Talk:Apartment List

Untitled
We are creating this Wikipedia article as a project for a class entitled "Online Communities." This assignment was to create a Wikipedia article about an online community that relates to the class material. We have chosen to create a Wikipedia page about ApartmentList.com, which is a new apartment matching website. We plan to add background information about the sites creators, features of the website, a list of apartment aggregate websites that ApartmentList.com gets its listing from, and future of the website. There has been a lot of press on this article recently, so there are many references that we are using to create this article. This article will be a good addition to Wikipedia because it will inform Wikipedians about a new online community and a new matching agent. Msackler (talk) 20:10, 2 October 2011 (UTC), Nlw34 (talk) 20:10, 2 October 2011 (UTC)

We have moved our wikipedia page from a User page to a full fledged article. We welcome any feedback and will make any changes necessary. Thank you. Nlw34 (talk) 20:46, 2 October 2011 (UTC) Msackler (talk) 20:47, 2 October 2011 (UTC)

Article Feedback

 * I didn't know where to put the article feedback so I hope this will do. You guys did a really good job of laying out the foundations of a good article. It's very objective and doesn't read like an advertisement: awesome. What I think will add a lot to the article is having a section on "Features" rather than "Apartment List Experience" just because it seamed like you were talking about personal experience rather than objectively documenting what Apartment List does. I think you could do well to add references, it seams like this website is being talked about a lot see: http://techland.time.com/2011/09/12/ask-techland-how-can-i-use-google-maps-to-find-my-next-apartment/ and http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/apartmentlist-rolls-out-worlds-first-apartment-matching-engine/57577 . Once you reference things I think the wiki-hounds will lay off your back about the whole deletion thing. Dsullivan7 (talk) 05:03, 29 September 2011 (UTC)

Proposed deletion
I have removed the PROD tag, because the topic of this article is entirely legitimate and meets WP guidelines for notability. Imo, the fact that an article needs work is not grounds for any deletion, let alone an "uncontroversial" PROD. Eaglizard (talk) 12:24, 22 July 2015 (UTC)

Some proposed changes
Information to be added or removed: New key employee added, Matthew Service, CFO Explanation of issue: New employee added to the executive team References supporting change: https://www.crunchbase.com/person/matthew-service#section-jobs — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2604:2D80:9182:1500:100F:2073:B79A:1474 (talk) 15:30, 19 August 2020 (UTC)
 * Crunchbase is a user-generated site, if someone implements this it would be better to user Apartment Lists's own site as a source. – Thjarkur (talk) 20:58, 19 August 2020 (UTC)
 * Are any of the possibly ephemeral employees sufficiently notable to be included at all?SovalValtos (talk) 21:23, 19 August 2020 (UTC)
 * Agree with SovalValtos, closing as not done. I also don't recall seeing "VP of Engineering" mentioned in our articles except maybe for huge conglomerates. – Thjarkur (talk) 09:46, 20 August 2020 (UTC)

Some proposed changes (followup and new request)
Follow-up request:

Information to be added or removed: I had previously requested that a new key employee be added, Matthew Service, CFO. It was requested that I send the Apartment List direct website as reference rather than a Crunchbase site - so I am including that below. You will see Matthew Service listed at the top of the page along with the other executive team members. Another user had added VP of Engineering in a prior edit to which an editor also just responded that this should not be included as a "key employee". That is fine to be removed if that better follows proper protocol. Explanation of issue: New employee added to the executive team References supporting change: https://www.apartmentlist.com/about/us

✅ There are five people noted as being in senior positions on their website (they have their own section and they have bigger pictures). Either all of them should be included, or none of them. I have decided to include

New request:

Information to be added or removed: Is it possible to update the Apartment List logo as the company rebranded about a year ago? Explanation of issue: New logo more accurately represents the current company References supporting change: https://www.apartmentlist.com/about/us

— Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.23.101.230 (talk) 09:27, August 21, 2020 (UTC)

✅ New logo added, old logo tagged for speedy deletion.


