MARK: Makakahanap Agad ng Rental Kwarto
An
Undergraduate Case Study
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the course
BES 7 Technopreneurship 101
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology
Palawan State University
Isaac E. Fontaron
Cedric A. Galong
Mark Anthony F. Sarong
February 12, 2025
I.​
Overview
MARK: Makakahanap Agad ng Rental Kwarto is an innovative online platform
designed to help relocating students search for affordable, safe, and convenient rental
accommodation/boarding houses with just a click of a button. It offers verified listings,
AI-powered recommendations, and convenient payment systems to eliminate the hassle
and risks of traditional rental searches. MARK also provides a fast and convenient
tenant-choosing function. With a student-focused platform, MARK bridges the gap
between college students and rental owners, creating a stress-free housing experience
for both.
II.​
Problem
The search for affordable and decent rental accommodations has been a long
challenge for students, particularly college students coming from far-flung provinces aiming
to start their academic endeavors and study at known academic institutes to gain an edge
against other undergraduates pursuing their ambitions despite the difficulties of being away
from their families. Rental-house finding is a daunting task of finding safe, affordable, and
convenient housing for students and their families since this process requires countless
sifting through Facebook pages and traveling long distances to inspect potential rentals to
ensure a comfortable and budget-friendly dwelling. In Puerto Princesa, the city in Palawan
with the most universities, the nearest municipality to the south is Aborlan City, while to the
north is Roxas City, which is 68 kilometers and 85 kilometers, respectively. This can be an
exhausting and overwhelming experience for students, especially for visiting for the first time
in an urban area with limited time and a tight budget.
However, there are drawbacks for the rental owner as well. They frequently have
trouble finding trustworthy and qualified tenants, which results in prolonged vacancies and
even damaged homes. Additionally, they have to go through a time-consuming process of
sifting through a large number of potential renters, which leads owners to select the "first
come, first served" option even though they are unaware of the characteristics of their
tenants. A void in the market for a simplified, user-friendly solution results from the absence
of a centralized platform that links students and rental owners.
III.​
Specification
MARK offers an organized and efficient solution to student accommodation
through the integration of a number of innovative elements that address existing issues
faced by students in finding rentals directly. MARK highlights four core solutions: a
verified listing system, AI suggestions, advanced filtering, and a secure payment and
booking system. All these features have an essential role to play in boosting students'
potential in seeking and acquiring secure accommodations in an effective way.
The verified listing system ensures the legitimacy of landlords and properties
listed on MARK. The feature significantly reduces the likelihood of scams and fake
listings, the usual risks associated with generic rental search platforms, such as
Facebook groups and generic listing platforms. Through the mandatory requirement for
landlords to provide verifiable documents and go through the verification process, the
platform establishes an atmosphere of security and confidence among student tenants.
Furthermore, AI-powered suggestions optimize the effectiveness of the process
of finding houses by taking into consideration the preference of the user, budget
constraint, and locality to give customized accommodation recommendations. The
technology component eliminates inefficiency in making students go through scores of
irrelevant listings, instead channeling students to the best-fit rental houses to their
respective needs. Through this, students spare time and energy and receive access to
personalized accommodation solutions.
Moreover, advanced filtering features further enhance the rental search process
by providing students with a mechanism to filter their search in accordance with set
parameters, including price range, locality, and available amenities. Unlike traditional
search processes, which yield high outputs and unstructured results, MARK's filtering
process allows students to easily find accommodations to suit their taste and budget
considerations.
Additionally, the site features a secure payment and booking option that offers
financial protection to both landlords and tenants. Students can book and pay directly on
the app or site, thus minimizing the risk of financial scams and ensuring proper
documentation of transactions. This feature fosters trust among students and their
parents, especially for those renting from distant locations where physical payment may
be cumbersome.\n
Lastly, a key element of MARK is its peer review and rating system. By having a
platform where students can post comments regarding their rental experience, the site
guarantees transparency and accountability among landlords. Potential renters can
make informed decisions based on their peers' experiences, thus minimizing the risk of
encountering false property descriptions or bad living conditions.
In conclusion, through the application of these features, MARK significantly
reduces inefficiencies in traditional rental search processes, creating a safer, more
reliable, and user-friendly housing market for students. The integration of verified
listings, artificial intelligence-driven search features, customizable filtering, secure
transactions, and peer reviews guarantees that students are offered the best available
accommodations while minimizing the usual risks and inconveniences of the rental
process.
