Method and Apparatus for Apartment Listings

A method for defining an alert on a mobile device, the method comprising:

• receiving an alert creation signal on the mobile device from a view displaying a map region;
• overlaying the view of the map region with a selection indicator on the mobile device responsive to receiving the alert creation signal, the selection indicator being fixed in position on the display of the mobile device;
• receiving a plurality of map adjustment signals on the mobile device, the map adjustment signals corresponding to inputs to adjust at least one of the position, zoom, and orientation of the map;
• adjusting the view of the map region responsive to the plurality of map adjustment signals using the mobile device, the map changing at least one of position, zoom and orientation within the selection indicator which remains static;
• repeating the receiving the plurality of map adjustment signals and the adjusting the view of the map region until a completion signal is received on the mobile device;
• and
• defining a geographic region for the alert based upon a range of positions on the view of the map within the selection indicator using the mobile device upon receiving the completion signal.

A method for generating and tracking maintenance requests, the method comprising:

• receiving a first social networking update from a first social network on a computer;
• determining if the first social networking update comprises a maintenance request using the computer;
• responsive to the determining, identifying a tenant identity, a landlord identity, and a property identifier using the computer;
• preparing an auxiliary information using the computer, the auxiliary information selected from a set comprising at least two of:
• a plurality of contractor identities to service the request, a response mechanism for a landlord to use in updating a status of the maintenance request, and the tenant identity;
• generating a repair message to the landlord identity, the repair message comprising:
• the property identity, the social networking update, and the auxiliary information;
• and
• tracking the maintenance request by generating a second social networking update on the first social network, the second social networking update indicating that the landlord has been informed of the maintenance request.