 * I have responded to your edit request above. Please sign all future requests with four tildes (which look like this: ~). Thanks and happy editing! Z1720 (talk) 18:28, 29 November 2020 (UTC)

Some proposed changes
Hi Wikipedia editors. I’m stating my conflict of interest as an employee of my company. It has come to my attention that our page has several pieces of outdated information that I would like to do my best to update as in doing so, the page will be more accurate and timely. I have broken down each specific requests and numbered them for ease of discussion.

1: Information to be added or removed: Change the following: FROM: “As of January 2018, Apartment List had over 4 million units on its platform. Over 40 U.S. cities are represented on the site, with 5 million visitors per month.” TO: “As of October 2019, Apartment List had over 5 million units on its platform and operates nationwide. ”

And

FROM: “Apartment List's 4 million properties can be accessed either…” TO: “Apartment List's 5 million properties can be accessed either…”

Explanation of issue: Apartment List has expanded and has more units on its site than previously noted. References supporting change: https://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/home-rental-demand-growing-as-flexibility-mobility-become-priorities/

2: Information to be added or removed: Change the following: FROM: “The last round of funding is being used to increase the property listings in smaller buildings and single-family homes.” TO: “The last round of funding is being used to increase the property listings in smaller buildings and single-family homes as well as its current footprint of large apartment complexes.”

Explanation of issue: The current wording of this information does not accurately reflect the details in the cited source. The source clearly states that the funds are being used for both new smaller buildings and single family homes AS WELL AS continuing to build the current market of large apartment complexes. I believe to more accurately represent the source, both of these need to be mentioned.

References supporting change: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180118005377/en/Apartment-List-Secures-50-Million-Series-Funding

3: Information to be added or removed: REMOVE: The funding has been used to make new hires, with the company appointing a new VP of Engineering - Paw Anderson, who previously worked for Uber.

Explanation of issue: The article previously cited (https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/18/apartment-list-raises-50-million-for-home-rentals/) to substantiate a VP of Engineering hire also listed several other employees, some of whom are still employed at the company, others of which have left. This current language on Wikipedia only mentions the first person on the list of hires in this cited article. Paw Anderson is also no longer employed at Apartment List. The cited article also clearly states

References supporting change: https://www.apartmentlist.com/about/us You can also see these references to show that our current VP of Engineering is Sue Nallapeta (not Paw Anderson): https://www.facebook.com/events/twitch-hq/building-remote-first-teams-w-apartment-list-circleci-wonolo/399762403921741/ https://qconsf.com/sf2019/speakers/sushma-nallapeta And the departure of Paw Anderson to a new company: https://www.metromile.com/blog/welcome-paw-anderson-metromiles-new-cto/

4: Information to be added or removed: I would like to request that the new color logo (changed to purple in 2019) be reflected on the Wikipedia page. Explanation of issue: Apartment List rebranded in 2019 and I believe to more accurately capture the identity of the company, the logo should be updated to reflect this. The new logo (a few varieties are available) is purple - the old logo was blue. References supporting change: https://www.apartmentlist.com/about/us https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/apartmentlist

5: Information to be added or removed: I would like to request that key employee Chris Erickson (COO) be removed from the right hand side as he is no longer with Apartment List. Explanation of issue: Chris Erickson is no longer employed at Apartment List as the COO and is therefore no longer considered to be a key person References supporting change: https://www.apartmentlist.com/about/us Chris Erickson’s profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislerickson/

— Preceding unsigned comment added by 135.180.35.252 (talk) 15:00, September 15, 2020 (UTC)


 * Hi, thank you for making an edit request. My responses are below:
 * 1. ❌ The reference is an interview with the CEO, meaning the company is self-reporting this figure. Although published in a reputable source a statistic like this needs to be published by an independent author before it can be included. Please post another secondary source that supports this change.
 * 2. ❌ I decided to remove this sentence. This sentence feels WP:PROMO to me and I don't think how they are spending investor money is notable.
 * 3. ✅ This was unnecessary information.
 * 4. ✅ This was done in the last edit request.
 * 5. ✅ I removed Erickson. I also removed Nallapeta and did not add Leo Gong because I do not think VP Engineering and Head of Product are high enough on the corporate chain of command to justify their inclusion in the infobox.


