Whether you’re looking for a renter or a rental, it can be a painstaking process. All kinds of obstacles can arise when coordinating showings, credit checks, and even payment. It’s no wonder so many people hire management companies to take the work out of their hands. The market is changing, though, and thankfully, an increasing number of companies have been using technology to simplify the traditional system.
One such company, OneRent, launched an end-to-end residential rental and property management service in March 2014 that connects landlords and tenants via its online platform. While the service is only currently available in the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle, OneRent announced today that it has secured new funding and now plans to expand into five new cities. If you live in Los Angeles (Santa Monica, Hollywood, Venice, and Marina Del Rey), San Diego, Portland, Sacramento, or Washington, get ready — it’s coming.
OneRent is involved in all steps of the rental process, from letting prospective tenants to search properties to managing showings, lease signings, rental payments, and property maintenance. One way the platform streamlines the search, for example, is by allowing renters-to-be to show themselves an apartment. Using a temporary access code, they can enter a property, have a look around, and decide whether or not they’d like to apply. Another way it helps is by ensuring payment is sent to landlords on the first of the month, even if a tenant hasn’t paid yet.
“Part of OneRent’s vision is to unify a transparent, automated process with the responsiveness and concern of human interaction,” said Chuck Hattemer, the company’s co-founder and CMO, in a press release. “Our investment in a talented team is key to aligning a personal, reliable experience for both the landlord and renter in every step of the rental process.”
No timeline for expansion has been unveiled yet, so tenants and landlords in the five target cities will have to wait and see.
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