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Review my startup: PadLister - Apartment Listings with Online Applications

• ericd 16y ago
  I just launched online applications with automatic credit checks, so I thought I'd share the site and try to get some feedback. This is a companion site to PadMapper (http://www.padmapper.com http://www.padmapper.com), which helps renters find apartments. An example of a listing page on the site: http://www.padlister.com/listings/6966.2-bedroom-2-bathroom-apartment-at-519-W-Pratt-St-Baltimore-MD-21201-in-Baltimore-Inner-Harbor http://www.padlister.com/listings/6966.2-bedroom-2-bathroom-... And an example of an online application form: https://www.padlister.com/rent_applications/new/6966 https://www.padlister.com/rent_applications/new/6966
• tgrass 16y ago
  What's the plan for monetizing the site? I've been under the impression that Craigslist will serve C&Ds if you crawl the site for profit.
  • ericd 16y ago
    PadLister charges $15 per applicant for online applications, which results in some profit after paying for the credit check.
    • tgrass 16y ago
      And that doesn't conflict with Craigslist's terms of service?
      • ericd 16y ago
        The online applications aren't on Craigslist listings, only on ones posted on PadLister.
        • tgrass 16y ago
          If you pitch to investors, think of framing that issue differently. CL's TOS does not make a distinction: crawling is denied to the website that specializes in classified listings. Crawling seems to be a poorly defined legal area, so doing it is wise: carve out your space while you can. But it would also seem wise to plan on getting denied to CL. You would not be the first nor the last.
          • ericd 16y ago
            Yeah, good point. PadMapper itself was started as a hobby project, but PadLister aims to be a bit more commercial. I don't know if it matters that PadLister is almost entirely separate from PadMapper.