UK Enterprise Awards 2019

59 | SME NEWS - UK Enterprise Awards 2019 H.I.C.H Ltd is an innovative building survey specialist offering a range of services to meet the needs of clients nationwide. Having recognised the firm in this year’s UK Enterprise Awards we profile it to find out more. Drawing on its extensive industry experience, H.I.C.H is a national online property surveyor network platform that offers a variety of building survey inspection reports at an affordable cost through-out the UK, the survey costs are based on the number of bedrooms rather than the property valuation. This innovative service is specifically targeted to defect analysis on all elements of new build and second-hand properties, ensuring savings are made during the purchase process while maintaining building standards. Supporting an array of clients across the UK, H.I.C.H boasts a diverse surveyor network that has been developed over the past two years in stages. As a result, the firm is able to offer a variety of property surveying options throughout the U.K. in all postcode areas, helping target the requirements of property developers and home owners with bespoke survey defect reports focused on saving money during the negotiation process or building refurbishment experience. Clients can select the survey inspection best suited to the property they are interested in or own by visiting the firm’s website and online platform. Technology is at the forefront of H.I.C.H’s offering, and the firm aims to provide clients with a hassle-free solution by making information and report samples are accessed easily via its user-friendly fully transparent profile to enable a decision to be made while managing the expectations on the level of detail expected as standard. H.I.C.H Ltd: Best Bespoke Roofing & Property Surveying Company 2019 Such a comprehensive service offering is of vital importance in today’s home buying market, as many homeowners find themselves struggling after selecting and buying their property. As evidence of this, the 2017 Homeowner Survey conducted by You Gov for Home Owners Alliance and BLP Insurance demonstrates that there is a clear mismatch between consumer expectation and reality. Nearly half of new build property buyers in the last 10 years (46%) expect the full 10-year warranty to cover minor snagging issues on their new build home when, in actual-fact, standard warranties cover issues that relate to or affect the structure of the home. The survey findings further reinforce conclusions from the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) report ‘More homes, fewer complaints’, which stated that consumers think a warranty is a hallmark of absolute quality. Often warranties cover far less than consumers assume, in responding to the 2017 Homeowner Survey, comments such as “Covered so little it was virtually worthless” and “The cover was minimal and far below expectations” were typical responses to the survey. As such, H.I.C.H aims to offer clients a comprehensive service that will meet their exact needs and ensure that they receive the home they expect. Complications after purchase are common among new build properties in particular, and as such H.I.C.H has tailored its solutions to meet their requirements. Amongst consumers who have bought new build properties in the past ten years, the most common misperceptions around the types of faults which aren’t covered by the full 10-year warranty are electrical and wiring faults (71%), plumbing faults (63%), insulation and draft faults (58%), nor do many consumers appreciate that for the first two years after completion, it is down to the builder to sort out defects and after that, the warranty covers matters that affect the structure of the home. New homes are often marketed by developers with the promise of lengthy warranties offering peace of mind. Indeed, 58% of people who have bought these types of home in the last 10 years think that the warranty was an advantage over an older property. Home buyers opting for new build properties are being left exposed by warranties that fall short of their needs and expectations, this has exposed a niche market ideally suited to the surveying service H.I.C.H provides, helping resolve disputes between the client, builder and warranty provider. Seeking to build upon its already enviable success, looking to the future H.I.C.H will be aiming to to expand its survey service by adding a post code based trusted contractor listing data base that can be used free of charge for our clients wishing to carry out refurbishment works on the defect analysis the firm provides. This addition will further enhance the customer experience providing a one-stop quality service for all clients the firm has the privilege to work alongside throughout 2019 and further ahead. Company: H.I.C.H Ltd Name: Philip Milne Address: 11 Ugie Road, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, AB421NA Telephone Number: 07725317177 Web Address: www.hich-ltd.co.uk