Ideal Flatmate, a property website, has opened its doors to letting agents to advertise on its site. The website launched in January is different to others in that it has been likened to a dating-style in its processes used to match flatmates.
The website seeks to match flatmates by using an algorithm and a series of 20 questions designed to help bring similar people together.
Progressive steps
Tom Gatzen, the co-founder, stated that it was the next progressive step as they had received increasing requests from letting agents asking to advertise on their platform. Ideal Flatmate allows London estate agents to not only list rooms but properties available for rent in London too, although the website advertises for flatmates nationwide.
You can also make direct contact with letting agents in Gloucester, for example, at an agent’s direct website such as http://www.alexclarkglos.co.uk. This offers the opportunity for those looking outside London to not restrict themselves only to advertising platforms but to think about contacting letting agents directly as not all advertise on rental portals.
Although the website offers a dating-style matching service to increase the chances of you finding your ideal flatmate, it is worth remembering that letting agents, who deal with people directly, have often been in the industry for several years and have undergone a lot of training.Therefore, it is worth exploring all your options when considering finding a tenant.
London agents welcome
This new welcome from Ideal Flatmate is following a successful trial involving just 15 letting agents and they are now offering a service allowing an agent to list multiple properties or adverts for a fixed price of £35 per month. To date, letting agent users include Oliver Stern and Glint Estates. Ideal Flatmate has plans to extend this open welcome to letting agents beyond London and they are looking at targeting the university towns first.
Popularity is increasing
To date, Ideal Flatmate has been used by over 2,000 private landlords and over 50,000 people seeking accommodation, with user numbers expected to reach 100,000 per month towards the latter part of this year.
Tailoring services to suit individuals is the progression that all aspects of our life are taking, and with new technology and the increasing appetite for this, offering such a service in the housing market is nothing but a natural step in this vein.