New NYC Website Aims to Be Match.com of Real Estate
February 26, 2010 11:36 AM Subscribe
Interesting story here from TechCrunch. A new apartment hunting site in NYC is using a dating website model (like match.com) to pair up renters and brokers. I like the idea, but wonder if it will work.
This post was deleted for the following reason: Naked Apartments is one of your clients. This was so completely not okay. -- cortex
Wow. Guess they can't all be winners.
posted by WhoseVoice at 12:06 PM on February 26, 2010
posted by WhoseVoice at 12:06 PM on February 26, 2010
Goddamn they don't get it. I want to spend exactly 0:00 time and $0 cash-money on a broker. Thanks to the internet that dream is a reality.
posted by 2bucksplus at 12:12 PM on February 26, 2010
posted by 2bucksplus at 12:12 PM on February 26, 2010
I think anything that attempts to makes the process of finding an apartment in Manhattan more sane is worth trying.
posted by sid at 12:12 PM on February 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by sid at 12:12 PM on February 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
For the would-be post editors out there - FIRST PERSON PRONOUNS DO NOT EQUAL EDITORIALIZING
posted by Think_Long at 12:18 PM on February 26, 2010
posted by Think_Long at 12:18 PM on February 26, 2010
unless I'm wrong. am I wrong?
posted by Think_Long at 12:18 PM on February 26, 2010
posted by Think_Long at 12:18 PM on February 26, 2010
FIRST PERSON PRONOUNS DO NOT EQUAL EDITORIALIZING
Yeah, they kind do, most of the time.
But the actual issue, and I see it more and more, is the kind of jokey, insider-y tone to posts: "I hope you guys like this." "This reminds me of something the mods like haha." "I bet wacky user X will get a kick out of this!" It's cliquey, it's off-putting to new users, and in my opinion it needs to stop.
posted by drjimmy11 at 12:29 PM on February 26, 2010 [2 favorites]
Yeah, they kind do, most of the time.
But the actual issue, and I see it more and more, is the kind of jokey, insider-y tone to posts: "I hope you guys like this." "This reminds me of something the mods like haha." "I bet wacky user X will get a kick out of this!" It's cliquey, it's off-putting to new users, and in my opinion it needs to stop.
posted by drjimmy11 at 12:29 PM on February 26, 2010 [2 favorites]
I think this is a great idea and worth a try (disclosure: I am friends with the guy whose start up this is). Finding an apartment is such a headache.
posted by Falconetti at 12:40 PM on February 26, 2010
posted by Falconetti at 12:40 PM on February 26, 2010
Is it or is it not editorializing aside (which, IMO this post did leave a bad taste in my mouth) is it really best of the web?
This sort of thing seems like standard internet fare. I'd think otherwise if it were national and it'd be fantastic internationally, but it obviously isn't at that scale yet.
posted by june made him a gemini at 12:40 PM on February 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
This sort of thing seems like standard internet fare. I'd think otherwise if it were national and it'd be fantastic internationally, but it obviously isn't at that scale yet.
posted by june made him a gemini at 12:40 PM on February 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
I bet wacky user X will get a kick out of this!" It's cliquey, it's off-putting to new users, and in my opinion it needs to stop.
Even when the OP is a new user?
posted by Think_Long at 12:46 PM on February 26, 2010
Even when the OP is a new user?
posted by Think_Long at 12:46 PM on February 26, 2010
Mod note: comments removed - I'm not sure what that was but don't do that here, thanks.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:49 PM on February 26, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:49 PM on February 26, 2010 [3 favorites]
Personally, I thought this was a cool concept and a different one so I chose to post it. I can see that there are a number of you that don't agree. Lesson learned.
posted by WhoseVoice at 12:59 PM on February 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by WhoseVoice at 12:59 PM on February 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
Man, that footer graphic is funky-looking. I like a bit of distortion as much as the next ex-animator artist but looking at the dude with the map makes me wanna make like the pigeon Alice meets right after she eats the Caterpillar's mushroom and cry out "SERPENT! SERPENT!".
I got no comment on the idea of the site itself. My desire to live in NYC is nil, and I'll just be scouring Craigslist and whatnot when I move to the opposite end of the country sometime this summer. And probably trying to avoid brokers, as well - the less middlemen I have in my life, the happier I am.
posted by egypturnash at 1:02 PM on February 26, 2010
I got no comment on the idea of the site itself. My desire to live in NYC is nil, and I'll just be scouring Craigslist and whatnot when I move to the opposite end of the country sometime this summer. And probably trying to avoid brokers, as well - the less middlemen I have in my life, the happier I am.
posted by egypturnash at 1:02 PM on February 26, 2010
Lesson learned.
Lesson #2: Do not try to defend your post. Resistance is futile.
posted by swift at 1:22 PM on February 26, 2010
Lesson #2: Do not try to defend your post. Resistance is futile.
posted by swift at 1:22 PM on February 26, 2010
Is this legal? There are all kinds of limits on how one can select renters aren't there?
posted by empath at 1:35 PM on February 26, 2010
posted by empath at 1:35 PM on February 26, 2010
Here's how they did it in the pre-internet early '70s. Also functioned as a dating enterprise!
-- from "Apartment to Share" by Gwen Gibson Schwartz, 1973
posted by hermitosis at 1:55 PM on February 26, 2010 [10 favorites]
"Roughly the strategy works this way: on Wednesday mornings, those who can skip work. In teams of two they flock to Sheridan Square in the Village. One girl, pockets ringing with dimes, stations herself in a phonebooth, while her partner takes a place in the line that has probably already formed at the newsstand that gets first delivery of the Village Voice.
