For the second year running the United Group has scooped the prestigious and coveted award for “Best HIP provider” by Moneyfacts, the award is made on a totally independent basis. It is due to this impartiality that makes the award even more prestigious.

The New Year will bring a number of changes to the Home Information Pack (HIP) process.

With this in mind it is vital that you establish a relationship with a HIP provider who is registered with the HIP code and a member of AHIPP (Association of Home Information Pack Providers).

Launched in 2007; ehips has built on the success and experience gained with eConveyancer. Recently awarded the prestigious and coveted award for “Best HIP provider” by Moneyfacts, the award is made on a totally independent basis. It is due to this impartiality that makes the award even more prestigious.

ehips is the leading HIP provider offering a simple, flexible and competitive service.

From 6th April 2009 there will be a number of new measures introduced to the home buying and selling process to improve the information available to consumers which include:

Inclusion of a Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) in the HIP. The PIQ will provide a summary of information about the property including flood risk information, gas and electricity safety, service charges, structural damage, and parking arrangements to help buyers to make decisions on whether to view or purchase a property.

Currently a property can be marketed once the HIP has been commissioned and paid for. This means some buyers may lose out by making decisions about purchases without the benefit of seeing the pack. From 6th April 2009 a pack must be available to potential buyer as soon as a property is marketed.  This must include, as a minimum, the Index, Sale Statement, Title documentation (or in the case of unregistered land the Index Map Search and Plan) together with the EPC.  Alternatively, if the EPC has not been received but the remainder of the documentation is available, the property may be marketed 14 days after the EPC has been instructed.

ehips.com, the specialist online HIP provider, is to be made available to estate agents throughout the UK via the estate agency software provider, Dezrez.

The ehips.com service has been integrated with Dezrez software which is used by more than 1500 estate agency branches. ehips.com enables estate agents to select a HIP for their client based on a number of parameters including cost, value for money, timescale and budget. HIPs can be delivered electronically or as hard copies and estate agents can use ehips.com to produce quotes, instruct a HIP and monitor progress online 24/7. ehips.com will be available via Dezrez software from the begining of March.

ehips.com is currently marketing the lowest price HIPs in the UK at a cost of just £235. Estate agents are also given the option to provide their own Energy Performance Certificates and market HIPs at the reduced price of £299, earning themselves a commission of £114.

Vanessa Blount, Sales & Marketing Director at ehips.com, said: "We’re delighted to be working with Dezrez to make our HIPs service available to their extensive base of estate agents. ehips.com not only guarantees the most competitive prices currently available, but also a fast and reliable service."

Wilf Lewis from Dezrez said: "The addition of ehips.com to our panel of HIP providers gives estate agents an even greater choice of products, service and prices to offer their clients. We look forward to working with the ehips.com team over the coming months."

ehips.com has been developed by the United Group. Estate agents requiring further information about ehips.com can either phone 01844 262392 or email: ehips@utdgroup.com

The United Group has scooped the prestigious and coveted award for “Best HIP provider” by Moneyfacts, the award is made on a totally independent basis. It is due to this impartiality that makes the award even more prestigious.

Vanessa Blount Sales and Marketing director for both eHips and eConveyancer comments “Our Conveyancing proposition is a well known market leading brand respected for it reputation and service, it is great news that eHIPs is also starting to get the same recognition for being at the forefront of technology and service”.

On 1 August, ehips launched its online Home Information Pack (HIP) service. ehips uses proven technology to easily produce quotes, instruct HIPs and monitor their progress online 24/7. The HIP is produced quickly and efficiently using direct links to the component providers. The dedicated customer service team provides support, effective progress management and rigorous quality control to ensure that ehips provides excellent customer service.

Building on the success and experience gained with eConveyancer, ehips will be one of the leading HIP providers offering a simple, flexible service, which allows its clients to choose the service most appropriate to their needs.