| The British government are making it easier to | | | | available at the beginning of the home buying and |
| buy and sell homes in England and Wales. The | | | | selling process, and before buyers incur costs. |
| introduction of the Property Information | | | | Informed choice by buyers at the start can help |
| Questionnaire (PIQ) is another step to making it | | | | reduce delays later on and wasted time for |
| easier to buy and sell in the UK with or without an | | | | sellers. So what information does the questionnaire |
| agent. The introduction of the PIQ takes account | | | | give a buyer? The buyer will see at glance |
| of the increasing demand from sellers to sell their | | | | information regarding the home from when the |
| homes without an estate agent. | | | | property was purchased to what modifications it |
| About Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) | | | | has undertaken. |
| On 8 December 2008, the Minister for Housing, | | | | Speeding up the Buying and Selling Process |
| Margaret Beckett, announced proposals to | | | | The UK governments aim to inform the buyer |
| improve and simplify the consumer content of | | | | and to make the process quicker resulted in |
| the Home Information Pack (HIP).The Property | | | | Home Information Packs or HIPs. The HIP is a |
| Information Questionnaire (PIQ) has been | | | | package of information which must be assembled |
| designed to be easy for sellers to complete | | | | by a vendor [or an estate agent] prior to |
| without professional help and will provide buyers | | | | marketing a residential property. The documents |
| with basic, useful information about a property | | | | that have to be included in a HIP from the first |
| that will help to inform their decision to view a | | | | day a property is marketed include: a Sales |
| property or make an offer. | | | | Statement evidence of title Energy Performance |
| From April 6th 2009, those involved in selling | | | | Certificate. |
| homes need to be aware that there are some | | | | Whilst these documents have to be in place |
| important changes that you need to know about. | | | | before the property can be marketed there are |
| Estate agents and other property professionals | | | | others that must be obtained within 28 days so |
| will need to understand them to be able to advise | | | | that the vendor or estate agent can demonstrate |
| sellers and potential buyers. | | | | that the HIP is compliant. Additional items are: |
| Property Information Questionnaires will be a | | | | Local authority Search [including Land Charges, |
| compulsory document for inclusion in the Home | | | | Planning and Highways] Water and Drainage |
| Information Pack. The PIQ is designed to be | | | | Search copies of any Leases or Licences to which |
| completed by a seller, providing simple, useful | | | | the property is subject. |
| information about a property. This can help to | | | | In all it seems that buying and selling a house in |
| inform prospective buyers' decisions about | | | | the UK is set to become quicker and easier. I |
| whether to view, or make an offer on a particular | | | | predict that like in the USA where For Sale By |
| property.Every property search in a HIP must | | | | Owner is a recognised method of putting a |
| now contain all the required search information. | | | | property to market, so to will the UK as |
| These changes are being introduced to Home | | | | governments make the process easier for all. |
| Information Packs so that better information is | | | | |