There’s a reason so many of us have roommate horror stories: Good matches are hard to come by. Although the true horror-flick-worthy stories are (thankfully) rare, anything that makes finding a solid housemate easier is a good thing.
Roomi has been working to transform the rental and shared housing space, and the company announced today that it is expanding into Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland. The service, which is available on the Web or via iOS and Android apps, already allows users to search out housemates and living spaces in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Austin, Texas. So far, the app has been downloaded almost 300,000 times.
Roomi has been concentrating on metropolitan areas where living alone often doesn’t make financial sense. And expanding into the Washington, D.C. area makes sense from that standpoint. “The fact that the majority of 18-34 year-olds who call D.C. home can’t afford to live on their own shows there is a true need for a service like Roomi,” said Ajay Yadav, founder and CEO of Roomi, in a press release.
The service allows people to browse living spaces, housemates, and rooms, with the assurance that all users and listings are vetted and verified. Anyone who registers or places a listing is also prompted to provide information on their personality, habits, housing needs, and more. This allows users to search by the factors that are important to them and their needs. Non-smokers, for example, can steer clear of smokers, users can narrow their search down to those whose price range matches theirs, and so forth.
“I think anyone who has ever lived in or moved to a big city can relate to the challenges of finding a place to live, but even more so, of finding the right people to live with to ensure a comfortable, secure, and enjoyable living experience,” says Yadav. “Because of fraudulent practices like fake ads, unverified posters, or incomplete and outdated listings, finding a place to live with just the right person can be incredibly difficult. That’s where Roomi comes in.”
The app has a built-in chat feature so that users can reach out to potential matches and determine whether or not to they may be compatible. Those who have listed rooms are also able to see who has viewed their post and send a message, if they wish. Roomi even offers expert advice to members.
With Washington, D.C. and Baltimore now added, Roomi plans to expand into Chicago, Boston, Miami, and Seattle later this year.
