The Doormarked Standard
Doormarked is an online platform which connects the general public and/or businesses consuming these services (“Client Users”) to Independent Property Advisors (IPAs) (“Provider Users”). Independent Property Advisors are property professionals who are using different property strategies which make the market more accessible and deliver better outcomes. Client Users and Provider Users are collectively referred to as “Users”.
We ask all of Doormarked’s Users to agree to work together, in accordance with “The Doormarked Standard”.
By outlining what is expected as a minimum from both parties, this standard is designed to improve and protect the services and integrity of our Provider Users. It also protects our Client Users and ensures they receive an appropriate & acceptable quality of service.
Through these standards, Doormarked is setting a new benchmark for the services provided by property professionals within the property industry. We aim to increase trust and transparency within the property industry.
The Doormarked Standard forms part of and is incorporated into the Doormarked Terms & Conditions which must be accepted before any use of the Doormarked platform or services.
PLEASE NOTE:
Independent Property Advisor (IPA) is a name and concept that Doormarked has created to describe the work of our Provider Users, who are property professionals using different property strategies. Currently, there is no industry recognition or regulatory body of “Independent Property Advisors” as a separate defined collection of property professionals. Our use of this term does not imply any mark of quality or industry standard. We do not endorse or approve any of the Independent Property Advisors on the platform or advice that they may provide and we accept no responsibility in respect of the same. Accordingly it is your responsibility to satisfy yourself that the adviser you may engage is appropriate for the business you are transacting. Any decision to transact business with an advisor is made by you on the basis of your own enquiries.
Professionalism
We expect all of Doormarked’s Users to conduct business with one another in a professional manner. Our Users agree to the following:
1.1. To be respectful to all of Doormarked’s Users:
1.1.1. They will not act in a verbally or physically aggressive manner towards other Users.
1.1.2. They shall be courteous and respectful to other individuals, their properties and belongings.
1.1.3. They will respect an individual’s privacy and treat all information confidentially, unless they have consent from the individual to disclose specific information.
Doormarked’s Provider Users (IPAs) agree to the following:
1.2. To only provide services which are within their professional ability and are a suitable solution for their customer’s particular property situation; if they are unable to provide a suitable service to a customer’s property situation, they will inform the customer.
1.3. Any service offered will comply with UK trading standards and legislation; any banned strategies such as Sale and Rent Back (SRB) schemes are forbidden.
1.4. To not use unprofessional methods to gain business and only receive contact information of potential customers in a lawful manner; any information obtained must be treated as confidential and in accordance with relevant data protection legislation.
1.5. To disclose any conflicts of interest which are either existing or could arise by providing a service to a customer.
1.6. To act as a fit and proper person at all times. To become a verified IPA, a property professional must declare that they’re a fit and proper person.
All Provider Users (IPAs) must operate their business within the law. They agree to the following:
2.1. To be aware of and comply with all the different laws, legislations and regulations which affect them and their particular line of business:
2.1.1. If an individual is performing work on an IPA’s behalf, it is the responsibility of the IPA to ensure these individuals are also aware of and comply with any relevant laws, legislations and regulations.
2.1.2. All IPAs will comply with the current UK trading standards including the relevant health and safety requirements.
We ask all our Users to make sure they are open and honest when providing any documentation that may be required for the service being delivered. This is to assist both Users and ensure they are fully informed.
In the case that any quotes, contracts and or payments are required, a Provider User (IPA) agrees to:
3.1. Provide a clear, detailed quotation which outlines their proposed statement of work and all associated costs.
3.2. Provide initial heads of terms which are clear and specific. These heads of terms are to be agreeable by both parties and form the basis of any contracts.
3.3. Provide a clear, detailed contract outlining the agreement between all parties.
3.4. Before or during the delivery of a service to a customer, any changes which need to be made to either a quote or contract, must be agreed in writing.
3.5. For any goods or services provided, any contracts or terms and conditions provided must be in accordance with relevant consumer laws including the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
3.6. All invoices must be supplied with payment terms.
In the case that any contracts and or payments are required, a Client User agrees to:
3.7. Pay for any services received, inline with the payment terms supplied with the invoice/service.
All of Doormarked’s Users agree to:
3.8. Seek their own independent legal advice before signing any contracts.
3.9. Once contracts are agreed to sign them in a timely manner.
3.10. To abide by the terms of any agreed contract.
Communication
At Doormarked we believe good communication is key for any successful property dealings; subsequently, this section of “The Doormarked Standard” is designed to support our Users and provide a minimum guidance for good communication practices with one another. To ensure a certain level of communication, our Users agree to:
4.1. Respond to all communications and requests in a professional and timely manner.
4.2. Share appropriate and necessary information with others to conduct business.
4.3. Any changes to any information provided should be disclosed to the other party within a timely manner.
4.4. Keep to all appointments booked and to the time agreed. If they are unable to make the original time or date for unforeseen circumstances, they must contact the other party and reschedule when possible.
