Rightmove unveils service upgrade

An enhanced version of rightmoveplus is being launched today with a warning that the portal will suspend or terminate agents’ membership if they fail to comply with its terms.

The upgraded rightmoveplus service includes a new homepage and agent competitor analysis reports. The homepage features the number of agents’ new listings, their available stock, the time each property has spent on the market and average click-through-rates.

The portal's Competitor Analysis Reports enable agents to rank their performance alongside competitors using a new interactive map or by postcodes. Searches can be carried out anywhere in the UK, with statistics dating back to September.

But Rightmove’s terms and conditions stipulate that agents must not make public the names of competitors within their search for marketing purposes, and is calling for agents to report any suspected breaches.

The launch follows the portal’s interim management statement earlier this month in which it reports that its number of advertisers at the end of October stood at 17,600, up 5% from February, which it attributes to a continued healthy growth in agency membership and growth in new homes development numbers. Estate agency and lettings membership rose to 14,100 by the end of October, which is an 8% increase from January 2009.

Rightmove is currently in talks with agency members about subscription fees for 2010, but its spokesman denies that hikes will be as high as the rumoured 20%.

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