Rent Detective

Introducing Rent Detective - the app that lets you stalk your next apartment like you would a Hinge date! Get code violations, rent forecasts, bike ability and even an AI-crafted negotiation script!

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Inspiration

Rent is too damn high! Rent Detective came about because we kept hearing the same questions from people searching for a place to live: What’s the neighborhood like? Is it safe? Is it even worth it to keep renting, or should I buy? We wanted to give people straightforward answers in one app.

What it does

Rent Detective brings together all the key info you need about a property in one place:

  • Code Violations: Look up any past or present code violations on a property.
  • Rent Forecasts: See rental price trends based on historical data to help you get a feel for potential rent increases.
  • Green Metrics: Check out the air quality, walkability, and bikeability scores to get a sense of the neighborhood’s environmental vibe.
  • Property Assessments: Find out about property valuations, taxes, and other assessment details for properties nearby.
  • Nearby Rental Registries: Compare other registered rentals in the area and see how your options stack up.

Rent Detective gives a 360-degree view of a property to help you make a decision you feel good about.

How we built it

  • Backend: Built with Laravel's PHP framework to handle API calls, process data, and manage the database.
  • Data Sources: We tapped into APIs like Zillow for rent forecasts, Google Maps for parks and environmental data, and government databases for code violations and property assessments.
  • Frontend: Tailwind CSS and Alpine.js for a clean, responsive interface that’s easy to navigate.
  • Mapping and Visualization: Google Maps API to display interactive maps with nearby parks, rental properties, and direct links to Google Maps for easy exploration.

Challenges we ran into

  • Data Integration: Getting different data sources to play nice together with varying formats and update schedules was a fun puzzle.
  • Accurate Forecasting: Making reliable rent forecasts took some work, especially with gaps in historical data and the challenge of accounting for local market trends.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • One Data Platform: We’re proud to have brought together all this diverse information into one streamlined, user-friendly app.
  • User-Centric Design: Presenting all this info in a way that’s easy to understand and useful to renters and buyers alike.

What we learned

  • User Priorities in Real Estate: We learned a lot about what people really care about beyond just the price and amenities—things like environmental quality, neighborhood assessments, and code compliance. That helped us focus on what’s most valuable to users.

What's next for Rent Detective

Next, we’re looking to add even more data sources, like crime stats, and build our own index scores based on all these factors. We also want to make Rent Detective a marketplace where property managers can list rentals, and renters can easily apply right in the app.

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