The Home Information Pack Programme offers new opportunities in the marketplace for hip providers. Hip providers are an important link for sellers, seamlessly joining up the services of local estate agents, conveyancers, solicitors, Home Inspectors, local authorities and other organisations to provide a complete Pack to the seller. Under the Housing Act 2004, sellers will also be able to compile their own packs.

A number of hip provider are already offering Home Information Packs to consumers on a voluntary basis and some are sharing their experiences with DCLG to help inform the Programme`s design and delivery. Many hip providers have also expressed a wish to take part in a full dry-run which takes place during the summer of 2006.

Although most estate agents now accept that the introduction of the home information pack (HIP) is a certainty, the majority of hip providers don’t have a firm plan for how they’ll put it into practice.

Given that many would be hip provider are still waiting for the ODPM to finalise its HIP regulations, due at the end of the year, it’s too early for you to take a decision on which hip provider to use. Even so, with the national dry run, which starts in July 2006, fast approaching, now is definitely the time to think about what you need from your future hip provider. Plus, with hip providers already knocking on your door you have to be prepared to ask the right questions to help you make your choice of selecting a hip provider.

Asking following questions from your HIP provider should help:

What format the packs will come in – CD, hard copy etc?

Cost of the pack

What does the price include e.g. how many HIP copies?

Turn around time for delivering the pack

Does he offers a ‘buy now pay later’ option?

Will he indemnify the information in the pack?

Can you have your own branding on the pack?

How many solicitors and home inspectors does he have?

Can I use my preferred solicitor and surveyor (home inspector)?

Why should I use you?