Estate agents are being offered guidance on how to prepare for proposed changes to the homebuying and selling process, including greater use of upfront property information.
Rightmove will host a webinar on Wednesday 23 September from 10am to 11am. The session will focus on the Government’s Home Buying and Selling Reform programme.
The proposed changes include upfront sales packs and digital property logbooks. They would also increase the amount of property information available earlier in transactions across England and Wales.
The webinar, called Property Information Revolution, will feature Sally Holdway, founder of Home Owner’s Passport.
It will examine how agents can identify potential transaction problems earlier and prepare properties for sale.
The session will also look at what constitutes a transaction-ready property.
Tackling transaction delays
Among the issues covered will be common problems that can delay transactions. These include leasehold complications, restrictive covenants, rights of way and flood risk.
Agents will also receive guidance on what should appear in a sales pack. The webinar will consider how agents can determine whether the information is ready for conveyancers.
Another area will be the selection of sales pack providers. This will include the importance of source data and the quality of information supplied.
Jason Charles, head of education at Rightmove, said: “The Government’s proposed reforms are designed to create a faster, more transparent process for buyers.
“As greater emphasis is placed on upfront information, agents will need to understand how to spot potential issues earlier and help prevent avoidable delays.
“In this session, agents will be able to hear from Sally on where transactions most commonly stall, the warning signs agents should look out for, and the practical steps they can take to keep chains moving and reduce unnecessary delays.”
Holdway said: “Upfront information forms a central pillar of the Government’s home buying and selling reforms and so is here to stay.
“However, we are conscious that it can look like another layer of compliance, and there’s a worry that digging deeper can surface tricky legal issues. We’ll be sharing some of these hints and tips in the session.
“Handled well, our experience is that upfront information is a triple win: it helps agents win more instructions, shortens completion timescales and brings fall-through rates down.”
Attendees will receive a guide covering the Government’s property reform roadmap and common transaction problems. Rightmove will also provide an action plan covering material information, sales packs and property logbooks.
The webinar will include a live Q&A. Rightmove will make a recording available afterwards.
