Frequently Asked Questions
Home Reports
When are Home Reports being introduced?
What is in a Home Report?
Are there any exceptions?
Who pays for the Home Report?
Who should be given a copy of the Home Report?
MoveMachine
Has MoveMachine been set up simply to take advantage of Home Reports?
How much will a MoveMachine Home Report cost?
Why should I use MoveMachine rather than just collating the Reports myself?
How will the Home Report be delivered?
Can we add our own logo to the front of the Home Report?
How will MoveMachine support my business?
How will I order a Home Report?
Will MoveMachine use its own technology platform to produce Home Reports?
Home Reports
When are Home Reports being introduced?
Home Reports will be required for all properties brought to the market in Scotland from 1st December 2008.
What is in a Home Report?
A Home Report will contain three documents: a Single Survey, an Energy Report and a Property Questionnaire. We have provided full details of these documents as well as sample copies here.
Are there any exceptions?
Yes, there are a number of exceptions. Namely:
- New homes, including those sold 'off-plan'
- Newly converted premises, which had not previously been used as a home
- Right to Buy homes, where the home is sold to a tenant and marketing is not required
- Seasonal and holiday accomodation, which only has permission to be used for less than 11 months in any year
- A portfolio of residential properties, where a home is sold with one or more other homes and will not be sold in isolation
- Mixed sales, where a property is sold with one or more residential properties
- Dual use of a dwelling house, where a property is used for both residential and non-residential purposes
- Unsafe properties, where there is a risk to the health and safety of occupants or visitors
- Properties to be demolished
Who pays for the Home Report?
The seller is responsible for the cost of the Home Report.
Who should be given a copy of the Home Report?
Buyers should receive a copy of the Home Report within nine calendar days of the request. There are a few occassionas where a seller may refuse to give a copy:
- The buyer could not afford the house.
- The person is not really interested in buying the property.
- It is not a person to whom the seller wishes to sell.
The Home Report should be provided free of charge, although a reasonable cost can be made for printing and postage.
MoveMachine
Has MoveMachine been set up simply to take advantage of Home Reports?
No. We are part of an organisation with over 37 years' successful experience in the property marketing arena and have effectively been producing Home Information Packs in England and Wales for some time.
How much will a MoveMachine Home Report cost?
Prices are still to be confirmed; however we have a full range of finance options which will be available to allow you to offer a variety of payment methods to your clients. This will include upfront payment, deferred payment and a no sale no fee option as well as a range of business to business credit packages.
Why should I use MoveMachine rather than just collating the Reports myself?
It is not as simple as just stapling three documents together to produce a Home Report. This will result in increased admin costs and effort combined with additional overheads which could lead to significant disruption to your current business practices. By using MoveMachine, these problems are eliminated as we have seamless, fully-automated processes in place which are already tried and tested as well as a simple, quick online order system.
How will the Home Report be delivered?
You will be able to download the HIP in electronic format. Alternatively, it will be possible to order hard copies when you place your order and receive a high-quality printed version efficiently, at low cost.
Can we add our own logo to the front of the Home Report?
Yes. There are a number of different branding options available.
How will MoveMachine support my business?
We have a fully integrated customer services team which will be able to offer you the advice and support you need. In addition, our marketing support pack will provide you with a range of materials for your own use.
How will I order a Home Report?
MoveMachine has devised a very simple online order process. You simply log onto the MoveMachine portal, order your Home Reports, track their progress and download the completed document. We will provide you with full training on the system and our customer service team will be on hand to give you the support you need.
Will MoveMachine use its own technology platform to produce Home Reports?
Yes. We already have a custom-built platform. An extensive team of in-house developers means that we can continually develop and enhance the platform driven by customer feedback. The platform has already been used very successfully by property profesionals in England and Wales for the production of Home Information Packs.