REDMOND, Wash. — For many, the search for a roommate can be a nerve-wracking and stressful process. Will they be messy or neat-freaks? Night owls or early-risers?
A new app called
[ RentHoop ]
aims to silence skepticism by connecting you with people in your own social network -- like a Tinder for roommate searches. According to the app’s Redmond-based creator, it’s a safer place to find a roommate than Craigslist.
The dating app Tinder is well known for its swipe-left or swipe-right features in order to find your “match.” Similar to Tinder, RentHoop connects to your Facebook account which allows you to see mutual friends and interests of the people the app connects you with.
%
% “Tinder is fun and easy to use. I wanted to bring that to the roommate finding experience which is normally a mundane and tedious process,” said Paul Burke, a 2014 Western Washington University graduate.
RentHoop users are encouraged to share their budget and living habits to help the app locate the most compatible roommates.
The app launched nationwide in May. Burke said he is floored by the public's positive response.
"The best moments for our team is receiving emails and tweets from people saying they've found a roommate through RentHoop," Burke said in an email. "To think we can make an impact in Seattle, Washington is cool - but to know we're making an impact nationwide in cities like Austin and Orlando is too cool."
Like any new business venture, the road to success doesn't come without pitfalls. However, Burke says his "inexperience" has only heightened his curiosity for his project.
"Our team is having a lot of fun and we understand that when things don't go our way it's a learning experience," Burke said. "We don't dwell on our mistakes."
Burke said his team is in contact with universities and businesses that have expressed interest in partnering with RentHoop. He is hopeful RentHoop will soon become the only way millennials find roommates.