Services

SERVICES

Home Information Pack (HIP)

This is the Pack that legally requires and includes: the EPC, evidence of title, an index, standard searches (i.e. local authority enquiries & drainage & water search) and leasehold documentation where appropriate. We use established companies, for the searches, that have a high level of experience and expertise in this area.

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

This is a European Directive and is a legal requirement of the HIP. It is an important tool in the fight against climate change.
The EPC tells you how energy efficient the property is by collecting data which includes the age of the property and any extensions, construction, insulation and relevant fittings. The property will be given a rating on a scale of A-G with the most efficient in band A (e.g. like a fridge rating).
It will also give recommendations on ways to improve the efficiency, save money and help the environment.
Our licensed Home Inspector will assess your property using RdSAP methodology which is the Government approved standardised system for energy surveys on existing dwellings. They will explain the procedure and answer your queries. The survey is non invasive and can take between 1⁄2-1 1⁄2 hours.
We can also do an EPC for those not selling at the moment but would like to benefit from an energy assessment and stop losing money now. To encourage this we will do a second EPC for a nominal fee of £30 if requested within 3 years of the original EPC.

Home Condition Report (HCR)

This is paid for by the seller and includes an EPC. It is the 21st Century solution for a pre-marketing survey that requires the Home Inspector to give objective condition ratings in plain English. It avoids the criticism of other forms of survey that hide behind jargon and regular recommendations to call in a specialist. It is also the only condition report that is authorised to be included in the HIP. The report is prepared in an easily understood format and is an excellent marketing tool to have available. It gives potential purchasers a transparent and concise appraisal of the property's condition. It does not involve a valuation.
Vested interests forced the Government to change the HCR from a mandatory to a voluntary document. Consumer groups (such as “Which”) think this was a mistake. The intention of the legislation was to avoid wasted time and expense, especially when a sale fails over a condition issue.
The HCR improves the marketing of a property by giving buyers and sellers advance warning of potential deal breakers. If you are a seller it will make your home stand out from the crowd and as a buyer you can ask to see the HCR (if one is available) before making a decision.