Question 1

What is Inktrue?

Accepted Answer

Inktrue is a data analysis company. We use machine learning and data science to produce a true rent report that shows both tenants and landlords exactly what the rent for a property should be based on a number of different factors. Our rent analysis reports are built for tenants and landlords alike, and are designed to be the starting point for a data-driven (not too emotional) conversation about rent.

Question 2

Is it really free?

Accepted Answer

Yep, and there are no scams or hidden tricks behind it. No subscription. No card on file. No free trial that turns into a paid subscription down the road. We don't sell your contact information, and running a report doesn't put you on a call list. We are a data science business and provide data analysis services for clients (consulting) and we license our valuation model algorithm. Need help with data analysis? Get in touch and we might be able to assist.

Question 3

How long does it take?

Accepted Answer

The property questionnaire takes about five minutes. You rate the property's condition and identify the features it does and doesn't have. Then the real work happens. We validate your answers, gather the relevant market data, and run everything through the latest model. Most reports are back in less than an hour, unless our servers are unusually busy.

Question 4

Do I need an account?

Accepted Answer

Just an email address. We send you a magic sign-in link, so there's no password to create and no password to forget, and you can request a new link whenever you need to access your dashboard. Your past reports are stored so you can return to them, and you can delete your account at any time.

Question 5

Why does the site change when I switch between Renter and Owner?

Accepted Answer

Only the framing changes. The same report, the same model, the same numbers, presented from the side you're standing on. A renter wants to know whether they're overpaying. An owner wants to know whether they're leaving money on the table. Those are the same question asked from opposite chairs. Nothing is hidden either way. Switch the toggle and you'll see exactly what we say to the other side, and we'd encourage you to. Our guides for renters and owners are both public, and they say compatible things on purpose. We aren't advocating for anyone. The goal is an accurate number, not a favorable one.

Question 6

Can I share the report with my landlord or tenant?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we really hope that you do. The Inktrue report exists to help make leasing conversations easier, and it's designed to be handed over and discussed. We aren't advocating for anyone. We're trying to get everyone to look at the same data.

Question 7

Why is your analysis accurate?

Accepted Answer

We use a data-driven baseline value for the property's market, then layer every individual attribute on top, each one either adding to the value or subtracting from it. From walk score to wifi strength, we measure the things that make a place worth living in, and the things that don't. Each attribute's value is learned from real market data rather than assigned by a fixed rule, so the same feature is worth different amounts in different neighborhoods.

Question 8

Why do you publish your methodology when other tools don't?

Accepted Answer

Because nobody likes being told “because I said so.” Tenants will pay a fair price when they can see it's a fair deal, and landlords stand by their asking rent when they can show why it's justified. Publishing our method means a tenant, an owner, or a third party like a broker or attorney can examine our work. They can even run their own report and see if the market has changed over time. We're confident in what we've built. We're not shy about showing it.

Question 9

Is this an appraisal, or financial advice?

Accepted Answer

No. It's an informational analysis, not legal, financial or real estate advice, and not a substitute for your own due diligence. We take accuracy seriously and we publish our error rate, but no model can observe every circumstance of a particular property or negotiation.

Question 10

What do you do with my data?

Accepted Answer

Two things, neither of which involves selling your personal information. First, property data improves the model. Every report makes the next one more accurate, which is the whole point of building this on real data rather than opinions. Second, we license our ARVM (the Automated Rent Valuation Model we developed) to developers, consultants, and analysts. What we license is an algorithm, not your personal data.

Question 11

Isn’t using AI for rent setting illegal?

Accepted Answer

Landlords using AI and algorithmic software to set rent using nonpublic competitor data is increasingly illegal or restricted under state and local antitrust laws across the US. New York, New Jersey, and California have recently passed laws making certain rent setting AI tools illegal for landlords. Numerous large property management firms have entered into multi-million dollar settlements and agreed to change their rent setting practices. Inktrue prices units using only public market data and verified attributes, never against pooled rent rolls from landlords you might compete with. We offer an independent pricing solution, built to keep you compliant, with a dated record if anyone ever asks.

FAQs