Sorry, I just don't see this as a big need. I mean looking for an apartment at the going rate is inconvenient, but I just don't see why the startup ecosystem should support yet another variant on this.
Here's my algorithm for looking for an apartment.
1) If I want to rent in a major, professionally managed building, just take one weekend and drive around the area I would like to live in. Honestly, it's old fashioned, but you're going to need to do this at some point.
2) If I am interested in renting from a small scale landlord or just renting a room then I use CL (and so apparently do all the startups in this space).
The apartment market is pretty darned efficient. If you think you've got a bargain, just wait. Maybe it will be mold, or noisy plumbing or bad neighbors, but whatever it is a problem will arise that will teach you just how efficient markets can be.
I just don't see the need for yet another apartment search site. Would it be nice? Sure. But would it solve a major pressing pain point? At least not for me and probably not for enough people that the business can get paid by users or advertisers and create a sustainable business model.
Now I do think the way we rent is fundamentally broken, but that's a business model problem that needs to address a broad set of pain points of renters and landlords.
For example, I think there are a lot of people in this economy who should be renting rooms out, but aren't (e.g. if you're unemployed and relying on my tax dollars to fund you AND you have a 4 bedroom house in a large MSA - maybe look into getting rid of some of your junk and monetizing your square footage).
Now if you're still reading this, you're probably coming up with a lot of reasons why someone just can't rent some of the excess square footage in their house. Now come up with a business model that honestly addresses all those reasons, then execute that model. Then get rich. Thanks.
some potential solutions: better screening of applicants, semi-co-housing like solutions, helping homeowners move out of unnecessarily large homes and downsizing to smaller residences while renting out their former residences (could be useful for retirees who aren't willing to sell in this market, but want to downsize), help families set up au pair arrangements where part of the rent is paid for in services (this could alleviate the concerns of families with children who want to rent out a room, but are worried because they have kids). Bottom line - Americans have WAY too much square footage plus there's an emerging trend toward more minimalistic downsized lifestyles both for economic and cultural reasons. I don't know of any business that is helping people monetize their square footage.
If you've got any ideas+skills contact me and maybe I can help you raise some money.