So it has finally launched!
www.flatsandmates.com
Launching a venture is even more gruelling than having a baby! Believe me I have had the pleasure of experiencing both. There are too many external factors that we have to depend on to translate your vision into reality. But the fruit of waiting is always sweet though you may have some bitter moments in the interim.
JOURNEY
Flatsandmates.com is a journey that began in 2012. A colleague was shifting to Delhi and she was worried about her accommodation. Well, there are many cliches that we Bombayites have heard about Delhi so it is natural to be concerned. So there she was trying to use the power of her offline network but it wasn't working. Then one fine day, as we were talking, she announced that she found the perfect flat with a nearly perfect flatmate and that too without brokerage! We were happy for her but I thought that here is one lucky girl who has some guardian angel in Delhi. Not everyone can get this lucky. But, in fact, she told me that it wasn't her offline network but rather social media network that helped her get this deal. 
Now I was really curious. Does this really work? Linking it to my situation, my family has some properties and when we want to rent them out, it is a big ordeal to find good tenants. Moreover, we have to pay hefty brokerage. Thus I decided to try this out and created the Flats and Flatmates (Mumbai) group. I added my family and friends and it started out as a small group of some 100 members. But within just a month the group went from 100 to 1000! That is when I was sure it works. Here was a novel concept of getting people together. It was based on trust, mutual interest of economising, genuine need and quick solution.
After two and a half years, it was a natural progression to create my own website. The gestation period was far from enjoyable but to see my baby taking shape little by little was enough to keep me going. The building up process lasted more than a year but I am so happy to have finally delivered a healthy bouncing second baby!
HOW IT WORKS
If you have a place to rent or if you are looking for a place on rent, just place a free advert on the website and easily share via Facebook or WhatsApp. You can get in direct touch with your respondents. The website has additional features like Move Out Sale, Buddy Chat, a personalised Dashboard where you can send and receive Enquiries. Unlike the Facebook community that is strictly for those looking for broker-free options, the website welcomes Real Estate Agents. Yes, all said and done, estate agents are useful during times of urgency.
So keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best!
