So today is the day that people driving whilst talking on a mobile phone are going to be fined £60 & 3 penalty points – about time!
There are so many people on the Island risking their own & others lives all the time – You only ever get abuse if you confront them – will the Police have the resources to implement it on the Island?

On another tack we sell, property right across the Isle of Wight & we obviously owe a duty of care to our client but also we feel we have a duty of care to any prospective buyer. Although our office is a closed office, we did have a request for a visit from from some buyers yesterday – who visited us & thanked us for all our help in ensuring completion went through smoothly, even though there were hiccups. Always good to put a face to a name, In addition they left some smashing gifts, some of which I am eating right now!

 24th February 2007

"I am aware of the content of several other organisations' submissions and they all lead to the same conclusion. Perhaps the most telling submission has come from the Council of Mortgage Lenders, which echoed some of our own concerns.
Their key messages are that:

The baseline research does not provide compelling evidence to justify the current HIP proposals;

HIPs is not the most efficient or cost-effective way to deliver EPC's;

There will not be enough energy assessors qualified by June 1st;

There has been no Regulatory Impact Assessment made of the current proposals;

Delays in obtaining local authority searches should have been resolved before HIPs were introduced;

Lenders will not link to the HCR register and valuation processes will continue as they are;

The current trials timetable does not allow sufficient time to deliver complete and robust evidence on which to proceed.

The CML also restated that automated valuation modules will be used in a limited number of cases and that while lenders are exploring the possibilities of using AVM' s in appropriate cases 'this is a complex risk-based decision and one which lenders will not rush into'.  Contrast that statement with what DCLG say in the consultation document: 'The Home Condition Report has been designed...so that it...can be fed directly into lenders' automated valuation modules - thereby avoiding the cost of a separate lenders' valuation survey in a substantial number of cases'.

You may have seen that the popular press has begun another concerted campaign to get HIPs scrapped. This week the Mail got its teeth into the subject of the 'snooper society' and branded home inspectors as part of 'Gordon's Gestapo'. Meanwhile the Express splashed its front page with the headline 'Scrap New Tax on House Sales'. I would expect to see coverage in the Sunday papers.

Shadow Housing minister, Michael Gove has also re-stated that a Conservative administration will scrap HIPs when it comes to power. Given the government's current woes, this sort of publicity will be entirely unwelcome and I remain of the view that a change of tack on HIPs remains firmly on the cards, not only for practical but also for political reasons.

We now all have to wait and see how government and DCLG will react to the responses to the consultation. 'Interesting times', as they say in China..."

SPLINTA GROUP

                          
We only set the company up eight years ago – starting with three houses, with an amazing six pictures each! - way ahead of anyone in the UK at the time.
We have sold hundreds of houses right across the Island, but we were reminded yesterday when we drove through Chale & Chale Green how the village has been such a successful area for us – every few hundred yards it seems we have sold houses, stone cottages & bungalows. Saying that, last week we seemed to be spending most of the time over in the West Wight!

Simon
                 

12^th February 2007
Letter from someone who bought one of our homes last week

........I wish Isle of Wight Homes every success and would compliment you on the presentation of the web & paper details, which is way ahead of your rivals. This is particularly helpful when one is not local and are therefore unable to simply “pop” past the premises prior to a formal viewing.
Kind Regards
Yours Sincerely
F

Apparently today the UK has the most snow this millennium! It is always so mild down here on the Isle of Wight we usually miss out on snow & today is no exception. All last night it rained & now its just grey. I feel sorry for the children who haven’t really seen any snow in quantity – I remember driving around in my mini by Arreton / Merstone corner & the banks of snow where some 8’ either side - in about 1979.
Simon

I have just looked at the site there are an awful lot of red “SOLD” homes that I will have to take off today. Some properties will have to remain as the property has had exchange of contracts, but not completed yet!

We have just had a flurry of completions in the last couple of weeks – they usually happen on Fridays, we had three on Monday this week!

We really need some properties to sell – if you are thinking of selling please do contact us on info@isleofwighthomes.com or Tel 01983 721831
Simon
P.S. all the properties that have completed have all been deleted 12.58 on Wednesday

Saw a lovely house in Carisbrooke today - currently on with another agent - good location, good views, lots of people have visited, but no actual buyers - hope we get this one to take on.
They had a little baby girl at the second home we saw – forgotten what fun they can be at that age – Anyway back to work!!

The Home Information Packs are due come into use on 1^st June 2007

Sellers after this date will then be liable to pay out before entering the property market. If you go on the market before the 1^st June you wont need a HIP’s pack until October 2007, this is to be extended until March 2008.

If you decided to sell with an agent who offers a “ tie in” contract you could in effect be tied in until March 2008! A “tie in” contract usually last 18 weeks duration, then 3 weeks notice, therefore your contract would effectively end after the 1^st June deadline and if you then decide to change agents you would be liable for the HIPs Fees (could be up to £1000).

If you want to sell your property please do contact us now, as we have no “tie in” and only ask for 10 days notice to ensure we can cancel the advertising.

Remember the AGENT is the only person who gains by YOU   signing a “tie in” contract.
From
The happy bunch at Isle of Wight Homes

Any questions please e-mail info@isleofwighthomes.com or Telephone 01983 721831

Dear Supporters

For some while we have been predicting that standalone courses for estate agents and others to become Domestic Energy Inspectors and qualify to produce Energy Performance Certificates would become available.  We have seen courses costing over £3,500 and suggested that it would be worth waiting for others to emerge.

The costs are less than other training bodies but still significant and we are certainly not making any recommendation that you take up this offering, or any other, until we see whether HIPs really will happen. The last time people rushed to spend money on training to provide an element of the pack they got their fingers severely burned. You have been warned!

Kind regards

Nick

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Nick Salmon FNAEA (Honoured)

07831 805455