So, you want to sell your home and you know you need a Home Information pack – where do you get it?

The first thing to remember is that the property professionals who helped you when you bought your home are still able to help this time around.  They may have to do things in a different order or different way but they are still part of the process. 

Solicitors, estate agents and surveyors will all be able to help you to compile the HIP for your home or point you in the direction of someone who can.

In addition to the traditional property professionals, some of the companies who have, in the past, been involved in parts of the process such as providing search results, are expanding their businesses into pack production.

There are also some newcomers to the industry – pack production companies who are essentially software companies with programmes set up to acquire and package the content required for the HIP.

Very few of these last two providers have offered packs directly to the home seller  - they have in the main restricted themselves to supplying packs to, for instance, estate agents.

Inevitably there will be choices to be made by the seller.  Perhaps the most important factor to bear in mind is that the cheapest pack may not be the most valuable in the long run 

A basic pack that only contains the compulsory elements will possibly be cheaper and available quicker than one that is customised to suit your home. However, in the long run, it may delay or possibly cause your sale to fall through when your buyer’s solicitor requests the ‘missing’ voluntary disclosure.

To reach the right decision for you and your sale, take advice before making it.  Your solicitor will be able to advise you as to what must, and what should, be included to increase the chances of a speedy sale at the right price.  Your estate agent too will be able to tell you about the competition your house is up against.

Buyers will, no doubt, obtain packs for more than one property and will compare the disclosures being given.