Feedback for Roomorama.com, peer-to-peer website for short-term rentals

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jiaenteo

posts: 7

Aug 19, 2008 6:18 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Hey guys,

I run a startup called Roomorama, a peer-to-peer platform for short-term rentals. Roomorama.com enables anyone to rent out an apartment on a short-term basis to travelers looking for hotel-alternatives. We just launched in New York City a month ago and we`ll be opening up to Boston and Toronto in September.

Since we are so new, would love feedback from other entrepreneurs in this forum - send me your thoughts and ideas!

Thanks,
Jia En

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Roomorama.com - Why stay in a hotel?

EmpowermentHR

posts: 28

Aug 19, 2008 7:34 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Jai,

Congrats! I quickly visited the site and was left with a few questions.

a: Becuase you are renting a room with someone, does that mean there are other residents there while the customer of roomorama stays there?

b: If so, do you run background checks on the residents you re temp living with?

I loved that concept and think its a great idea. Hopefully I didn`t sound like too much of a drag but I tried to think if I was considering using the service myself.

CraigL

posts: 9051

Aug 19, 2008 8:53 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Two things: I clicked the default search for New York, and saw lots of stuff. Then I wanted to try a different city, so entered "Chicago, IL" in the search box on the results page for NYC. There was no "go" button.

So I went back to the Find a Room tab, did the same, and ended up with "Please enter a valid city from the list." What list?

googleguy

posts: 65

Aug 19, 2008 10:04 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Great Idea!

Besides some of the technical issues outlined in the last threads, I think its a great start.

The home page is really boring though, the text is small and hard to read. You should consider adding some color or images to make the page more visually appealing.

Also, you may want to add some content on the cities you operate in. You know, the standard stuff, attractions, nightlife, things like that. I think it would make your site a little more fun.

The name roomarama screams fun!! but there is nothing fun about your site. I think you are off to a great start and wish you the best of luck.

GO GET IT!!!

http://www.searchmarketingsystems.net/

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www.searchmarketingsystems.net

stonesledge

posts: 1093

Aug 19, 2008 11:49 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Hi! I get it, you are now launched in NYC and will add as you grow. What a great business. I actually am oersonally weighing out this solution myself, lease an apt when I go to NY for business this fall , hotel or a solution like yours. I will definatley keep you in mind. This type of business is a new trend and growing. Very Cool! Awesome Jon Jia. I am sure as you grow, your staff will grow. What are you using currently for development etc??

Erin

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Our Goal Is Your Success!
Founder Girls with Goals

jiaenteo

posts: 7

Aug 20, 2008 1:49 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Hi EmpowermentHR -

Thanks so much for taking the time to check the site out and giving me your feedback! With regards to your questions:

a: Becuase you are renting a room with someone, does that mean there are other residents there while the customer of roomorama stays there?

--> There are shared spaces, and non-shared spaces listed on Roomorama. You can choose on the main search page (there`s a checkbox for Shared)

b: If so, do you run background checks on the residents you re temp living with?

--> On Roomorama, the community does the screening - on each listing, one can see the host`s picture, profile, as well as the history of feedback from previous stays so guests can get a better idea of who to expect. At the end of every stay, both host and guest can review each other to build up a reputation for themselves, just like on Ebay.

c: in the faq, section it calls for the host to send a gentle reminder to the guest to send payment. how can roomorama get involved in this process. If I was the host, I wouldnt want to send a friendly reminder, I`d want you to do it to ease the process, secondly what if I am not a gentle host? Does you customer service take a dive because the host sends" Are you waiting on hell to freeze over before I get my payment? Obviously not eveyone would be that way but catch a host on a bad day and you never know?

--> Oh good spot - We actually do send out a reminder now and I`ll have to revise the FAQs to reflect that change. So the steps to payment are:
1. Guest inquires, Host confirms availability
2. Guest pays, gets payment code
3. Guest gives Host the payment code and Host redeems funds from Roomorama

Hope that answers some of your questions and thanks for the feedback, very helpful!!

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Roomorama.com - Why stay in a hotel?

jiaenteo

posts: 7

Aug 20, 2008 1:58 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Hi CraigL,

Thanks also for your feedback! My responses to your questions are below:

Two things: I clicked the default search for New York, and saw lots of stuff. Then I wanted to try a different city, so entered "Chicago, IL" in the search box on the results page for NYC. There was no "go" button.

--> Right now we are only in NYC (we`re only a month old), but I see what you mean about the "go" button. Actually that search filter is built so that users don`t have to click on "go" to refresh the search. What happens is that when you type in a new city (now we only have New York, which is why Chicago didn`t work for you), the list of results will update accordingly.

So I went back to the Find a Room tab, did the same, and ended up with "Please enter a valid city from the list." What list?

--> Yep, same problem as above - basically we are opening up city-by-city so Chicago is not yet available.

Let me know if you have any other questions - your comments were very helpful!

Thanks,
Jia En

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Roomorama.com - Why stay in a hotel?

jiaenteo

posts: 7

Aug 20, 2008 2:01 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Hey Googleguy -

Thanks for the encouragement! Yes, definitely planning to add more buzz to the site, but thinking of a way to do it cleanly, without clutter. If you come across any sites that do this well, send them my way for inspiration!

Thanks again! :)

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Roomorama.com - Why stay in a hotel?

jiaenteo

posts: 7

Aug 20, 2008 2:03 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Hi Stonesledge,

Thanks! Definitely keep Roomorama in mind when you travel. Also, use Roomorama to rent out your own place while you are away!

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Roomorama.com - Why stay in a hotel?

Johan21

posts: 43

Jan 10, 2011 6:59 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Hey, just had a quick visit to the website and seems like a really good one. There are a lot of people who would want to find a short term rental place while they are traveling. It makes a lot of sense because you will save a lot money.

We too have a hotel booking website at HotelsFirst.com where you can find discount hotel room for cities like New York, San Diego and San Francisco.

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