IV.​
Target Audience
Finding a safe and affordable place to live near school or institution can be
stressful especially for students moving away from their home just to study. That’s why
we created MARK to make the search easier, safer, and more convenient. With verified
listings, students don’t have to worry about scams or fake rentals. Our AI-powered
suggestions and advanced filtering help match students with the best options based on
their budget, location, and preference so they don’t waste time scrolling through endless
listings. Plus, our secure payment and booking system ensures every transaction is safe
which gives students and their families peace of mind. And with peer reviews, they can
hear directly from other students about their rental experiences before making a
decision. MARK takes the stress out of house-hunting so students can focus on what
really matters, settling into a home that feels right for them and succeeding in their
studies.
For rental owners, finding reliable tenants can be challenging. That’s why we
create MARK. Our platform connects with landlords to verified student renters which
makes it easier to find trustworthy tenants without the hassle of endless screenings. With
our secure payments and bookings, landlords don’t have to worry about the safety of
their every transaction because MARK will properly document and protect all
transactions made within the business. Plus, our peer review system will help build a
strong reputation, making it easier to attract more tenants in the future. MARK isn’t just
about filling rooms; it’s about creating a smooth, stress-free rental experience where
landlords and students both benefit.
V.​
Revenue
MARK runs on a diversified revenue model that includes commission-based
transactions, subscription plans, and advertisement space. Each of these channels of
revenue is crucial to the financial sustainability and scalability of the platform while being
affordable to students.
The commission-based model is the main source of revenue, which involves a
small service fee charged on each successful booking made on the platform. This model
facilitates the financial interests of both the students and the landlords by ensuring that
students are not burdened with high costs while, at the same time, enabling MARK to
generate stable revenues. By charging the fee on successful transactions alone, the
platform aligns the financial interests of both the landlords and students.
Subscription plans for landlords are another source of revenue, which allows the
owners of property to invest in premium listings that increase their visibility on the
platform. Landlords opting for such plans benefit from enhanced exposure to potential
student tenants, leading to higher occupancy levels. These premium listings can be
complemented with highlighted property descriptions, priority search ranking, and other
marketing tools that increase their rental success.
Additionally, advertising revenue subsidizes the platform by enabling local
businesses to offer their services to students. Local businesses like laundromats,
restaurants, and internet service providers can post targeted advertisements on MARK,
thus ensuring access to necessary services for students while, at the same time,
generating revenue for the platform. This approach not only enhances the student
experience by getting them connected to relevant local services but also enables a
mutually beneficial relationship between MARK and the local services serving the needs
of students.
Overall, the application of these revenue strategies by MARK guarantees
financial viability with a low-cost and safe renting experience for students. The addition
of commission fees, subscription for landlords, and focused advertising results in an
end-to-end revenue model that serves the interests of all stakeholders in the student
housing market.
VI.​
Differentiation
Feature
Verified Listings
Student-Focused
Secure Booking
AI-Powered Search
Student Reviews
Facebook Groups
Generic Rental Sites
Our Solution
❌ NO
❌ NO
❌ NO
❌ NO
❌ NO
⚠️ SOME
❌ NO
⚠️ SOME
⚠️ SOME
❌ NO
✅ YES
✅ 100%
✅ YES!!
✅ ADVANCED
✅ YES
MARK makes finding a house for students easier, safer, and stress-free compared to
the usual hassle of searching through Facebook groups or going door to door with rental
places. Unlike other platforms that leave students to deal with unverified listings and
potential scams, MARK ensures that every rental is legit and secure, so students can search
with confidence. Since MARK is built specifically for students, it focuses on what truly
matters for students: affordability, convenience, and safety helping them find the best places
to live near their schools.
Instead of spending hours scrolling through many platforms, students can
use
MARK’s AI-powered search to find personalized recommendations based on their budget,
location, and preferences. The platform also makes the rental process more secure with a
safe booking and payment system that protects both students and landlords from fraud.
Plus, with the student reviews system, renters can learn from the experiences of others and
make informed choices no more guessing if a place is as good as it looks in photos.
With verified listings, student-focused features, smart recommendations, secure
transactions, and honest reviews, MARK takes the stress out of finding housing which
makes sure students can focus on their studies instead of worrying about where to live.
VII.​
Conclusion
Finding a safe and affordable place to live can be stressful especially for students
who are moving away from home. MARK makes this process easier by offering a secure and
student-friendly rental platform. With verified listings, smart recommendations, and advanced
filters, students can quickly find a place that fits their needs without worrying about scams or
endless searching. MARK's secure booking and peer review system allows students to have
peace of mind which ensures they can find a place to live without worrying about scams or
unreliable rentals. It also makes things easier for landlords by connecting them with
trustworthy tenants and reducing the hassle of vacant rooms. With a smoother, more reliable
process for both sides, MARK isn’t just another rental site, it’s a smarter, safer, and
stress-free way for students to find a home they can feel comfortable in.