 * I also did a copy-edit of the article to remove WP:PROMO, unsourced information and unreliable sources, and I have closed this ticket. Thanks again for using this template. Happy editing! Z1720 (talk) 22:18, 1 December 2020 (UTC)

Proposed changes with new sources
Hi Wikipedia editors. I’m stating my conflict of interest as an employee of my company. I’m bringing some updated data forward given some recent reliable news sources publishing about the company. I believe updating the page to reflect this new information will ensure the page is more accurate and timely. I have broken down each specific request and numbered them for ease of discussion. Thank you for your continued support!

1. Information to be added or removed: Add the following in the introductory paragraph: “Apartment List’s mission is to help renters find a home they love and the value they deserve” Explanation of issue: Provides additional clarification around business purpose References supporting change: https://newfinancemagazine.com/lizzo-a-rod-among-apartment-lists-new-celebrity-investors/

2. Information to be added or removed: Change line two from: “As of January 2018, Apartment List had over 4 million units on its platform.” to “As of January 2021, Apartment List had over 5.5 million units on its platform and 30 million registered users” Explanation of issue: Updated data and metrics to reflect recently released information References supporting change: https://newfinancemagazine.com/lizzo-a-rod-among-apartment-lists-new-celebrity-investors/

3. Information to be added or removed: Under “History” section, add a new paragraph at end to read: In December 2020, the company announced it had raised a $50 million Series D, led by Janus Henderson Investors. The company then announced in January 2021 that the Series D round was upsized by $10 million for a total of $60 million dollars of funding. The Series D brought the company’s valuation to $600 million. Some notable investors include celebrities and athletes Lizzo, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Andre Iguodala, Alex Rodriguez and Daryl Morey. Explanation of issue: Adding information regarding most recent fundraise, consistent with previous updates around the same matter References supporting change: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nba-star-andre-iguodala-investing-silicon-valley-apartment-list-series-d-230337466.html https://newfinancemagazine.com/lizzo-a-rod-among-apartment-lists-new-celebrity-investors/ https://www.cnbc.com/video/2021/01/27/lizzo-priyanka-chopra-jonas-and-other-celebrities-invest-in-online-rental-marketplace-apartment-list.html?&qsearchterm=apartment%20list

4. Information to be added or removed: In late 2017, Apartment List partnered with Facebook Marketplace,[9] Homes.com,[10] and Realtor.com.[11] Explanation of issue: The partnership between Apartment List and Homes.com and Realtor.com is no longer active. What background information is needed to have this removed so that renters and customers do not get confused? References supporting change: n/a

5. Information to be added or removed: Add a section at the end titled “Social Impact”. Some suggested language is: Social Impact Apartment List’s Home Bridge program, which connects families in need with real estate companies eager to serve their communities, works to help displaced families find relief during times of crisis, and partners with several other charitable organizations like Ronald McDonald House Charities. Explanation of issue: We believe it relevant to share this initiative as it is an important and defining part of the company that most often gets referenced in news / media. References supporting change: https://newfinancemagazine.com/lizzo-a-rod-among-apartment-lists-new-celebrity-investors/ https://abc7news.com/ronald-mcdonald-house-charities-bay-area-rmhc-patient-housing-childrens-hospital/8959826/ — Preceding unsigned comment added by 135.180.34.0 (talk) 20:58, 22 March 2021 (UTC)

Aug 2021 Proposed Updates to Page
Hi Wikipedia editors. I’m stating my conflict of interest as an employee of my company. I’m bringing some updated data forward given some recent reliable news sources publishing about the company. I believe updating the page to reflect this new information will ensure the page is more accurate and timely. I have broken down each specific request and numbered them for ease of discussion.

