I am thinking of selling my property about a year from now. I won't be able to place it on the market until after the HIP deadline so i'm wondering what I can do to make the property more attractive on a HIP. I was mainly looking into energy efficiency.
Will it be worth me spending time and money to improve my rating? Will it make me more money. I'm quite sure think it will make the home easier to sell.
Are there any companies that can do the work for me?

With any luck andmc you won't need a HIP's pack......
Hopefully, they will be dumped into the Dustbin of History!

Wouldn't it be a relief if they were trashed.

I do feel however that rating a property based on it's energy efficiency is one of the best things to come from the HIP's. I think it's going to be one of the major factors effecting how saleable the property is. What with the pressure to, "do our bit for the environment", the rising energy prices etc.etc.... This is going to be somthing buyers and sellers have to take in to account.

To be fair, I don't think buyers give a hoot about energy efficiency. It certainly wouldn't be high on my list of wants.

absolutely! energy efficiency can be changed, but location, neighbourhood, size &c cannot.

Ary.

I agree SoP, particularly in the case of period properties (which is what I am interested in). If one had, say, doubleglazing and a better energy efficiency rating, and the other had the original windows and a poorer energy rating, I would certainly go for the latter.

I hope you're right Mel.

RICS are now raising serious issues about HIPs. In particular training and regulation of the inspectors, who are outside the remit of RICS Governance. So HM Govt have set up a scheme which in effect rivals RICS - the organisation with a Royal Charter to deliver professional surveying services in this Country.

quote:

Originally posted by daveyjp:
So HM Govt have set up a scheme which in effect rivals RICS - the organisation with a Royal Charter to deliver professional surveying services in this Country.

What are they doing, putting a P in front of RICS?

It's a Stealth Tax!
They couldn't think of any other way to squeeze more money out of the housing market having recently stuffed the property seller with an enormous hike in Stamp Duty fee's for sold property for Smiler Brown (I'm supporting the England Football team...yeah! right! ) and the Treasury.
They tried the window tax back in George 111's reign and that failed 'cos everyone bricked up their windows!
Council Tax has been jacked up by an average of 100% since 1997. (Well, mine has!) and it didn't do us much good in the local elections this year.

Property Inspectors.....1 years training from home? and a bit of on-the-job training?
Everyone's an expert!
Time will tell and it 'aint long now!

Picture the scene this time next year having paid your £800 for a HIP's

Government HIP's Inspector:

"There is evidence of vertical cracking in the brickwork from the 1st floor window to the Ground floor window"

Stressed out Seller:

"What do you think is or has caused that problem then Mr/Mrs. Inspector?

Inspector:

"Dunno.....You will need to bring in a RICS Surveyor for a more detailed examination and report because I can't form an opinion on the problem in case you sue me for professional incompetence.....but your loft insulation is OK if that eases your mind"
Mel.