From the 1st December 2008 every Scottish seller will be legally obliged to prepare a Home Report prior to marketing their home. This report will be made available on request to prospective buyers of the home.
The Home Report will include:
1. An in-depth survey containing:
o Condition of home report
o Valuation
o An accessibility audit for people with particular needs
2. A property questionnaire containing information about the home that will be useful to buyers
3. An energy report providing:
o Energy efficiency of the home
o Environmental impact
o Recommendations on ways to improve its energy efficiency
It will not include any searches
Home Information Packs were first introduced into England in August 2007.
“As with Home Information Packs, HCR will arrange the Home Report on a transferee’s behalf. This saves time and reduces their stress allowing the employee to focus on their role at work,” enthuses David Jannetta, Move Adviser, HCR.
For further information on HCR’s Home Report service, please contact David Jannetta on:
e-mail: djannetta@hcr.co.uk or tel: +44 (0) 1256 313763
Or for relocation solutions please contact Natascha Clark on:
e-mail: nclark@hcr.co.uk or tel: +44 (0) 1256 313839
For more information on the Home Report, please visit www.homereportscotland.gov.uk
HCR has recently participated at the 10th EuRA Conference held in Rome, Italy. It gave relocation, immigration and removal experts the opportunity to network and discuss with other professionals the latest trends and issues within the industry. In addition to this, several training sessions were given and the special guest speakers kept the participants engaged with their motivating and inspirational talks. We networked with service providers from APAC, EMEA and the USA, finding good partners for our UK inbound and UK outbound relocation activities.
Adrian Leach, HCR Assistant Director Business Development appeared in the Spring 2008 edition of Re:locate magazine in an article titled “Safe as houses?”. In the article journalist Susan Bevan explained why Guaranteed Sale Prices (GSPs) are becoming an increasingly valued component of relocation packages. Guaranteed Sale Price is sometimes referred to as Guaranteed Purchase Price (GPP), Home Buy Out or Guaranteed Value.
Susan confirmed the benefits of a GSP Scheme, “GSP schemes provide relocating employees with a guaranteed sum of money, based on the value of their old home, with funds available when they find a new home to buy. They are in the happy position of a first-time buyer, able to clinch the deal on a new property quickly, unfettered by a house buying chain.”
The article goes onto to cover the features employers and employees involved in a GSP Scheme need to be made aware of.
“In a static or falling market employees are likely to find the offer attractive but for employers there is a greater risk of loss on sale. The right marketing strategy and initial asking price are essential in order to minimise risk”, says Adrian.
It is important to understand that the Sale Price achieved for the property doesn’t necessarily equal the price offered under the GSP Scheme and these expectations should be made to any employer and employee interested in the scheme.
HCR provides realistic expectations of property values under its GSP Scheme. HCR are one of the very few companies who can fund GSPs rather than use the employer’s funds. Our policy is to be honest and open - a trusted friend.
A full account of the original article on the Re:locate website can be found at
http://www.relocatemagazine.com/employee-support/safe-as-houses.php.
For further information on how the Guaranteed Sale Price Scheme can help you, please contact Natascha Clark e-mail: nclark@hcr.co.uk tel: 01256 812700
March 13, 2008 – 11:03 am
David Jannetta (57), a Move Adviser at HCR (the relocation and property company) is taking part in a sponsored cycle ride on Sunday 20th July 2008 in aid of St Michael’s Hospice, Basingstoke. David has participated for the last 4 years, last year he cycled 45 miles and it took him just over 3 hours!
The course starts at 9 am at Down Grange playing fields and meanders around some very challenging hilly roads between Basingstoke and Alresford.
“I enjoy cycling it keeps me young and fit, plus it’s for a really good cause. If anyone would like to join me then they are very welcome,” enthused David.
St. Michael’s Hospice, based in Basingstoke helps people faced with a life-limiting illness, their families and carers by providing a choice of specialist care and support to enable them to attain the highest possible quality of life.
If you would like to sponsor David, please contact him on e-mail: djannetta@hcr.co.uk or phone: 01256 313763.
February 14, 2008 – 11:52 am
HCR under the banner of HCR Property Management, provider of a flexible and economical alternative to hotels and serviced accommodation in Basingstoke, is sponsoring the string quartet for the Basingstoke “A Place to be Proud of Awards 2008.”
The awards recognise the contributions made by individuals, groups, organisations, places and initiatives that make Basingstoke borough a diverse, vibrant community and a great place to live and do business. These awards were first launched in 2003 and have gone from strength to strength.
“ HCR are proud to be supporting their local community by sponsoring the string quartet at “A Place to be Proud of Awards”. HCR takes Corporate Social Responsibility very seriously, we like to give something back to the community where our office is based and where the majority of our employees live,” stated Rob Dolbear, Financial Director, HCR.
