Using Property Searches For Peace Of Mind When Buying And Selling

Selling or buying property can be one of the most stressful experiences in any person's life. Last minute changes or unpleasant surprises beyond the point of purchase - or even the fear of them - can be a real source of anxiety. Every party involved needs to be certain that the deal will be made in an atmosphere of trust and honesty, and that there will be some recourse to be had in the event of dishonest dealing or even of straightforward human error.

This is why in 2006 the Search Code was introduced, providing reassurance and protection for those involved on every side of a property transaction. Sponsored by CPSO, the Council of Property Search Organisations, the Search Code is subscribed to by search companies and a full register of subscribers is held by PCCB, the Property Codes Compliance Board.

The aims and objectives of the Search Code are to provide protection for those involved in a property transaction, to set out minimum standards to which organisations compiling and selling search reports are required to comply, to promote best practice at all times within the industry, and to enable customers and professionals involved to have confidence in organisations which subscribe to the code.

A revised and strengthened Search Code was published in October 2010, a move that was welcomed by the PCCB as one that will increase public confidence in the entire process.

Those who fail to meet the Board's requirements can be penalised, and often are. As recently as last month a Plymouth-based company was suspended after it had failed to submit information required for a compliance spot check within the deadline that it had been issued. The threat of sanction is by no means an empty one.

Companies subscribing to the Search Code and registering with the PCCB offer by doing so a great deal of reassurance as they produce clear, concise and accurate reports over a whole range of property-related searches within an agreed turnaround time.

The reassurance that comes with a protected, regulated process can never be overstated. When a property search is undertaken by an experienced and reliable company everyone can enjoy complete security and peace of mind.

By: Mark P Richards

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Mark Richards is General Manager of The Middle Man, a dynamic low-cost business promotion and advertising service. He writes for Purple Bridge, a specialist in property related searches.