We expect all of Doormarked’s Provider Users (IPAs) to agree to:
4.5. Provide honest and realistic information about their services, any deadlines and prices.
4.5.1. Inform customers if a service isn’t within their professional ability or if they are unable to carry out an agreed service, to enable customers to locate an alternative service provider.
4.5.2. All costs associated with a service must be clearly disclosed upfront before entering into a contract to deliver a service.
4.6. Communicate in layman’s terms with minimal jargon to prevent any misunderstanding and or confusion.
4.7. Arrange an appointment before visiting a customer’s property.
In the case of any issues arising which cannot be resolved between the two parties, Doormarked will provide our Users with support. In the case of any issues arising, our Users agree to:
5.1. Try and resolve the issue by coming to an agreeable solution with the other party.
5.2. Notify Doormarked Ltd of the issue if you would like us to communicate and mediate between both parties, with the aim of resolving the issue.
Honesty
We expect all our Users to be honest and act with integrity. They agree to the following:
6.1. To not practice deceitful behaviour or any other behaviour which is dishonest and misleading.
6.2. All information provided must be true and honest.
All information published on an IPA’s profile must be true and honest. Any claims made by an IPA must be verifiable. Doormarked will review the content on each profile and may omit any claims which cannot apparently be supported by evidence. We expect our Provider Users (IPAs) to agree to the following:
6.3. Inform Doormarked in writing (via email) and in a timely manner, of any changes to their details or information published on their profile, which are of material significance.
6.3.1. It is compulsory for an IPA to disclose any changes which will affect their verification status.
6.3.2. If it is found that information present on an IPA’s profile is incorrect and or misleading, their profile will be removed until the information is correct.
6.4. If a property professional is not a Doormarked verified IPA, they shall not suggest that they are a Doormarked verified IPA by falsely disclosing or publicising (in any form) an association with Doormarked as a verified IPA.
6.5. All use of third party logos or accreditations, including from trade bodies or industry affiliations etc. must be validly held by the Provider User and they must be permitted to use and enable Doormarked to use and display such logos and accreditations on the Platform in association with the Provider User’s profile.
Doormarked uses reviews/testimonials to demonstrate the different strategies offered by Doormarked’s Provider Users (IPAs) and to increase the credibility of Doormarked’s Users. The reviews are also used to continuously monitor our Users engaging on the platform. To operate our review process, we expect our Users to:
7.1. Use Doormarked’s Transparent Review Process, whereby the two parties who have engaged in business through the Doormarked platform are able to leave verified reviews on each other.
7.2. Be honest and truthful when writing any review.
In addition, Doormarked uses specific case studies provided by IPAs to demonstrate the different strategies offered by IPAs and to highlight the benefits of them. We use various processes to authenticate these case studies. Our Provider Users (IPAs) who provide these case studies agree to:
7.3. Ensure case studies are genuine. Fabricated case studies are prohibited and could result in the removal of an IPA’s profile.
IPA Verification
In addition to complying with the “The Doormarked Standard”, all property professionals are asked to complete our verification process before being accepted as a verified Independent Property Advisor (IPA). Through this we do our best to ensure they are operating within the UK’s industry standards and have the necessary accreditations required for the services they offer.
IPAs who are verified can be identified by a Doormarked Verification Stamp: 
To become a verified IPA a property professional is required to:
8.1. Provide accurate and truthful information to complete and pass our verification process.
8.2. Inform us of any changes to information submitted to pass our verification process and to any changes in information published on their profile which is of material significance. Failure to provide up-to-date information may result in their profile’s verification status being removed.
8.3. Have valid Professional Indemnity Insurance and any other necessary registrations/policies such as ICO and AML. If a verified IPA’s policies/registrations are out of date, their profile’s verification status will be removed until proof can be provided that they are in date.
8.4. Only provide services which are within their professional ability and supply proof of memberships where legally obliged to hold.
8.5. Settle any consumer County Court Judgements (CCJ).
8.6. Agree to Doormarked’s Terms & Conditions.
8.7. Agree to work in accordance with “The Doormarked Standard”.
VERIFICATION DISCLAIMER: You should take care in selecting an independent property advisor and you do so at your own risk. Whilst we hope to provide you with a credible range of independent property advisors to choose from, and will do our best to vet them as set out above, we do not take any responsibility for an IPA or your relationship with them, and in particular we make no representation or guarantee as to: any independent property advisors or their service; any information regarding the independent property advisor including but not limited to the information included on their profile; that the independent property advisors are licensed, accredited, insured or registered in any way; the competence of any independent property advisor or their appropriateness for your individual needs; an independent property advisor’s availability and responsiveness; the relevance and usefulness of an independent property advisor’s guidance, services or advice; or the success of any interactions with the independent property advisors.
This document outlines the minimum code of conduct expected of Doormarked’s Users.
Doormarked has created this standard to ensure all Users receive an appropriate & acceptable quality of service; however, we wish to encourage all of our Users to go above and beyond the Doormarked Standard.
Together we can set a new benchmark for the services provided within the property industry. We will increase trust and transparency within the property industry.