How-Do broke news of the arrival of Luvthecity in Manchester earlier this month, relaying how Julian Bovis and his team were attempting to pilot an innovative business model whereby agents can advertise city centre properties completely free of charge.

Despite being vague about the mechanics of their revenue gathering plans Bovis and co were resolutely focused and ambitious when it came to talk of national expansion and 'cornering the market' in the urban residential property domain.

Today that ambition has been anything but satiated by the initial launch.

Hitting the city today

Although he was not specific about the timing of this it is believed to be scheduled for some time next month, with sites in Liverpool, London and a host of other UK cities (now including Plymouth apparently) following suit in early 2010.

Of the Manchester portal he noted: "Our target for the end of year one was to have 10% of Rightmove's agents on board, but we've managed 20% on day one.

"Some of Manchester's key agents have come on board. To work with the team at Julie Twist has been a great boost for us - they were the first agents in town and they're as passionate about the city as we are."

Luvthecity has been promoting itself via street marketing, giveaways to agents and using social media sites such as Twitter.

Once established it will seek to bring in revenue from allied services, rather than the agents and home hunters that use the sites.

In terms of the wider marketplace Luvthecity can expect stiff competition from established portals such as MEN Media's Homesmine, which is now being relaunched with a major marketing drive.

www.luvthecity.com

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