It’s been just over a year since we’ve launched our first version of RateMyStudentRental.com.  Today we looked at the transition and improvements we’ve made over that first year as a launched website.  Why don’t you go on this journey with us!

There was the first mock up:

Then there was our place holder until we were ready to launch:

October 2007 Launch, we were so proud of this website:

Then we added a search function, called our users home-slice and made a few cosmetic changes:

We got on Twitter, finally designed a distinctive logo, added the landlord services, and started to play with the home page:

Then we thought our home page was a sidewalk and started to draw types of rentals in chalk, we got our first U of M review, and moved some things around a bit more:

And, here we are today. It is so refreshing to see even the design improvments over time.  We didn’t even talk today about the changes in our services and features which are driven by you, our users.  We’re always ready and working on our new and improved version of our website and services so send us your suggestions using Features Request page where you can submit a feature request and vote on other features other users submitted!

Thanks for all the support from our users: students, landlords, schools and mentors!

We have made a critical change to our Flag for Availability feature that will allow you to leave a short description explaining the availability.  Whether you want to tell the students how many rooms are available, if you are looking for someone to rent the room for certain dates, etc.  The new feature (with-in a feature) will capture potential student’s attention.

If you have not seen the Flag for Availability feature yet, it is located under the ‘Rental Services’ for registered landlords.  The Flag for Availability feature allows you to flag your rental so that students know there are vacancies and can contact you directly through our messaging system to inquire about the availability and become tenants.  Flags can be purchased using your earned/purchased credits and vary in length.

• Flag Immediately:  active flag for 2 weeks.
• Flag for This Term: active flag for 2 months.
• Flag for Next Term:  active flag for 5 months.

During the time period which your flag is purchased you can un-list and re-list the flag depending on needs.  To do this you can follow the instructions below:

1. Log into your landlord account
2. Click the rental services tab
3. Find the ‘Flag for Availability’ feature
4. Click the ‘Un-list Room Availability’ button
5. Click the Rental services tab again
6. Find the ‘Flag for Availability’ feature
7. Enter in your message about the availability (To avoid being charged, do not change the length of the flag)
8. Click the ‘List Room Availability’ button
9. Go to your rental’s profile by clicking the picture or address of your rental to view the flag/final product

Our Flag for Availability feature works!  For the Fall 08 term at Kettering University over 85% of the rooms that used the ‘Flag for Availability’ were filled with students.  As always, contact us with any questions of feedback