Roome

Challenge

Finding reliable student housing has long been a major pain point for university students nationwide. Traditional platforms often inundate users with outdated or fraudulent listings, while also lacking efficient ways to verify potential roommates. This results in wasted time, increased stress, and a higher risk of unsatisfactory living arrangements. Roome recognized these challenges and sought to create a trusted, user-friendly mobile solution that would streamline the entire student housing search process.

The key challenges for Roome included:

• User Verification: Ensuring that students could trust the platform by accurately verifying identities and university affiliation.
• Real-Time Availability: Providing up-to-date apartment listings to avoid disappointment caused by unavailable or outdated postings.
• Roommate Matching: Developing a reliable algorithm to connect students with compatible roommates based on lifestyle preferences, budget, and location.
• Secure Communication: Offering a safe channel for prospective roommates to communicate before making commitments.
• Cross-Platform Accessibility: Delivering seamless experiences on both iOS and Android devices.

Roome needed a comprehensive solution that addressed all these issues in an intuitive mobile app, eliminating friction and increasing confidence for student users.

Solution

Our team at BYBOWU approached the Roome project with a clear goal: develop a robust, cross-platform mobile application that would simplify and secure the student housing search. Utilizing React Native, we engineered a single codebase that delivered native performance on both iOS and Android devices, accelerating the development timeline while maintaining high-quality user experience.

Key features implemented in the app included:

• University Email & ID Verification: To foster trust, users are required to verify their university email addresses and submit photo ID checks. This two-step verification process reduces fake accounts and enhances platform credibility.
• Advanced Roommate Matching Algorithm: We designed a smart matching system that analyzes user-submitted lifestyle preferences, such as sleep schedules, cleanliness, social habits, budget constraints, and location preferences. By doing so, the app recommends compatible roommates, increasing satisfaction and long-term compatibility.
• Real-Time Apartment Listings: Through integration with property databases and direct landlord submissions, Roome displays live apartment availability. Push notifications alert users instantly when new listings matching their criteria become available, ensuring they never miss an opportunity.
• In-App Secure Messaging: We built an encrypted chat feature that allows potential roommates to communicate directly within the app. This secure channel eliminates reliance on external messaging platforms and keeps conversations private and organized.
• Map Integration: Leveraging the Google Maps API, the app visually displays apartments and roommate locations relative to campus, transit routes, and local amenities, helping students make informed decisions based on proximity.

Throughout development, we prioritized usability and security, conducting multiple rounds of user testing with students to refine the interface and workflows. This ensured the app was intuitive and met the real needs of its target audience.

Technology Stack

• React Native: Cross-platform mobile app development framework allowing efficient deployment on iOS and Android.
• Node.js Backend: Scalable server-side environment handling business logic, user authentication, and matching algorithms.
• PostgreSQL: Relational database storing user profiles, listings, and match data with robust querying capabilities.
• Firebase Push Notifications: Real-time alerts for new matches and listing updates to keep users engaged.
• Google Maps API: Location services for mapping apartments and transit options.
• Stripe: Secure payment processing for deposits and transaction management.

Results

Since launching Roome on both the Apple App Store and Google Play, the app has achieved significant milestones and delivered measurable improvements for student users:

• 4.6 Average Star Rating: Positive user reviews highlight the app’s reliability, ease of use, and helpful features.
• 85% Roommate Match Satisfaction: A high percentage of users report successful roommate pairings that meet their expectations.
• Search Time Reduced from Weeks to Days: Students now find verified housing options and compatible roommates in an average of 4 days, compared to the previous 3-week search period.
• Increased Platform Trust: The verification process and secure messaging have significantly decreased the incidence of fraudulent listings and unreliable roommate arrangements.

Client Impact

Roome’s mobile app has transformed the student housing experience by providing a trustworthy, efficient platform that addresses longstanding pain points. By leveraging our expertise in web development and mobile app development, BYBOWU delivered a solution that not only meets technical requirements but also enhances student confidence and satisfaction.

Looking forward, Roome plans to expand features based on user feedback and scale the platform to additional university markets, further solidifying its position as the go-to student housing app. If you’re interested in building a similarly impactful digital product for your audience, please contact us to discuss your project goals.