Hips defy critics
Providers of Home Information Packs (Hips) have defied their critic by supplying them in under 48 hours, according to the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (Ahipp).Many had predicted that the introduction of Hips - which are now essential for anyone selling a house with four or more bedrooms and include a home energy efficiency rating, advice on how to cut carbon emmissions and fuel bills, a sale statement, searches and evidence of title - would be chaotic, but Ahipp says its members have apparently achieved "impressive turn around times," preparing and sending out Hips in less than 48 hours, since their launch on August 1st. Richards Gray, which provides the packs through estate agents Savills, was the first to provide a pack - which was for a property in Long Marston, near Stratford upon Avon, and was ready within 48 hours of the order, with an electronic version available to the estate agent in less than 30 hours. Christopher Lacy of Savills said: "In spite of all the unaddressed issues with Hips, we have to deliver an efficient service to our clients. "One of the main issues is the potential delay before agents can offer a client's property to anyone - even quietly to 'hot buyers' on the telephone. "We at Savills have set about matters professionally to ensure that any delay is minimal, and we are very pleased with the service that we have received from Richards Gray."Paul Broadhead, deputy director general of Ahipp said: "As we have said all along, the industry is ready to deliver, and with our members reporting turnaround times of less than 48 hours, previous claims that the packs would slow down the process and cause disruption have been dismissed.The pack providing industry has placed considerable investment in ensuring that they are ready and able to process packs."
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