HIPs - it stands for Home Information Packs - is a new government plan to help speed up the buying and selling of homes.

From 14th December 2007 anyone selling a residential property must produce one of the packs regardless of the number of bedrooms the property has. It is a legally binding document embracing all the key information required by buyers and sellers at the front end of the home-buying cycle.

Although there has been much confusion about HIPs, it is now agreed that the pack must contain at least the following:

• A Home Information Pack index
• Energy Performance Certificate
• A Sale statement
• Standard searches
• Evidence of Title

detailed explanation of these requirements can be found at www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk/consumer/

Of course, peapod will help and advise any customers in need of assistance in putting together the pack.

And peapod has the advantage of its own energy assessor - the person responsible for issuing the Energy Performance Certificate - telling how energy efficient a home is.