Beware of grubby estate agents bringing gifts..

 The big change in HIPs plans, which some have not noticed, is Ms Kelly’s admission that homeowners will be allowed to put their homes on sale without actually having a completed HIP to hand, see More HIPs confusion

Do not let estate agents compile your “FREE HIP” or charged for HIPs pack, only required now on 4 bedroom and larger properties. see post legal definition.

If you let your Estate agent compile your Home information pack or HIP.

• This will mean that:(a) He or she will charge you more than otherwise for selling the house.
• (b) you won’t easily be able to change agents because the HIP will be tied into them in some way – or you will have to pay for it in order to change agents.
• (c) you will be “encouraged” to go to some conveyancer in a remote location that has a deal with the agent and the HIP provider and the agent will probably get a kick-back from the conveyancer that YOU WILL BE PAYING FOR.

If you compile your own HIP its yours, so you can change agents as you see fit without penalty.

• Do not accept the the 2% or 1.5% estate agent fees
• Always get them down to below 1%, and use the contract below we have for you, that way everything is upfront. No nasty shocks.

Always always instruct estate agents on Sole agency only
this way, you will not pay them if you sell your house yourself, (private sale) and you can advertise on the Internet.

We have an estate agents contract here you can use. Estate agents contract from Which.

According to research by Which?. Contracts can be badly worded and misleading.

It warns people to watch out for terms, which could catch them out.

• For example, if you opt for sole selling rights, and then find a buyer yourself, you will still have to pay the estate agent.
• Another one to watch out for, if you are a seller, is a “ready, willing and able purchaser contract”.

You will have to pay once a buyer, who is able to exchange unconditional contracts, is found.

This still applies if you withdraw your property before the sale is completed.

In this scenario, you may also be charged for the cost of ‘For Sale’ boards and advertising