Freeserve overhauls portal

Freeserve and Bradford & Bingley are to launch an interactive digital TV property channel and relaunch their on-line property portal in May.

The existing portal, Freeserve Property Channel, will be renamed Homemovers.co.uk. Pod New Media is relaunching the site, which carries a design budget of over £100 000. Clever Media is designing the website logo, due to launch in May, which will also be carried on the TV channel.

A design consultancy has not been appointed to work on the TV channel, though manager of Freeserve Property Channel Peter Downie says Pod is likely to be retained. Work will include interface design, information architecture and usability.

Downie says, “[The portal] is a one-stop destination for users who want access to information on residential properties. The site will include advice on home improvements, have access to a mortgage broker, information on moving house and the best areas in which to buy.

“Freeserve has an existing portal and wants to launch new services and channels like the property channel,” he adds.

The Freeserve site has been live since the beginning of the year while the partners get it established. The idea of the relaunch, according to Downie, is to give it a new look and feel and make it easier to navigate.

Pod New Media won the contract as part of a “threeor four-way unpaid creative pitch” against undisclosed consultancies.