UPDATE - MAY 08

I suppose we are looking back now and wondering what all the fuss was about.

Right now we are in a totally new scenario, with a market that has shrunk alarmingly, estate agencies shutting 150 offices a week and and falling house prices. Conveyancing departments are being reduced in size and things look bleak.

And we look back and wonder what all the HIPs fuss was about. Most solicitors I know are offering a HIP service and some small estate agencies are using them. My only real concern is that few firms seem to have marketed their services and so are leaving the advantage with the agencies. I remain convinced that a shrewd solicitor could get this advantage back.

Just imagine this scenario. Clients know that you offer the full range of legal services, including HIPs. They come to you first for advice on what to do if they want to buy or sell a house and you set them up with everything they need. You then advise them (honestly of course) on which agent would best suit their needs and discuss all their options, including online advertising, for example. They see you as an unbiased friend in the whole process - after all, rightly or wrongly most of us have a pretty poor opinion of estate agents.

Suddenly you are in the driving seat! Instead of having to crawl to agents for referrals they are coming to you.

Is such a picture totally fanciful? Perhaps.........but I'd love to try it out. Is there an adventurous Head of Conveyancing out there?