Hips get IT support network
Estate Agents - 23/08/2006 11:35:38
Estate agents and solicitors are to get a helping hand when home information packs (Hips) are introduced, as a leading supplier is joining forces with IT companies.
Home Information Pack Action Group (Hipag) has announced that it is forming strategic alliances with a range of IT companies to help in the production and streamlined entry of Hips to the estate agent and the property markets.
Hipag claims that co-operation rather than competition is the way to go when Hips are introduced and says that by working with other companies already involved with online legal and property software, they will be able to deliver real results to house buyers and estate agents alike.
Director of Hipag Nick Hodges said: "We will shortly be holding live trials of just how Home Information Packs will work in practice and so we will be able to demonstrate real-world expertise in what is undoubtedly a complex process that requires significant investment.
"We are already holding discussions with a number of prospective IT partners keen to integrate their software with our online system."
Hips have been beset by problems with estate agents, letting agents and solicitors claiming that they will create more paperwork in the house buying chain and add an extra cost to buying a home.
This was compounded further by the news that the government had taken a u-turn over certain parts of the Hip scheme and had made the controversial home condition report, which had caused the most concern amongst estate agents, voluntary.
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