How will Ownerpack help?
Ownerpack steps in at the point where you make the decision to put your home on the market. It produces the HIP for you, helping you sell your property quickly, efficiently and with minimum fuss. You supply initial information but then your estate agent handles the rest of the process in cooperation with relevant professional services in the area.
The process starts with your initial instruction to your estate agent. It then passes to the experts who will provide the legal input and brief the Domestic Energy Assessor to carry out the energy assessment and produce the Energy Performance Certificate. Once the pack is ready it will be retained by your estate agent for consultation by prospective purchasers. In the majority of cases the whole process unfolds with no further input from you once you have provided the initial information.
Alternatively, you can brief the production of Ownerpack direct and retain it yourself while you sell your property. This may be your preference if you are handling your own sale rather than placing it in the hands of an estate agent. If you are uncertain of your best route forward, speak to an Ownerpack representative or one of the agents listed on this site and we will advise you.
Who is behind Ownerpack?
Ownerpack is an initiative conceived by solicitors Holmes & Hills and Steed & Steed and developed in consultation with estate agents with whom they have cooperated over many years. It was devised with a focus on the ultimate customer – the person selling the property – and sets out to make it easier for home owners, their local estate agents and other local services to work together. It takes away the effort of HIP production and leaves the estate agent and the owner to get on with the business of preparing to market the property.
The firms behind Ownerpack are established solicitors with offices covering Braintree, Great Dunmow, Halstead, Sudbury and surrounding areas. They all have extensive experience in dealing with property matters in the area and are well known by local estate agents.
Does this mean I have to use a particular solicitor for my conveyancing?
The way the service is structured makes it efficient for the conveyancing to be dealt with by the Ownerpack conveyancing services: however, this is not essential. You can make the decision to leave the whole matter within the Ownerpack process – and in the hands of very experienced legal services – or to have your preferred solicitor handle the conveyancing for the sale. Your estate agent or the Ownerpack representative will explain the implications of these options.
How much does Ownerpack cost?
The price for the standard Ownerpack HIP is £290.00 inclusive of VAT, or £335 if purchased using the optional deferred credit scheme. The more comprehensive version – known as Ownerpack HIP PLUS – costs £446.50 inclusive of VAT: this has additional information on environmental and planning matters as well as Neighbourhood details and Local Amenities relating to the property to be sold.
These prices are for a freehold property where there are no complications. Where problems arise, such as the fact that land may not be registered, additional charges are incurred just as they would be as part of the legal cost of conveyancing. For leasehold properties there are further fixed charges relating to enquiries that have to be made to various parties such as managing agents and there will also be costs that have to be paid for access to specific information. All additional leasehold costs will be explained at the outset.
Different payment options are available with Ownerpack, including cash and cheque up front as well as deferred payment. These will be explained to you so that you can choose your preferred method.
For a full listing of Ownerpack HIP pricing options, click here.
How do I sign up to Ownerpack?
If you are putting your property up for sale with an estate agent that offers Ownerpack, simply say that you wish to use this service. From this point on the estate agent will handle the process for you, explaining the terms and conditions and what will happen if, for some reason, the sale does not go through. You can see which agents are working with Ownerpack by checking the list here on this site.
If you are handling your own sale or using an estate agent not in our list, you can still opt to have an Ownerpack HIP. Complete the details on the online form here and we will get in touch with you, after which we can discuss the matter with your preferred estate agent. You can also use the same form to start the process with one of our partner agents: simply indicate the agent name in the enquiry box on the form and we will pass on your details.