Welcome to the Internet: effortlessly soar through cyberspace at lightning speed to find exactly what you need, right now.
Need to brush up on the latest news before a dinner party? Internet. Desperately seeking a random tool for a one-off job and don’t want to spend a bundle? Internet.
That said, the web is also a bottomless pit of information, which can often make finding definitive answers quite a task. Ain’t no one got time to spend hours just trying to figure out where to start when they’re on the hunt for their dream apartment.
Just call us Time Saver--here, we round up 5 of our favorite apps and services for finding your next apartment.
Smart City
Finding your next place with Smart City is like texting a friend for a recommendation for the best restaurant(s) in town. Your friend knows you and what you like, so instead of just suggesting what’s hot, they’ll give you a recommendation that comes personalized.
Smart City embodies that and then some. Yes, they use algorithms to home (heh) in on popular locations and work with property managers to nurture partnerships that render the best deals possible, but they also value customer service and aim to help you out in a way that feels genuine. (Their mantra is, “tell us about yourself, and we’ll handle the rest,” after all.)
Not to mention, it’s 100% free.
When you begin your search, you’re synced up via text with an agent (a real person) so that they can discover your needs (like budget) and what it is that you want (like...a TV room for your cat). Before you know it, they’re helping you sort through the options and setting up visits. Once you sign your name on the dotted line, they even offer a concierge service to help you move!
Smart City is still a budding business with locations in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, Houston, Fort Worth, Denver, Orlando, and San Antonio.
SpareRoom
If there’s anything more difficult than looking for a new residence, it’s trying to find roommates. SpareRoom makes the search a little bit easier. They value the idea that living with good people is better than living alone, so they only want to connect you with the right people.
Their app is designed to find the person that best identifies with your specific needs (let’s face it, we can all be a little complicated). They work around the clock to monitor each listing for safety and claim to help people find a new roommate every 3 minutes!
Trulia
Interact with Trulia on your desktop or in their user-friendly, community-based app.
Similar to other sharing economy platforms, Trulia allows you to tap into the whole neighborhood so you can paint a complete picture of life in that location--not just the apartment.
Through their app, you can take a deep dive into the neighborhood through drone footage and photos uploaded by locals. Read what your would-be neighbors have to say about living in the neighborhood and even check in on things like pet-friendliness and safety.
If you’re getting settled with your family, Trulia allows you to take an in-depth look at the local school district, too. It’s important to find a place that feels like home--neighborhood included--and that’s where Trulia shines.
Lovely
We love a good tagline, and “you’re almost home” is quite fitting for an apartment finder such as Lovely. Lovely is a web-based platform that offers a simple interface so users can search for their next home with ease.
It’s designed for the busy bee--someone who needs quick assistance with minimal fuss. Their solution to the fast-paced way of the world? Designing a beautifully designed product that uses real-time data and innovative tools to help renters find and lease the places they want.
RentHop
RentHop has a different motto than the rest. While most apartment-finding apps obsess over quantity, rapid-firing options faster than you click Apply, RentHop is more quality-focused.
Take it from them: “We realized that finding a new home isn't about looking at every apartment listing, it's about looking at the best ones.”
So how do they do it? With math and technology--like all the others--but what sets RentHop apart is a complex set of algorithms they’ve collectively termed HopScore, which ranks apartments based on their quality. That means you’ll never see a bunch of outdated listings with unresponsive leasing agents and no photos. (Three cheers!)
The better the listing, the higher it ranks. They currently serve most major U.S. cities and have adapted well to the times. They feature 3-D virtual tours and live video chats for those who are social distancing or moving long distance.
We sorted out some lesser known sites and apps that go the extra mile in helping you find your perfect place, but this list is by no means comprehensive. Websites like HotPads, Zillow, and Apartment Finder do a wonderful job of providing expansive maps that give you a quick and easy look at the neighborhoods and apartments you’re curious about.
Bonus points: for those active on TikTok, 20-somethings in New York are finding their dream spots thanks to realtors and agents who are creatively targeting multiple generations with tours, Q&As, and more.
No matter how you go about it, there’s nothing quite like finding your perfect home. And remember, when it comes time to settle in--reach out to your Sparetoolz community for any tools you might need in the moving process!
