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We replaced rental brokers with software and filled 200 vacant apartments

caretaker.com

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Re: We replaced rental brokers with software and filled 200 vacant apartments

#181

Post by not_exactly__ »

nacho2sweet wrote: post #164
not_exactly__ wrote: post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe because it presents a false dichotomy where one’s desire to profit from an asset must also accommodate those unable to afford it?

Commiting a felony seems to be a life sentence in the United States even after you have served your time. The algorithm can easily just disqualify them with no nuance. The description on this was even funny "When you rent a place for 1 or 2 years". Just wait till it caretakes rent collecting, rent raising, and eviction services.

If the algo disqualifies them with no nuance, great, that means there’s probably a market for those who do want to take the time to understand the actual risk profile of a tenant. Also, society as a whole does not owe a clean slate to anyone who has committed a felony. Perhaps we can codify it into law but that is not the case right now and the market has decided that we do care.

Re: We replaced rental brokers with software and filled 200 vacant apartments

#182

Post by benmanns »

rembicilious wrote: post #150
e1g wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The landlord is under no obligation to accept anyone this service finds, so this startup guarantees an outcome they cannot control. It might be a way to build awareness and goodwill, but they are burning VC capital to offer a service that is either fundamentally unsustainable or mispriced.

Are you sure about that? It looks to me like they check the current lease for subletting stipulations. It’s literally the first step under “Sublet your place” on the website.

This is correct. Also NYC leases are pretty standard, and NYC laws are tenant friendly at least as far as subletting goes.

Re: We replaced rental brokers with software and filled 200 vacant apartments

#183

Post by EricE »

baby wrote: post #139

I don’t get leases. In Europe I can get out of my apartment any time. In the US I’m stuck with my place for a year.

If you want to get out at any time look for month to month rentals. You will likely pay more for the flexibility...

Re: We replaced rental brokers with software and filled 200 vacant apartments

#185

Post by beisner »

boringg wrote: post #159

Caretaker: The redfin of brokers. Take all the value for themselves freeze out the brokers (who provide a service but are universally disdained). Ride that wave of positive news for a couples years. Eventually everyone will hate the fraction of the market Caretaker has as they raise prices to make investors happy and people realize there are problems. It's like the same idea of Uber and Lyft. Less human involvement =…

If they bring permanent change to the market and lead to the elimination of rental brokers entirely, I don't care what replaces it.

Re: We replaced rental brokers with software and filled 200 vacant apartments

#186

Post by yunohn »

enjo wrote: post #55
tut-urut-utut wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, they are not. The consumer price depends only on supply and demand. Fees don't influence none of it, only the cost of the selling party and thus his profit.

This is correct in almost all cases (outside of highly commoditized goods) and it's crazy how people don't understand it. It's why the price of McDonalds doesn't increase when minimum wage does. McDonalds is already charging as much as they can for a Big Mac (where stores averages a 40% margin). Increasing minimum wage means that margin goes down a bit, not that prices increase. If they could increase prices they alr…

> This is correct in almost all cases (outside of highly commoditized goods) and it's crazy how people don't understand it.

What are you on about? Of course McD will change prices relative to input expenditure. You can even see this across all the countries they serve. If there were to be a significant impact on margin, they can increase prices.

All fees are passed onto customers, that’s how you calculate profit margins.

Re: We replaced rental brokers with software and filled 200 vacant apartments

#187

Post by khuey »

AnimalMuppet wrote: post #148
Robotbeat wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Singapore system purportedly works pretty well.

Does Singapore do anything in particular with regard to landlords?

In Singapore the state builds housing and sells it to citizens cheaply.

Re: We replaced rental brokers with software and filled 200 vacant apartments

#188

Post by mensetmanusman »

boringg wrote: post #159

Caretaker: The redfin of brokers. Take all the value for themselves freeze out the brokers (who provide a service but are universally disdained). Ride that wave of positive news for a couples years. Eventually everyone will hate the fraction of the market Caretaker has as they raise prices to make investors happy and people realize there are problems. It's like the same idea of Uber and Lyft. Less human involvement =…

Uber forced the taxi game to change where no regulations could due to lobbying.

Re: We replaced rental brokers with software and filled 200 vacant apartments

#189

Post by __sy__ »

EricE wrote: post #177
dangerwill wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Speaking of logistical headaches, what happens with your system when the power goes out in a building?

If you have a smart lock that doesn't require Internet connectivity then power or network availability is not an issue. From the OP: https://www.igloohome.co/en-us/ It's the most innovative approach to smart locks I have ever seen and for this one nugget along I'm very grateful for the link to the original story!

Just a quick caveat that for non-consumer contexts, completely offline stuff doesn't cut it. The enterprise customers we have do want to get status reports for the devices (e.g. battery level, lock/unlocked status, which code was punched in...etc). There are good reasons for this, especially considering some operate fleets of 10K+ door locks across 3 continents.

Re: We replaced rental brokers with software and filled 200 vacant apartments

#190

Post by admax88q »

boringg wrote: post #159

Caretaker: The redfin of brokers. Take all the value for themselves freeze out the brokers (who provide a service but are universally disdained). Ride that wave of positive news for a couples years. Eventually everyone will hate the fraction of the market Caretaker has as they raise prices to make investors happy and people realize there are problems. It's like the same idea of Uber and Lyft. Less human involvement =…

Stop letting perfect be the enemy of good.
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