2008 Woodie Awards
RSSNew Web site created to help housing search
By Allyson Planders
Issue date: 10/16/07 Section: News
A new off-campus housing Web site for better student-landlord communication strives to make living off campus easier for students.
Mike Gioia, '07, and his twin brother Andrew, created Spotise.com in March 2007.
Spotsie.com is a Web site where landlords can list properties available for rent. Students can also compare properties with their friends and save listings of properties they are interested in.
Gioia lived off campus last year and said he has had good experiences. He wanted to create an easier way for students to see and compare listings of rental properties.
According to the Web site, the creators want to make the off-campus housing search as painless as possible. Gioia said not only can students find rental properties immediately available, but students can also start looking ahead and learn about landlords.
Gioia said because Spotsie.com is a new Web site, their main challenge is getting landlords to list. So far, nine landlords have listed with the site. Any landlord is allowed to list with the Web site, but students can post comments under the listings to give their opinions of the landlord or rental property.
"We want to bridge the gap between students and landlords," Gioia said.
Gioia said his next goal is to advertise the Web site to students. Many students do not yet know about the Web site because Gioia wanted to contact landlords first.
Gioia said the Web site is targeted to Lehigh students, but also offers listings for other schools' off-campus housing.
Christina Bell, associate director of residential services, said landlords try to look for students who will respect the houses.
"They want students who will value the investment they made," Bell said.
Bell said she believes that the current relationships between students and landlords are good. Students have more information than ever in the past.
The office of residential services provides a listing of off campus housing, which any landlord who is approved by the city of Bethlehem can list their houses on.
Mike Gioia, '07, and his twin brother Andrew, created Spotise.com in March 2007.
Spotsie.com is a Web site where landlords can list properties available for rent. Students can also compare properties with their friends and save listings of properties they are interested in.
Gioia lived off campus last year and said he has had good experiences. He wanted to create an easier way for students to see and compare listings of rental properties.
According to the Web site, the creators want to make the off-campus housing search as painless as possible. Gioia said not only can students find rental properties immediately available, but students can also start looking ahead and learn about landlords.
Gioia said because Spotsie.com is a new Web site, their main challenge is getting landlords to list. So far, nine landlords have listed with the site. Any landlord is allowed to list with the Web site, but students can post comments under the listings to give their opinions of the landlord or rental property.
"We want to bridge the gap between students and landlords," Gioia said.
Gioia said his next goal is to advertise the Web site to students. Many students do not yet know about the Web site because Gioia wanted to contact landlords first.
Gioia said the Web site is targeted to Lehigh students, but also offers listings for other schools' off-campus housing.
Christina Bell, associate director of residential services, said landlords try to look for students who will respect the houses.
"They want students who will value the investment they made," Bell said.
Bell said she believes that the current relationships between students and landlords are good. Students have more information than ever in the past.
The office of residential services provides a listing of off campus housing, which any landlord who is approved by the city of Bethlehem can list their houses on.
