Comments on: Be aware of cheap, budget HIP & EPC providers http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/be-aware-of-cheap-budget-hip-epc-providers-123/ Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:32:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: Buying a Home Information Packs (HIPs) Will you Save or Lose your Money http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/be-aware-of-cheap-budget-hip-epc-providers-123/comment-page-1/#comment-8873 Buying a Home Information Packs (HIPs) Will you Save or Lose your Money Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:52:58 +0000 http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/?p=930#comment-8873 [...] companies went ‘under‘ leaving many consumers without their paid for HIPs. The article Be aware of cheap, budget HIP & EPC providers certainly remains valid and with the uncertainty within the industry the Conservatives are giving [...] [...] companies went ‘under‘ leaving many consumers without their paid for HIPs. The article Be aware of cheap, budget HIP & EPC providers certainly remains valid and with the uncertainty within the industry the Conservatives are giving [...]

]]> By: Have Personal Local Authority Searches Improved? http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/be-aware-of-cheap-budget-hip-epc-providers-123/comment-page-1/#comment-8094 Have Personal Local Authority Searches Improved? Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:54:59 +0000 http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/?p=930#comment-8094 [...] However, in April this loophole was closed and the widespread belief amongst quality providers was we would see the cheapest HIP providers raise their fees, as they would no longer be able to disregard the quality of the searches and discount the HIP packs. This has happened to some degreee but not to the extent many had anticipated and prompted us writing ‘Beaware of budget HIP providers‘. [...] [...] However, in April this loophole was closed and the widespread belief amongst quality providers was we would see the cheapest HIP providers raise their fees, as they would no longer be able to disregard the quality of the searches and discount the HIP packs. This has happened to some degreee but not to the extent many had anticipated and prompted us writing ‘Beaware of budget HIP providers‘. [...]

]]> By: Cheap Home Information Pack provider ceases trading http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/be-aware-of-cheap-budget-hip-epc-providers-123/comment-page-1/#comment-7201 Cheap Home Information Pack provider ceases trading Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:24:58 +0000 http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/?p=930#comment-7201 [...] Be aware of cheap, budget HIP & EPC providers [...] [...] Be aware of cheap, budget HIP & EPC providers [...]

]]> By: Mike Duxbury http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/be-aware-of-cheap-budget-hip-epc-providers-123/comment-page-1/#comment-6341 Mike Duxbury Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:20:34 +0000 http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/?p=930#comment-6341 In early July, I was invited by (company name removed sorry) to do EPCs for them at around £23. I am not a monkey, I do not work for peanuts and I'm not going to be insulted. I do a professional job, and I like to build up a relationship with my clients and provide a reliable and efficient service. In early July, I was invited by (company name removed sorry) to do EPCs for them at around £23. I am not a monkey, I do not work for peanuts and I’m not going to be insulted. I do a professional job, and I like to build up a relationship with my clients and provide a reliable and efficient service.

]]> By: Ian Bristow http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/be-aware-of-cheap-budget-hip-epc-providers-123/comment-page-1/#comment-6335 Ian Bristow Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:40:43 +0000 http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/?p=930#comment-6335 It's a shame that, what is for most of us, the biggest purchase, is also subject to some of the biggest rip-offs. We all want a bargain, but there is a price to be paid for everything. It’s a shame that, what is for most of us, the biggest purchase, is also subject to some of the biggest rip-offs. We all want a bargain, but there is a price to be paid for everything.

]]> By: Paul M Walker DipDEA http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/be-aware-of-cheap-budget-hip-epc-providers-123/comment-page-1/#comment-6304 Paul M Walker DipDEA Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:35:27 +0000 http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/?p=930#comment-6304 A friend of mine bought a cheap HIP (despite me offering to do it at cost!). When I looked at her "HIP" I found the HMLR documents to be the ones that can be bought on line for about £4 each. These documents are NOT authorised to be used in a HIP! I "encouraged" her to email the company with the threat of Trading Standards......She got her money back. The other "cheap" HIP is the one at £99 from some estate agents (EA). But read the small print! In some cases, if you leave that EA, you could well get a bill for £400! The same goes for the "FREE HIP" from an EA...read the small print! Or perhaps get a bill for £400+! As said above..."No such thing as a free lunch" And the shoe can be on the other foot! I have lost two EA's to someone doing cheap EPC's. But they are back using me now! Why did they bin their DEA? The EA's did not get the EPC and had to chase it. The DEA was late for appointments or did not turn up. The DEA was rude and off handed with their client. The DEA was "dressed" in jeans and a Tshirt/tracksuit. The EA/customer never received the EPC (payed for) as the DEA had done a runner. The homeowner complained at the cost of the EPC, to the EA, as "He was only here for 20 mins(including having a cup of tea)". I can assure you that a "proper" survey takes about 1 hour. As has been said "You get what you pay for". My two EA's have learnt this. But it cost them with time spent chasing documents and taking phone calls from unhappy vendors and damaged THEIR professional image. So to all you estate agent, solicitors and homeowners reading this...what is the solution? Use a company like HIP-Consultant.co.uk for your HIP/EPC's. (No I do not work for them! But I have passed clients on to them for EPC's out of my area of coverage - They provide an outstanding service.....(MD) that bit will cost you £2000!!). Or..... For EPC's try; http://findadea.whatstheidea.org.uk/ (HIP-Consultant.co.uk are members of the Institute of Domestic Energy Assessors, IDEA) Be safe out there!! A friend of mine bought a cheap HIP (despite me offering to do it at cost!). When I looked at her “HIP” I found the HMLR documents to be the ones that can be bought on line for about £4 each. These documents are NOT authorised to be used in a HIP!

I “encouraged” her to email the company with the threat of Trading Standards……She got her money back.

The other “cheap” HIP is the one at £99 from some estate agents (EA). But read the small print! In some cases, if you leave that EA, you could well get a bill for £400!

The same goes for the “FREE HIP” from an EA…read the small print! Or perhaps get a bill for £400+!

As said above…”No such thing as a free lunch”

And the shoe can be on the other foot!

I have lost two EA’s to someone doing cheap EPC’s. But they are back using me now!

Why did they bin their DEA?

The EA’s did not get the EPC and had to chase it.
The DEA was late for appointments or did not turn up.
The DEA was rude and off handed with their client.
The DEA was “dressed” in jeans and a Tshirt/tracksuit.
The EA/customer never received the EPC (payed for) as the DEA had done a runner.
The homeowner complained at the cost of the EPC, to the EA, as “He was only here for 20 mins(including having a cup of tea)”.

I can assure you that a “proper” survey takes about 1 hour.

As has been said “You get what you pay for”.

My two EA’s have learnt this. But it cost them with time spent chasing documents and taking phone calls from unhappy vendors and damaged THEIR professional image.

So to all you estate agent, solicitors and homeowners reading this…what is the solution?

Use a company like HIP-Consultant.co.uk for your HIP/EPC’s.
(No I do not work for them! But I have passed clients on to them for EPC’s out of my area of coverage – They provide an outstanding service…..(MD) that bit will cost you £2000!!).

Or…..

For EPC’s try;

http://findadea.whatstheidea.org.uk/

(HIP-Consultant.co.uk are members of the Institute of Domestic Energy Assessors, IDEA)

Be safe out there!!

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