MORE SELLERS' STORIES

Homeowner Nicola McKnight is a teaching consultant living in London. She put her 2 bedroom flat on the market in March 2007 and commissioned a Home Information Pack as part of the Area Trials operating in London.

"Prior to putting my flat on the market, I had only ever been involved in the property chain as a buyer - I had never had to buy and sell simultaneously before. But I had heard a lot of nightmare stories from friends and family about the stresses involved when buyers pull out at the last minute and how lengthy the process can become.

"I thought the forward-thinking aspect of the Home Information Pack sounded really useful and it seemed sensible to commission a Pack at the start and have all the relevant information available up front. I felt much more relaxed knowing that I had all the information required from my side of the sale out of the way at the very beginning.

"Additionally, having all the documents in one Pack meant I could always find information quickly. It also made me feel so much more comfortable and confident when answering solicitors' and estate agents' questions, as I knew I had the right answers to hand.

"The Pack itself was produced very quickly and I had frequent email contact with the Pack provider throughout the process. He kept me in the loop with what was happening at each stage and was always very clear about what I needed to do.

"The energy assessment done on my home was quick and easy, and the EPC was straightforward and easy to understand. I knew I wasn't going to get a high rating, as it's an old flat with sash windows, but that didn't put any potential buyers off the property. On the contrary. They thought it was great that I was able to provide details about the flat's current energy efficiency up front. Buyers regarded it as a benchmark for them to improve upon and were relieved to know there wouldn't be any nasty surprises once they'd moved in.

"I think having the HIP made the whole process stress-free and sped up the purchase considerably. I would certainly recommend them to other sellers."

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