HIP Baseline Methodology part 1

Abstract:

<p>This baseline methodology report covers the strategies used to establish the baseline for home buying and selling activity in England and Wales. The research investigates the processes involved in buying and selling a home with the express purpose of providing a benchmark against which the impact of the national rollout of Home Information Packs (HIPs) across England and Wales can be measured.</p> <p>A two-stage sampling methodology was used. The first stage was a random selection of 600 Post Towns (later increased to 646) from across England and Wales. Within each Post Town, up to five estate agents were selected as a second selection level. The highest ranking estate agency (earliest randomly selected) who responded positively to participating in the study was included in the sample to represent their Post Town.</p> <p>This provided a wide distribution of 361 estate agents from the whole of England and Wales. Of these 361 estate agents 61.2% made some form of response (transaction data, withdrawal data or both) within the data collection phase of the study.</p> <p>With the benefit of hindsight, the methodology could be improved in certain areas. The Conclusions section of this report discusses measures which could be considered if the methodology is to be repeated.</p> This report is divided into the following sections: <ol> <li>Introduction</li> <li>1998 methodology</li> <li>Methodology</li> <li>Conclusions and recommendations</li> </ol> <ul> <li>Appendix A - NAEA Statement of Support</li> <li>Appendix B - Recruitment Pack</li> <li>Appendix C - Transaction form</li> <li>Appendix D - Withdrawal form</li> <li>Appendix E - Email to national chains and affinity groups</li> <li>Appendix F - Email contact with respondents</li> <li>Appendix G - Information pack</li> <li>Appendix H - Advance letters</li> <li>Appendix I - Telephone survey for buyers</li> <li>Appendix J - Telephone survey for sellers</li> <li>Appendix K - Telephone survey for Solicitors/Conveyancers</li> <li>Appendix L - Summary forms</li> </ul>

Author(s):

Department for Communities and Local Government