Year: 2016

The Fair Housing Flaw in Every Rental Application

Share Button

It's quite obvious that the US has a fair housing problem. Despite decades of laws intended to prevent discrimination, people are denied housing every day throughout the country on the basis of illegal factors: race, religion, sexual orientation, etc. Agents who work with landlords have a very simple thing they can do to help make housing accessible to everyone. However, despite it being free to implement, easy to do and powerfully effective, nobody is doing it.

Hide. The. Names.

I'm not kidding. Continue reading The Fair Housing Flaw in Every Rental Application

Published by

Kay Cleaves

Three Fractured Fables for the Modern Renter

Share Button

The stories of Aesop are some of the oldest in the world, famous for their talking animals and common sense morals. When we replaced Aesop's clever critters with 21st century renters, we found stories that could be cut from the headlines of today's news. We've included three examples below. Can you think of other stories that could be re-worked for the modern renter? Or maybe for your own line of work? Leave a comment and let us know!

Antoinette and Grace
(based on Aesop's "The Ant and The Grasshopper")

One summer day in her apartment a Grace danced around, spinning and singing along with her favorite song.

Her roommate, Antoinette, sat at the desk in the corner of the dining room, poring over apartment ads online.

"Stop staring at that screen and come dance with me," said Grace.

"Our lease will be up at the end of the summer," said Antoinette. “We both need our own place. You should be looking too."

"Why?" said Grace. “We have plenty of time. Let's just enjoy our last few months.” Continue reading Three Fractured Fables for the Modern Renter

Published by

Jon Hoferle

Could Your Apartment Be the Location of the Next Media Circus?

Share Button

In early December 2015 there was a mass murder in San Bernardino, California. In the days that followed, journalists went to the area looking for stories that could provide insight into the background and history of the killers.

It didn't take long for the police and federal investigators to find out where the killers lived. Two days after the tragedy they had already finished examining their apartment. Once they were done with it, the landlord allowed journalists to enter and photograph the apartment.

The behavior of the reports and photographers at the San Bernardino apartment was a vulgar mob scene - NPR called it a "frenzy," a "circus," and a "farce," but they still ran photos. Media correspondents filmed everything from clothes and underwear in closets to photos of family and friends hanging on the walls.

As soon as the media started broadcasting footage of the apartment, my inbox started blowing up with questions from concerned renters. If you were accused of a crime or otherwise the focus of media interest would your landlord have the right to allow nosy journalists to enter your apartment without your permission? Continue reading Could Your Apartment Be the Location of the Next Media Circus?

Published by

Kay Cleaves

12 Business Ideas That We Rejected for 2016

Share Button

On Monday, Kay laid out the RentConfident Roadmap for 2016, explaining some of the exciting things that we have planned for this year. The article you saw was the outcome of several months of planning. As is often the case with brainstorming, we had a few false starts before we found some ideas we could be proud of. Here's some of the alternate ideas that we left behind on the cutting room floor.

Approved:

  • A new report format with pay-what-you-can pricing.

Rejected:

  • A new report format with pricing by random number generator.
  • A new report format printed on actual U.S. currency.
  • A new report format to be charged to the friend or enemy of your choice.

Continue reading 12 Business Ideas That We Rejected for 2016

Published by

Jon Hoferle

The RentConfident Roadmap for 2016: “Pay What You Can” and More!

Share Button

Happy new year! 2015 was probably the most risky and rewarding year of my life so far. As we enter a new calendar year RentConfident is still only 10 months old. We've been open for business for just 7 months. Even so, this time of year is when we focus on long term planning. I wanted to share with you some of the exciting things that we'll be doing to reach more renters and shake up the apartment hunting process over the next year.

A new product that puts you in control.

Those of you who subscribe to our mailing list will already know that this is coming. Starting in March 2016, we will be adding a quick, single-address report to our product line. In contrast to our current reports, which are intended for renters who are very close to the end of their apartment hunts, the new report will be designed for renters who are just starting their search.

More importantly, it will be offered with a "pay what you can" price tag. Continue reading The RentConfident Roadmap for 2016: “Pay What You Can” and More!

Published by

Kay Cleaves