RentRadar

RentRadar crowdsources what renters actually pay and what landlords are actually like, so landlords cannot rewrite the story. It took second place overall at the CEAS Summer Innovation Challenge and is live with over 50 active users.

The Problem

Renters sign leases knowing very little: what others pay for similar places, and what a landlord is like to rent from. Landlords control the listing, so they control the story. RentRadar puts that information back in the hands of the renting community.

What I Built

A live web platform, at rentradar.org, where renters crowdsource honest information about properties and landlords. The site’s own pitch: understand your true cost of living.

As founder I led product, growth and monetization, not just the code. The frontend is React with Material UI. The backend is Python and Flask with LangChain, on PostgreSQL through Supabase, deployed with Supabase, Render and Cloudflare.

Results

In its first cycle, RentRadar reached 60 active users and 30 reviews. It took second place overall at the CEAS Summer Innovation Challenge and secured $5K in funding. The platform is live today with over 50 active users.

Limitations

• Thirty reviews is a start, not a market. Rent comparisons only become reliable with enough reports per area and building.
• Crowdsourced data is self-reported. TODO(shawn): how you handle fake or retaliatory reviews, if at all.