Home Information Pack Solution (HIPs) Firsthips

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Newsletter 8 - June 2007 - Press Release

Firsthips response to Ruth Kelly's 22nd May announcement

Over the past 18 months we have made a great effort to meet the HIPs challenge despite the continuous changes the Government has made during this period.

Firsthips' unique position in the marketplace as a trading platform for all parties involved in a property transaction, is based on our research into the complete process of selling and buying a house in England and Wales. This lead us to create an online platform designed to speed up and take out the frustration from the process that causes consumers unneccessary stress and financial expense, as our consumer survey (December 2006 - House Hell) revealed.

From the start we identified and targeted the complete process from marketing to completion. Although we believe that the Home Information Pack regulations are a welcome introduction to improve the process, it is the combination of HIPs and e-conveyancing that will ultimately achieve the goal.

During the past few weeks we have accelerated our test drive and training program and have been very successful in creating a community of estate agents, property lawyers (HIP providers), search suppliers, home inspectors and energy assessors that have been using the system to create HIPs quickly and efficiently.

This is why it came as a great disappointment to us, when Ruth Kelly made her announcement on the 22nd of May, just six working days before the Go Live date. We were ready, and our clients would have enjoyed a smooth transition into the HIP enabled market.

Despite the setback, we remain more committed than ever to the concept and await the introduction of HIPs for ALL property transactions at the earliest possible time.

We call the Government to commit to and announce the numbers of DEAs required for ALL properties to be reintroduced to the HIP-EPC launch. We believe this is the only way to provide sufficient confidence and ensure that DEAs commit themselves and continue to invest their valuable time and money in order to meet the requirements and make themselves available.

In the meantime Firsthips will continue to enhance and improve its innovative unique solution. We intend to concentrate on offering the most comprehensive and flexible platform where home buyers and sellers can get a cost effective, improved and transparent process for selling and buying homes in England and Wales.


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