What The Hell Happened To Doorsteps? (Updated Review)

I did contemplate throwing my original overview of Doorsteps onto the operating table to undergo minor cosmetic upgrades; perhaps a fancy-schmancy face-lift and butt-check implants, fitting for modern times. I thought it might be the easier option.

But honestly, Doorsteps of today is unrecognisable from when they first launched (and up until very recently), so patching that old hag back together would have been a losing battle, likely to result in a complete bodge-job. Fresh canvas it is.

Doorsteps today (what’s changed)

1) From £99 to… £598.80! OUCH!

This is what made Doorsteps such a successful and compelling dance partner:

Handsome, isn’t she?

They had a couple of other decent packages, too. But unsurprisingly, the £99 package was the blue-eyed poodle, stealing the show. And that’s precisely why I was startled after discovering that the script writers’ decided to toss her into the wood-chipper. But I’m not entirely surprised it happened.

This is version 2.0:

Let’s focus on the £598.80 DIY Deal package, because it seems to be the direct replacement for their former £99 package.

A couple of thoughts come to mind. None good.

• Holy-fucking-hell, that’s quite a bump in price, a scorching 261’ish per cent. How does that happen overnight? At least screw us over nice and slowly. Sheeesh-kebab! I feel like I’m being shaken down by the mafia.
• For the added £500, I’d expect a buttload of new frills and a hooker.

  Alas, the only real notable difference is a “For sale sign”, everything else listed is either intangible fluff or same old, designed to pad-out the offering and justify the new lavish price-tag. And let’s face it, no one gives a flying rat’s ass about a plank of wood attached to a hideous advert.

• Their shop window prices now exclude VAT!

  Yes, they went fucking there.

  It’s okay, I’m also mortified. We’re in this hellhole together.

  This issue really leaves a sour taste up my rectum! Do they actually think we’re VAT registered?

  Unless you have a Business-to-Business (B2B) model, showing prices exclusive of VAT feels like a deceiving marketing tactic, designed only to underplay exorbitant prices. Moreover, I don’t even think it’s legal for estate/letting agents to show prices exclusive of VAT.

  Come on, guys, quit dicking-around and treating us like animals! Unveil that hideous boil on your forehead! We already know it’s butt-ugly!

  Horrible decision. Just horrible. Wonder whose brain-child that tragedy was.

  Notice how I’ve been referencing their base product with a £598.80 (inc VAT) price-tag? That’s because I ain’t playing their game.

  Here’s what civilians should actually expect to pay for their packages:

  

• Last but [definitely] not least, it’s my time to shine.

  In my original [out-dated and deleted] Doorsteps overview, there was a glorious section titled, “£99… it probably won’t last!!”

  I mentioned earlier that the whole £99 thing is merely a hook, but I also think it’s a temporary one. it’s unlikely that Doorsteps £99 package, or even the £199 one for that matter, will be sustainable for the foreseeable future. In fact, if they’re not already loss-leader products, I suspect they will be soon enough.

  While I’m absolutely reluctant to believe I could be totally wrong about this, it’s entirely possible. However, from my experience, I can tell you that most estate agents that come swarming into the market with stupid prices and smug ambitions eventually get obliterated by increasing Rightmove and Zoopla fees, so there’s usually a very limited shelf-life for the “bat-shit crazy prices” game.

  I KNEW IT!!!!!!!

  Sorry, I know it’s totally crass, but I just had to brag.

Is this simply a case of the old rates being economically unviable for any longer? That’s my guess. But regardless, a 500%+ increase is difficult to stomach. But the reality is, unless you know the previous price/offer, the new one probably isn’t going to sting, and I ‘spose that’s what they’re counting on.

But I know. And you know.

2) “Sell my house for free” option

Before you crap yourself with excitement, it’s not what it sounds like. Well, not unless you’re thinking of a service that 99.99999% of the human population won’t use.

Yes, they now offer a “free house selling service”… but it’s an “Online Auction Option”

Enough said. Let’s move on…

What hasn’t changed

In the spirit of being economical, much of the following is going to be a copy/paste job from my previous write-up, but don’t let that deter you from following my crumbs, because I’ve added some mod cons.

1) Budget online agent

Despite the hefty price bump, I’d still class Doorsteps as a “budget” online agent, so I still think you need to manage your expectations by reminding yourself that “you get what you pay for” if you decide to use them (or any of the other online estate agents).

So what does ‘budget’ mean in practical terms? In my opinion, budget online agents are best suited for anyone that:

• simply wants their property property listed on the biggest UK property portals like Rightmove and Zoopla in order to generate leads (this is probably the single most popular reason for using an online agent);
• isn’t shy or terrified of unsatisfying legwork, including the mundane shoot-yourself-in-the-face process of scheduling and taking viewings;
• is happy to deal with the general public, some of whom could be utterly grotesque and stink of cat-piss and decomposed human remains;
• is smart enough to realise that “great” customer service isn’t necessarily part of the deal, and definitely shouldn’t be expected (more on the following point)

2) Customer Service

This issue isn’t exclusive to Doorsteps, but rather all online agents.

