Local law firm pioneers new home sales service

A local law firm has become one of the first in the country to offer its clients Home Information Packs, months before they are due to be introduced across England and Wales.

Franklins Solicitors LLP, the leading Milton Keynes and Northampton-based legal firm, believes recent Government changes to planned Home Information Packs (HIPs) have created a useful sales aid which it feels should be offered to home sellers alongside its conventional services. It expects the move to speed up the conveyancing process and reduce search costs.

Currently, important information about a property is only available to a buyer after their offer has been accepted, often leading to sales falling through. But, with the introduction of compulsory HIPs next June, consumers will have all this information at the start of the sales process. Franklins, a pioneer in electronic conveyancing, says it wants to offer the advantages of HIPs to its clients now, rather than wait until next year.

“Now the Government has decided to remove the need for a costly and controversial Home Condition Report, originally part of the HIPs legislation, the scheme looks far more attractive for sellers,” explained Managing Partner, Michael Franklin.

“We believe HIPs will make the home-selling process much quicker and more certain and we have already been able to negotiate a lower cost on search fees which we can pass on to our clients,” he added.

As well as the usual Local Authority and Land Registry searches, Home Information Packs from Franklins will contain copies of any planning, listed building and building regulations consents and approvals, copies of warranties and guarantees and an independently produced energy efficiency assessment.

Added Mr Franklin: “Because our sister company is one of the country’s largest IT suppliers to both lawyers and estate agents, Franklins Solicitors is perfectly placed to help pioneer a fast, electronic solution to the new HIPs regulations with customers able to access the progress of their Home Information Pack on-line.

“By working with local estate agents to refine our offering ahead of the official launch of HIPs, our clients will have a distinct advantage over other sellers in the market.”

For more information visit, www.franklins-sols.co.uk and see what we can do for you.