Why should I use a Fastmove solicitor?
How long will it take for my sale/purchase to go through?
How much should I pay for a Home Information Pack (HIP)?
What if I am offered a free HIP?
What if my estate agent tells me to use their preferred conveyancers?
Each Fastmove solicitor offers the complete legal package for your house sale and purchase. We are independent solicitors working together using our unique conveyancing system to speed up the home moving process.
Fastmove members are independent and set their own prices so you will need to contact your chosen firm for a quote. See our map search facility to find a solicitor near you.
Moving home can be a slow and stressful process, with the average time between negotiation of sale and completion 81 days.
Under the FASTMOVE banner, local law firms work for you to reduce the time between negotiation of a property sale and its completion. By using a common set of forms and a standard process, they can demonstrate average savings of up to 60% between the time of offer and exchange.
Government figures state the average cost of a pack is £300 to £350 – costs which, apart from the new information included in the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), are already part of the home buying and selling process.
The only new component is the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and, while market forces will ultimately dictate the cost, currently you can expect to pay around £100 + VAT for an energy inspection.
Historically the remaining parts of the pack have been paid for by the buyer but are transferred to the seller. The costs of these amount to £144 (£8 to the Land Registry, £90 for the local search and £46 payable to South West Water).
There is no such thing as a free HIP. Sellers need to be alert that companies offering ‘free HIPs’ recover the true cost by adding to commission rates or through the sale of packaged mortgage and insurance products, often adding several hundreds of pounds to the cost of the transaction. Even a small increase of just one quarter of one percent in the commission on a house sale of £250,000 will amount to £625.00 - a mark up of 136%. There may also be additional charges if you wish to engage an alternative agent at any time.
If sellers are offered a ‘free HIP’ then they should check the total cost of the transaction.
Some estate agents may encourage you to use their own in-house conveyancing departments, but the choice is entirely yours. Fastmove solicitors are all based in Devon and Cornwall so our local knowledge helps to ensure a fast, smooth problem-free property move for you.
We aim to reduce the stress and anxiety that can be associated with moving home. You won’t be connected to a remote call centre when you phone us – our network of local offices means you can phone, e-mail or drop in to see us in person.
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