Sep

Get a move on! Property industry pledges to make house sales quicker

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Landlords have been promised better service when buying or selling property following the launch of an industry initiative.

The Home Buying and Selling Group (HBSG) forum, which is attended by representatives from estate agency, conveyancing and other industry sectors as well as government officials, is asking estate agents to ‘take the pledge’ and promise to help improve the property sales process.

This includes asking agents to keep their customers fully informed and pre-warned about the buying process which, it is hoped, will resolve the problems that can hold up a sale, reducing fall throughs, help prevent fraud and, for some, reduce the time it takes to buy and sell.

For example, this includes recommending that vendors instruct a solicitor on the day a property is marketed, as is the case when selling via an auction.

Pledge

All the major industry organisations representing those involved in property sales have signed the pledge including mortgage brokers, estate agents, legal firms, surveyors, removals companies and consumer organisations.

Trade bodies involved include Propertymark, The Law Society, Conveyancing Association, RICS and Trading Standards.

Ana Bajri, RICS Associate Director, Residential (left) says: “As more people look for new homes to suit their working or family needs, it is vital that industry works together to help people move home as quickly, safely and smoothly as possible.

“RICS members are an integral part of the house buying process. As part of the Home Buying and Selling Group we have been working hard with other professions to help consumers by setting out a more efficient approach for home moving

“To ensure the pledge is a success, RICS are calling on their profession to support the pledge and actively support home movers to take steps to help ease the process.”

The initiative is also backed by the Property Redress Scheme. Its Head of Redress Sean Hooker (below) says: “We fully support this pledge and the work that the HBSG has done to produce guidance for home moving in the wake of the covid19 pandemic.

“The emphasis on communication, disclosure and documentation, will enhance the experience of the consumer and along with the promises from the other property professionals, will hopefully lead to quicker sales and less transactions falling through. As a redress scheme, we believe this will lead to less complainants and enhanced professionalism in the sector.”

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