you to have draft contract and any other documents you require per case