You will see much of this overlaps with my last submission, but I believe I may have submitted that one incorrectly as I do not see it in the queue for review.

1. Information to be added or removed: Add the following in the introductory paragraph: “Apartment List’s mission is to help renters find a home they love and the value they deserve” Explanation of issue: Provides additional clarification around business purpose References supporting change: https://newfinancemagazine.com/lizzo-a-rod-among-apartment-lists-new-celebrity-investors/

2. Information to be added or removed: Change line two from: “As of January 2018, Apartment List had over 4 million units on its platform.” to “As of January 2021, Apartment List had over 5.5 million units on its platform and 30 million registered users” Explanation of issue: Updated data and metrics to reflect recently released information References supporting change: https://newfinancemagazine.com/lizzo-a-rod-among-apartment-lists-new-celebrity-investors/

3. Information to be added or removed: Under “History” section, add a new paragraph at end to read: In December 2020, the company announced it had raised a $50 million Series D, led by Janus Henderson Investors. The company then announced in January 2021 that the Series D round was upsized by ten million for a total of $60 million dollars of funding. The Series D brought the company’s valuation to $600 million. Some notable investors include celebrities and athletes Lizzo, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Andre Iguodala, Alex Rodriguez and Daryl Morey. Explanation of issue: Adding information regarding most recent fundraise, consistent with previous updates around the same matter References supporting change: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nba-star-andre-iguodala-investing-silicon-valley-apartment-list-series-d-230337466.html https://newfinancemagazine.com/lizzo-a-rod-among-apartment-lists-new-celebrity-investors/ https://www.inman.com/2021/01/27/lizzo-a-rod-among-apartment-lists-new-celebrity-investors/

4. Information to be added or removed: In late 2017, Apartment List partnered with Facebook Marketplace, Homes.com, and Realtor.com. Explanation of issue: The partnerships between Apartment List, and Facebook Marketplace, Homes.com and Realtor.com are no longer active. What background information is needed to have this removed so that renters and customers do not get confused? Facebook Marketplace no longer listing multifamily properties in a recent change to their policies. References supporting change: https://www.facebook.com/business/help/442276120199473

5. Information to be added or removed: Add a section at the end titled “Social Impact”. Some suggested language is: Social Impact Apartment List’s Home Bridge program, which connects families in need with real estate companies eager to serve their communities, works to help displaced families find relief during times of crisis, and partners with several other charitable organizations like Ronald McDonald House Charities. Explanation of issue: We believe it relevant to share this initiative as it is an important and defining part of the company that most often gets referenced in news / media. References supporting change: https://newfinancemagazine.com/lizzo-a-rod-among-apartment-lists-new-celebrity-investors/ https://abc7news.com/ronald-mcdonald-house-charities-bay-area-rmhc-patient-housing-childrens-hospital/8959826/ https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nba-star-andre-iguodala-investing-silicon-valley-apartment-list-series-d-230337466.html

6. Information to be added or removed: Please include the following team members as “key people” - they all sit on the executive team at Apartment List: Lev Finkelstein, CFO Sue Nallapeta, SVP Engineering (Sue is the most senior engineer and leads the entire engineering organization, and as such, we recommend she be included) Katrina Benjamin, CPO Explanation of issue: we want to ensure accurate representation of the key individuals References supporting change: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lev-finkelstein-280217/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sushmanallapeta/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinabenjamin/

135.180.32.175 (talk) 20:00, 30 July 2021 (UTC)
 * Yellow check.svg Partly done: Thank you for your request. Request 1 was not implemented due to a) being promotional; b) the source not being available. The latter reason is also to blame for rejection of request 2. Lastly, can't use LinkedIn as a source. PK650 (talk) 23:44, 27 October 2021 (UTC)