Name of your website?DepositLaw - Chicago Renters Rights
Your name?
Mark A Silverman
Your Location (city, etc)
Chicago
Short summary
Chicago renters have powerful rights, and their landlords might owe them money. The Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance may entitle renters of most apartments, condo units, and single-family homes to damages equal to double their full security deposit, two-months' rent, or more. Plus costs and attorney fees. Tenants have nothing to lose by submitting a free case review email to Depositlaw.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
Before becoming a lawyer, my two college roommates and I were evicted from our Wisconsin apartment. I counter-sued the landlord under local Madison, Wisconsin law and recovered double our $1000 security deposit, or $2000, because the landlord failed to comply with a 21-day requirement for deposit withholding accounting. I have felt since then that tenants need to know their rental rights, because they might need to use them.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
November 2005, DepositLaw.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
Most clients have security deposits withheld and that's why they start looking for a lawyer. I represent very few people who have been evicted, because admittedly my roommates and I were bad clients. I always advise every renter to pay their rent, all the time. So security deposit withholding is the most popular catalyst to tenants seeking a lawyer, and that's why I called the site DepositLaw.
What makes it different from other, similar offerings?
I offer the full text of the Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance as well as both the Illinois Security Deposit Return Act and Interest Act. Then I go further, and provide the full text of the Illinois Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, which is a resource no others practicing in my field rely on for leverage in landlord-tenant disputes.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
To keep it. It is a vehicle to spread the word about Chicago and Illinois renters rights. This is the will of the legislatures, the Illinois General Assembly and the Chicago City Council. The site does also introduce some new clients to me.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
Positive relationship.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
Google ad-words
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
Of course.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
Very few related to DepositLaw.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Attending to all the inquiries requesting free advice
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Time & Postcards
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
Easier
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
2 years, expected to last until servers meltdown and time ends
What is your website address?
DepositLaw - Chicago Renters Rights
