Since three St. Thomas students launched Subletcircle.com on April 6, the website already has 50 listings and more than 800 views.

The website offers services for students (subleasers) who are looking for other students (subletters) to take their lease while they’re away, whether it be for the summer or a time abroad. The creators believe their product aims to make finding housing and reliable roommates easier.

In early February, freshmen Aimee Junget, Mariah Neuhauser and sophomore Krista Graff started planning the alternative housing business for their entrepreneurship 200 class. Graff’s concern about finding someone to sublet her apartment while studying abroad sparked the group’s creation: The Sublet Circle.

“I was thinking of ways that I could ease the stress of studying abroad,” Graff said. “I thought it would be nice if we could have a profile for students to make so they can connect with other subleasers.”

Students can personalize their The Sublet Circle profiles, seek potential roommates and find out about the person who may be living in their home while they’re away. Each member of the trio said the personal interaction factor sets them apart from St. Thomas’ own off-campus housing site.

Neuhauser said The Sublet Circle is more personalized than the university’s Off-Campus Student Housing service, and the website requires students to register and submit likes/dislikes. This factor comes in handy for the subleaser’s roommates, who will have to live with the new house member once their old roommate is away.

“It’s less vague and broad than (Off-Campus Student Housing) page, where they don’t really know who they’re living with, whereas our website is like, ‘Hey, I could really connect with this person … I could be their friend,’” Neuhauser said.

Off-Campus Student Services manager Josh Hengemuhle said St. Thomas Off-Campus Student Services’ site offers most things someone looking for housing needs.

“People can post listings whether they’re landlords who rent out the property and manage it themselves or a student looking for a subleaser,” Hengemuhle said. “We even have a section where both on-campus and off-campus students can post information.”

Hengemuhle said the university’s site asks basic questions about smoking and gender, but also includes an open-ended section where students can specifically state what they are looking for in a subletter.

Although the Off-Campus Student Housing site offers some of the same services as The Sublet Circle, Hengemuhle said the student-run site’s focus and “Facebook appeal” could be beneficial to students.

“It looks like it’s certainly a very narrow focus, which could be very good,” Hengemuhle said. “If folks are looking just for that, and they’re not finding it when they’re on our site, then this is great.”

Junget said The Sublet Circle is free for users, and offers a $19.99 upgrade charge for an easier house/roommate searching experience. The proceeds will go towards the three creators and a charity they have yet to choose.

“With the upgrade, you basically just get a more personalized experience where we take a lot of the stress off of you,” Junget said. “You don’t have to be checking profiles everyday, and you don’t have to keep getting information back and forth.”

With this upgraded service, Junget said the trio will take an in depth look at the users and search for posts that fit each’s living style in order alleviate stress.

Freshman Rachel Verbrugge said having The Sublet Circle pick roommates and housing for profit isn’t the best idea.

“To get roommates … you’d have to meet them yourself to see if they’re compatible,” Verbrugge said. “I wouldn’t trust for someone to match me up with someone … especially for that much money.”

Sophomore Alexandra Massart also would rather find her roommates on her own.

“I think the idea is cool, and the website is well laid out. I also think it works for finding an actual house,” Massart said. “As far as having a $19.95 upgrade for the roommate aspect, I wouldn’t go for that. I’d rather pick out my own roommates.”

Sophomore Paul Frekot said he visited the site for the personalization factor and St. Thomas ties. He also trusts the upgrade and its ability to pick roommates and housing.

“I think (the website) would help to find people that you would be OK with living in your house, rather than some random online person … with The Sublet Circle, they know who you are and they keep in mind your interests,” Frekot said.

Alison Bengtson can be reached at beng4632@stthomas.edu.