Up and down this line necks crane and bodies tense as the delivery truck carrying the papers rumbles into sight on Seventh Avenue. There's a surge forward as the papers are unloaded, and all pretense of civility is dropped in the scramble when they're up for sale. The, paper in hand, there's a desperate sprint back to the phonebooths. Every second is crucial, so to save time one partner does the dialing and talking, while the other skims the classified columns for the likeliest-looking ads.
One young woman who, with her prospective roommate, went through all the motions of the Village Voice strategy on three successive Wednesdays thinks the whole thing is 'a gigantic farce. No matter how fast you make it back to your phonebooth with the paper to make your calls, the line you're dialing is either busy -- which means somebody else is already negotiating for the apartment -- or else the apartment has been taken...It's a discouraging, frustrating experience. The only consolation is that you meet lots of interesting guys in line while you're waiting for the paper to come in.'"
-- from "Apartment to Share" by Gwen Gibson Schwartz, 1973
posted by hermitosis at 1:55 PM on February 26, 2010 [10 favorites]
Is this legal? There are all kinds of limits on how one can select renters aren't there?
The laws are generally for tenants who have their own separate entrance and living facilities with no free access between the tenant and landlord living space.
For selecting roommates with whom you'll share living space, you can discriminated based on anything you want, no matter how bigoted (race), personal (sex), or sensible (dish-washing habits).
posted by Salamandrous at 2:19 PM on February 26, 2010
The laws are generally for tenants who have their own separate entrance and living facilities with no free access between the tenant and landlord living space.
For selecting roommates with whom you'll share living space, you can discriminated based on anything you want, no matter how bigoted (race), personal (sex), or sensible (dish-washing habits).
posted by Salamandrous at 2:19 PM on February 26, 2010
Man, that footer graphic is funky-looking. I like a bit of distortion as much as the next ex-animator artist but looking at the dude with the map makes me wanna make like the pigeon Alice meets right after she eats the Caterpillar's mushroom and cry out "SERPENT! SERPENT!".
Its this thing where it looks "pretty" if you just glance at it, but the problem is it really draws your eyes in because it's so unusual, and then when you really look at it's pretty weird. Like what's with that guy's neck? And why isn't the girl looking where she's pointing? And what is she looking at anyway? The dude? The "camera"? Is she supposed to be the broker, leading the hapless looking dude to apartment nirvana?
posted by delmoi at 2:53 PM on February 26, 2010
Its this thing where it looks "pretty" if you just glance at it, but the problem is it really draws your eyes in because it's so unusual, and then when you really look at it's pretty weird. Like what's with that guy's neck? And why isn't the girl looking where she's pointing? And what is she looking at anyway? The dude? The "camera"? Is she supposed to be the broker, leading the hapless looking dude to apartment nirvana?
posted by delmoi at 2:53 PM on February 26, 2010
Also see the match-style website for connecting local food producers (farmers, ranchers, fisherman) with food buyers (chefs, grocers, school districts).
http://www.food-hub.org
Note: Pacific NW only, and very intentionally not for home users.
posted by asfuller at 3:03 PM on February 26, 2010
http://www.food-hub.org
Note: Pacific NW only, and very intentionally not for home users.
posted by asfuller at 3:03 PM on February 26, 2010
I'm a rental agent in Syracuse, NY and I think that is really cool! Syracuse is a really different market and I don't think that would work here. Thanks for posting that, original poster!
posted by Melsky at 3:26 PM on February 26, 2010
posted by Melsky at 3:26 PM on February 26, 2010
One young woman who, with her prospective roommate, went through all the motions of the Village Voice strategy on three successive Wednesdays thinks the whole thing is 'a gigantic farce.
She is correct. The best listings were given out to insider friends of people working at The Voice, before anything was committed to newsprint.
posted by StickyCarpet at 4:38 PM on February 26, 2010
She is correct. The best listings were given out to insider friends of people working at The Voice, before anything was committed to newsprint.
posted by StickyCarpet at 4:38 PM on February 26, 2010
I just got accepted to the University of Florida, and I saw a site I'd never seen before (not affiliated with UF): URoomSurf.com.
It claims a similar model: matches up roommates in an "eHarmony" kind of model. I think this one is gay-friendly, though.
posted by seandq at 4:48 PM on February 26, 2010
It claims a similar model: matches up roommates in an "eHarmony" kind of model. I think this one is gay-friendly, though.
posted by seandq at 4:48 PM on February 26, 2010
"...a dating website model to pair up renters and brokers.... wonder if it will work. "
Do they not have Craigslist in New York? Because the thing about Craigslist is that it already works, costs nothing, and involves no middlemen or "brokers." Brokers? Seriously?
"The catch is that brokers and landlords have to buy credits in order to contact each renter. Landlords pay $2 to contact a renter."
Oh, and did I mention "costs nothing," because there's the fact that Craigslist costs nothing. And also that bit about how it already works. Oh, and I should mention that there aren't any middlemen, either.
posted by majick at 10:20 PM on February 26, 2010
Do they not have Craigslist in New York? Because the thing about Craigslist is that it already works, costs nothing, and involves no middlemen or "brokers." Brokers? Seriously?
"The catch is that brokers and landlords have to buy credits in order to contact each renter. Landlords pay $2 to contact a renter."
Oh, and did I mention "costs nothing," because there's the fact that Craigslist costs nothing. And also that bit about how it already works. Oh, and I should mention that there aren't any middlemen, either.
posted by majick at 10:20 PM on February 26, 2010
Actually, I think that Craigslist charges for apartment listing in NYC, majick.
posted by octothorpe at 5:47 AM on February 27, 2010
posted by octothorpe at 5:47 AM on February 27, 2010
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posted by Pollomacho at 12:02 PM on February 26, 2010 [2 favorites]