Don't hesitate to call. You can get a competitive quote for a survey on-line and if you telephone it may well be possible to negotiate a reduction in the fee quoted. Business has been far from brisk in recent months and all the evidence suggests that 2008 is going to be a difficult year. However, I have now qualified as a Home Inspector and, whilst I do not forsee there being any call for Home Condition Reports in the immediate future, I am receiving instructions on a fairly regular basis to prepare Energy Performance Certificates.

The end of the summer has seen a significant downturn in the market and business is now very slow. The main reason for this must be to do with the current state of the financial markets but I think is also associated with the introduction of the Home Information Pack, now a mandatory requirement when marketing not only four bedroomed property but three bedroomed property also.

The recent alteration to the proposed Home Information Pack, making the Home Condition Report a voluntary rather than a mandatory inclusion, has been seen by many to be an inevitable consequence of poor planning and inadequate consultation. Whilst there are those in the industry who consider the HCR to be a long overdue benefit to the consumer, there are many others who condemn it as something that, far from easing the housebuying process as intended, is more likely to prolong it further. Whether or not the voluntary scheme proves successful remains to be seen.
Despite the uncertainty, I am at present still intending to complete my training as a Home Inspector and hope to qualify within the next few months.

The last few weeks have been noticeably quieter than the earlier part of the year and there has also been a slight increase in the number of Part-Exchange Valuation instructions received recently. Whilst I have previously found this to be an indication that the market is slowing down, I feel sure that in this instance it is a direct result of the World Cup and the start of the holiday season.
Anyway, a little more time in the office has given me the opportunity to upgrade my SAP Home Energy Survey qualification and this will enable me to continue preparing Energy Reports. The Energy Report is to be an integral part of the Home Condition Report and, although there is continuing debate over the latter, it is a requirement of the European Parliament that ultimately all residential property in the EU will have an Energy Rating.

Many of you, I am sure, will have heard something of the Government's intention to introduce Home Information Packs, in an effort to reduce abortive costs in house purchase and to speed up the house buying process generally. Included in that pack there is to be a Home Condition Report on the property, undertaken by a qualified Home Inspector. Controversy continues over how useful and how effective these HCRs are likely to prove and many commentators have also expressed doubts that the 7500 Home Inspectors required to prepare them can be recruited and trained in time.
Anyway, despite my own scepticism I have now enrolled on a training course for Home Inspectors and I hope to qualify within the next few months.
I will keep you informed of progress.

Welcome to the new website which has just gone on line this week. I hope you find it informative and easy to use. If you have any comments to make or any suggestions as to how the site might be improved then please feel free to email.