If you go into this deal expecting minimal zero customer service, then you’re unlikely to be disappointed! So that’s why I recommend keeping expectations to a bare minimum, no mo’

If you’re relying on good ol’ customer service while using an online agent (not a hybrid estate agent) that costs peanuts, then I’d argue that you’re dangerously incompetent, because you don’t understand the online agent model properly, yet you’re using one, and the concept of “getting what you pay for” is lost on you.

Actually, perhaps that’s marginally harsh. But my point is, don’t use an online agent if you demand a one-on-one high-street service. The whole online model is largely based on automated technology and call-centres replacing real-life human service, and that’s precisely why their services are cheaper and customer service is usually scatty at best. Case in point, Doorsteps pay to advertise on my website, yet no one bothered to notify me that they have updated their packages.

Most budget online agents lack attention to detail, and that’s very telling from the offset when relying on their website for an informative experience. Yes, they mostly look fabulously with their glossy visuals, but vital information is usually always missing (or hidden in the small-print). In short, most of their websites terrify me, and it sets the tone of what I should expect.

To clarify, I’m not saying you won’t or can’t receive good service from Doorsteps or any other online agent, I’m saying you probably shouldn’t expect it to be anywhere close to overwhelming, or even above average (’cause you ain’t really paying for it).

4) Upselling pressure (conveyancing + mortgage services)

From what I’ve heard, Doorsteps, like most other online estate agents, relentlessly hard-sell additional services like conveyancing and mortgages, and if you don’t bite, it only seems to trigger them into chasing harder and faster, like the fucking Terminator.

Annoying.

But I get it.

Upselling is how they generate a significant portion of their revenue and they’re critical to the bottom line. let’s face it, no one is getting rich flogging carboot estate agency services.

Comically, Doorsteps have the gall to display “Free in-house mortgage consultation” as an inclusive feature of their packages. Talk about plumping a turkey with synthetic junk.

Who on God’s green earth pays for a mortgage consultation?

Anyways, the real problem is, online estate agents generally don’t offer the best conveyancing or mortgage deals, but arguably convenience is a real thing.

3) Still highly rated & popular

While I’m getting increasingly dubious about the legitimacy of reviews on third-party platforms like TrustPilot, I still think they’re worth perusing to get a general whiff of customer satisfaction levels.

Doorsteps have managed to maintain and accumulate a string of satisfied customers according to their TrustPilot page – they have over 5k reviews and an impressive rating of 4.7/5. Make of that what you will.

They currently have 750’ish listings on Rightmove, so clearly their service is being used. My guess is, though, many of those listings were added while the rate was still a mere £99.

How do they compare to other online estate agents now?

My confusion with Doorsteps is that I have no idea who or what they are targeting anymore; they’re no longer the cheapest of their kind, so that marketing gimmick is out the window, and they’re not offering premium Hybrid services like Purplebricks or Yopa, so they seem to be loitering in the middle somewhere in no man’s land (along with a few others). In a dramatic twist, Doorsteps have suddenly placed themselves in a very average position in a very competitive market, even though it was a very out-of-the-ordinary offer that attracted people to them in the first place.

Bit of a weird pivot, innit?

For me, that’s where I think the problem lies for Doorsteps’ future.

Presumably, most people that use services offered by Doorsteps are price sensitive, and that makes me wonder why anyone would choose Doorsteps over the cheaper options, because I’m struggling to identify a unique selling point. Anyone care to throw me a bone?

To help give you a better idea of what else is available, here’s a list of my recommended online estate agents. In short, there are better deals to be had in every direction, whether you want to spend less or more.

Would I use Doorsteps? Should you use Doorsteps?

I’ve yet to use Doorsteps service, I’m just giving you an overview of their current service as I understand it and sharing my thoughts as a tyre-kicker, so I can’t give you a recommendation based on any real experience.

However, I certainly wouldn’t stop you or anyone else from using their services as long as expectations are realistic, because in the grand scheme of things, £499 £598.80 for a house-selling service is still cheap as maggots. So go for it. Or don’t.

If I thought their service was terrible, utterly misleading or poor value, I wouldn’t partner with them. I think they do exactly what they say on the tin.

Would I personally use Doorsteps today? In all honesty, if I wanted to use a service like Doorsteps, I’d personally go with a cheaper alterative if it’s available, simply because I’d only use that type of service if my primary concern is being listed on Rightmove & Zoopla and generating enquiries. Yes, it’s a race to the bottom for the competing online agents, but that’s how they positioned themselves in the first place. Own it!

While it may not have been economically viable for Doorsteps to continue without increasing their prices, there are other reputable online agents like Purplebricks, Quicklister, and Visum, just to name a few, that are still managing to keep their rates on ice, offering more bang-bangs for the buck.

Ultimately, I have no horse in this race, so I’ll leave it in your capable hands to conduct your own due diligence and do what’s best for you.

You’re up to date.

As always, I’d love to hear your precious and beautiful thoughts…

xoxo