All short-listed nominees and nominators are invited to the prestigious Awards dinner and ceremony on 13th July held in Festival Place – this year the speaker will be Charlie Dimmock.
HCR employees are being encouraged to submit nominations. Categories include:
· Arts and Culture Award
· Good Citizen Award
· Good Neighbour Award
· Health and Care Award
· Basingstoke Ambassador Award
· School and Education Award
· Young Achiever Award
· Unsung Hero Award
· Judges Special Award
Further details about the awards plus nomination forms can be found at:
www.basingstoke.gov.uk/community/proud/
Further details about HCR Property Management can be found at:
www.hcr.co.uk/rentals
February 13, 2008 – 2:29 pm
HCR is currently launching an Advertising Campaign to seek out Private Landlords who have property that they could let through HCR’s Rental Scheme.
“ Working with HCR can save a Private Landlord up to £2,000 a year. Private Landlords will also get a guaranteed and regular payment from a financially dependable company plus quality and disciplined occupants from corporations and government as tenants. These are only some of the superb benefits that HCR can bring to the table,” enthuses Adrian Leach, Business Development Assistant Director.
HCR guarantees attendance at move in and move out, a reduced voidage with an average of 28 months tenancy, lower registration fees than most agents and a fair and equitable damages policy.
Private Landlords will not be charged unless HCR uses them. HCR will provide a 24/7 emergency property helpline to support the protection of their property and through-life tenancy support by the HCR maintenance team.
With the property rental market forecasting to increase over the next few months and the expansion in employee relocation that HCR is facilitating, HCR is looking to add to its current portfolio of over 6,000 properties it rents out at any one time.
The advertisements will appear in London Loot, Landlord and Housing Matters over the next few months.
To obtain more information Private Landlords are being encouraged to contact Patience on 01256 313735 or e-mail her on LL@hcr.co.uk
December 12, 2007 – 12:09 pm
Adrian Leach, HCR Assistant Director Business Development appeared in the Money section of Sunday Telegraph on December 9 2007 in an article headed “Make the right moves when your employer relocates”. The article was aimed at shaming the Government because they have not uplifted the Relocation Tax Allowance of £ 8,000 since 1993. Journalist Theresa Hunter observed that: “the only real winner is the taxman”. Adrian suggested that relocating staff in Group Moves was becoming more scarce, as the costs rise and the tax allowance remained static, and “…the employee will be badly left out of pocket”.
Citing the BBC, the article goes on to state that with guaranteed home sale schemes “valuations can disappoint” and “if the property subsequently sells for more, the company keeps the profit.”
Whilst although HCR agrees that the taxman does make a massive amount of money out of employee relocation, it disagrees that HCR’s guaranteed home sale scheme provides the same negative features stated in the article.
“HCR use independent Valuers, Chartered Surveyors (members of the RICS), and they are asked to provide the market value on which the guaranteed sale price is calculated,” responds David Jannetta, HCR Move Adviser. David also goes on to say, “ Our experience shows that the majority of HCR’s guaranteed sales prices are realistic and in almost all cases, any gain over and above that is passed onto the employee”.
A full account of the article may be available on-line, please visit: www.telegraph.co.uk/money
For further information on the Guaranteed Home Sales Price scheme, please email: sstedham@hcr.co.uk
December 12, 2007 – 11:34 am
HCR is proud to be sponsoring Helen Powers, HCR Property Adviser.
Helen is performing an enduring 350mile long sponsored bike ride from 26th May to 1st June 2008. Commencing in Portsmouth she’ll be cycling through the battlefields of France and then back on to London.
She’s taking part to raise money for a brand new charity called Help for Heroes, which has been set up to support the injured servicemen returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Robert Dolbear, Finance & Operations Director, HCR GROUP commented: “We are very supportive of Helen’s tremendous effort in raising money for an extremely worthwhile cause. HCR has a long term relationship relocating members of the armed forces and so we feel assisting these servicemen is a natural extension of our partnership.”
Help for Heroes aims to raise £8 million for a new rehabilitation centre at Headley Court.
“One of our good friends was injured out in Iraq this year when my husband was out on operations. I am doing the bike ride with his partner and I need exposure and sponsorship. I have to raise £2000 to do the ride but I would really love to raise as much as I possibly can,” says Helen enthusiastically.
If anyone else would like to sponsor Helen, please contact her on:
(0)1748 834159. hpowers@hcrpa.co.uk.
April 27, 2007 – 10:57 am
According to the results of research conducted by Propertyfinder published in Property Week, the cost of moving house has more than tripled in the last ten years. Overall costs now average £9,486, up from £2,925. “The cost of moving house has risen by an annual average of 12.5% according to property Week. For more information on the cost of moving and the implications for staff relocating call Adrian Leach on 01256 313751.
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