Roomi’s Expansion Will Improve the Way Seattleites Look for Housemates, Increase Affordable Housing Options, and Ease Moves to and within the City
(New York, NY) Thursday, May 19th, 2016 – Roomi, a free mobile-first platform transforming the rental and shared housing industry, announced today that it is expanding into the Seattle market. Seattle joins the growing list of urban hubs where Roomi has already been downloaded over 300,000 times to help students and professionals find the perfect housemates and co-living spaces, including New York City, Austin, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Boston, and most recently, Chicago.
Roomi’s iOS app, Android app and desktop experience are designed for those seeking to rent out empty rooms as well as those searching for a new home. The platform lets users create a profile and search for shared living accommodations, housemates and rooms simply and quickly. Every listing is vetted and verified by Roomi’s dedicated security specialists before going live in the platform’s database.
Seattle is one of the top-five fastest-growing cities in America, but the population boom has brought with it a surge in housing costs. According to rental data site Rent Jungle, the average rent for a one bedroom apartment in Seattle is $1,604 a month and a two bedroom, $2,125, which are significantly higher than the national average. According to reports, Seattle is about 24% more expensive than the typical U.S. city.
“The rising cost of housing is outpacing wage growth, which is a real problem for many people living in Seattle,” said Ajay Yadav, CEO and Founder of Roomi. “While wealthy newcomers are helping to revitalize neighborhood business districts, the reality is that the city is becoming too expensive for nearly half the population, and many renters are being forced to move out of Seattle altogether.”
Focusing on extensive research, Roomi developed its mobile marketplace to help solve these urban living challenges: steadily rising rents, stagnant wages and the lack of simple ways to find affordable housing. Roomi curates the best rooms and services for people seeking flexible, affordable shared living solutions.
Upon registration or placing a listing, users answer several personality and lifestyle questions such as pet preferences, smoking habits and more, as well as the more standard location and price range inquiries. Roomi is able to translate these answers into a detailed profile, allowing users to search for housing and housemates who meet their needs and preferences. Listers can also view and message those who have viewed their rooms.
“Although the city’s initiative to keep rents down has been effective and helped ease the pain, many still find Seattle’s high rental prices prohibitive,” said Yadav. “That’s where Roomi comes in. We recognize the serious need for an easier way to find flexible housing solutions, but also for a safer and more effective way to find people with whom you’ll love to share that space.”
The app’s built-in chat feature allows users to connect safely and encourages open communication about issues important for successful housemate relationships, including shared values, common interests, compatible lifestyles and even things like TV preferences, food likes, and socializing styles.
Roomi supports users before, during and after their move, helping everyone connect to their new spaces and communities. Through Roomi Connect (www.roomiconnect.com), users can also view expert advice regarding shared living, regionally specific content about shared living in their cities, and housemate success stories from members of the Roomi community.
About Roomi
Roomi is a free mobile app and web experience that simplifies the housemate and housing search in major cities, where it’s often unaffordable to live alone. The shared living platform makes it easy for people to post and list rooms and connect safely, reinventing the way people search and find housemates in the rental industry. CEO and Founder Ajay Yadav developed Roomi after witnessing the obvious need for a platform that not only helps people find housing, but also the right people to live with. With Roomi’s personality and compatibility checks, users can take their search to the next level – finding a home, not just a housemate. Roomi is available in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Diego, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington D.C. and Baltimore and is expanding rapidly, both in the U.S. and internationally.
