Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Rava.
Matthew, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
The year was 2016, and I was struggling to find the right apartment in a massive sea of options. Online listings were out of date with inaccurate information. Apartments had different specials that changed almost daily. And despite my I’ll-do-it-myself attitude, I could never seem to find the perfect place no matter how hard I looked. Feeling fed-up and overwhelmed, I reached out to several realtors who specialized in apartment locating.
It seemed like a better idea to let someone else help me who knew the area well. But unfortunately, those realtors either never followed up with me, completely dropped the ball halfway through my search, or only sent me properties that paid them the most commission. I felt like I was wasting my time rather than being helped out.
I was determined to create a best-in-class experience for Dallas renters that truly personalized the apartment search and made the process fun and simple from start to finish. So I got my realtor’s license and founded BudaSpace Apartment Locating in early 2017. The name was a blend of a made-up word inspired by zen and peace, Buda, and the word ‘space’, which I was helping people find. BudaSpace OR PeacefulSpace when translated. I thought I was a genius wordsmith.
Business started off great, but I consistently received feedback that my name was confusing. No one understood my (what I thought to be) very cool name.
In 2018, I re-branded my company, taught myself how to design a website the way I wanted it to look, and Neighbors was born. We still have the same great mission – to help renters everywhere find the best apartments for their lifestyle at the best possible price within their budget.
To date, our team has grown to serve the entire state of Texas, and we have helped hundreds of renters find their perfect apartment home. Whenever someone new comes to our site, I feel excited for the opportunity to help others who are in the same trenches of frustration that I found myself in years ago. We’re in the business of helping others, and it feels great!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it hasn’t always been a smooth ride. For starters, my business name was weird when I first launched the company. Check my answer to the previous question for reference. I had to realize that a name really is important and helps people associate what your business is all about.
Beyond the name, apartment locating in the Dallas area is highly competitive. We’ve had to battle the bigger fish, and we haven’t always won. I often remind myself that it’s a marathon not a sprint. Our customer service and overall experience is what keeps customers coming back and referral business coming in. Over time, we’ve grown bigger and faster than I ever imagined. It makes me so happy to know that our experience far exceeds the competition.
Neighbors – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Neighbors is an apartment locating company servicing the entire state of Texas. We help people find their dream apartment by providing hyper-personalized matches based on their lifestyle, budget, wishlist of needs, and location preferences.
Our service is 100% FREE to use! We get paid a commission by the apartment properties everytime we help them fill vacant units. We work closely with our property partners to negotiate great deals on rent, and we pass those savings onto our clients.
Other apartment locators or services will only send over apartment options that financially benefit them the most, i.e., properties that pay the highest commission.
At Neighbors, we have no hidden agenda. We truly care about the renter. We know firsthand how difficult it is to find the right place when new apartments are popping up left and right. Our team gets to know you and shares only the best possible matches for YOU, not the other way around.
We don’t stop at the initial apartment search either. We help you schedule tours, sign the lease, find movers, setup utilities, and anything else required to help your move-in experience go flawlessly.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment of my career has been hearing from happy customers once they’ve moved into their new apartment.
We’ve helped out-of-towners make Dallas a home. We’ve helped couples find their first place together. We’ve helped new parents find a cozy, comfortable space to raise their first child. We’ve helped college students find the coolest pad for studying, partying and everything in between. And we’ve even helped retirees find a quiet place in the hustle and bustle of the city.
On a personal level, starting my own business has allowed me more time to visit family, play with my pups, travel and reconnect with hobbies that bring me joy – like reading and hiking.
Every step of this journey has been rewarding, and I look forward to serving Texas and beyond for years to come.
Pricing:
- Our service is 100% FREE for renters to use!
- Earn up to $500 cash back when you sign a lease!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tryneighbors.com/
- Phone: 972-244-7038
- Email: matt@tryneighbors.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neighborsapts/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neighborsapts/
Image Credit:
Neighbors Apartment Locating
Suggest a story: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
