So are you the owner of sellmyownhome...?

ha. 

of course!!!!! ha ha...

it is a great site though.

 take a look. 

Very true that you never get something for nothing and Home Information Packs are no different.  Some of you may have noticed that many estate agents are offering free HIPs but beware of the following caveats and small print where applicable:

   It may be free subject to sale i.e. if the property doesn't sell in a certain amount of time you have to pay for the HIP. 

   The HIP may be free subject to you using an expensive conveyancing service which could end up costing you more than    if you got the HIP privately and used a more modestly priced conveyancer.   

   The HIP may be free and included in your agent's fee - there may be problems associated with this (see next point). 

   If your agent organised your HIP for you, they pay for it and so they own it meaning if you wanted to switch agents your original agent may make you pay for the HIP.  This can be avoided by getting the HIP privately either as part of selling the house yourself or to take to an agent of your choice (if you pay for it you own it). 

While I'm listing the 'don'ts of HIPs' I might as well mention that if your agent or indeed a HIP provider! advises you that you will need a HIP for your continually marketed property which was put on the market before the HIPs commencement date (1st Aug for 4 beds, 10th Sept for 3 beds) if it is to be marketed after January 1st 2008 they are wrong.  There has been a change in the legislation which means that such properties will not require HIPs in this circumstance.  In fact although this was the case, this so called 'drop dead' date has been withdrawn and has not as yet been re-set.  Please keep an eye on this as we approach the new year as it is not well publicised and has the potential for lots of confusion. 

You have taken a right decision of selling your house without an estate agent. in my view you should contact online property buying companies. They will help you in selling your house in 28 days and you would be spared the expenses of legal fees, estate agent fees or any hidden charges too. And what’s more, you receive all your money in cash.

I have seen a good website where you can sell your house and no involvement of real estate agent.  http://www.sellhousefastcash.co.uk/

Anyone thinking of selling their house privately without an estate agent should remember that a HIP is still required by law.  If you are marketing to the public or a section of the public you will need one.  Its worth checking with your local HIP provider or ask me. 

Truly private sales are different - if the only person who knows you are selling is the buyer who approached you in the first place you won't need a HIP, but if you start putting signs outside the house or put the details on rightmove a HIP is required.  

By the way - if you are putting together your own sales particulars you will likely need to include the 'EPC graphs' as well.  Your local domestic energy assessor should provide them with your EPC.   

I agree with Chriserenity about the need for HIP if any marketing is done. Most conveyancing solicitors can arrange this for you, so it is best to choose the solicitor that YOU want to deal with the conveyancing and get him to arrange the HIP also.

There is also the point that using a cheaper or free website method of advertising may well find you a buyer but you are left on your own in checking the buyer's ability to proceed and following up what is happening in any chain of transactions that you are involved in.

Without experience it is very easy to get confused and believe things other people in a chain tell you which they may well say out of their own misunderstanding of the position. One of my websites at XXXX Moderator - Self promotion link removed, in line with MS terms of service.

As a conveyancing solicitor I believe the information given in the post to be useful but I accept no liability except to fee-paying clients

Re: The previous posting.......

Ok, so you as the homeowner will have to put in a bit more effort when selling privately.......so what? It's possible to corrobrate info gained from others in chains - and always ask for updates in writing. And, with the saving you make selling privately, you can afford a good solicitor who will do a lot of the checking for you. Plus, sites like sellmyownhome offer loads of advice on how to progress a sale and have, for a little extra money, staff to help you through to a sucessful completion.

Just don't be afraid - there's always somebody who can help.