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Startup Offers Web Site On Neighborhood Livability

DETROIT -- A new startup, a graduate of the Bizdom.com incubator, has launched PicketReport.com, a new Web site that answers homebuyers' most important questions about neighborhood livability.

Picket Report provides a free and easy to use map-based Web site that saves homebuyers time and energy by aggregating difficult to find community information and offering in-depth analysis of resident lifestyles, schools, nearby places, and crime and safety statistics.

"People looking for their dream home can now make sure it's also in their dream neighborhood even before driving through," said Bryan Kunka, co-founder and CEO of Picket Report. "We're right at the beginning of home buying season, so house hunters looking to buy their first home or relocate to a new area can use Picket Report to make sure they are choosing the best neighborhood for themselves and their family."

Homebuyers can find general lifestyle details on their future neighbors from education, interests, favorite restaurants or type of car they drive. Picket Report provides users the most up-to-date and accurate information by combing data and statistics from over 300 unique sources, each focused on a specific area of interest.

"Picket Report digs deep to provide answers to the most important questions homeowners ask their realtors; Is the school system good? Are the streets safe? Is it a happening place to live?" said Brian Bandemer, Picket Report co-founder and COO. "Whatever your concern, we provide the answers needed to help alleviate the stress of buying a home."

In addition to their interactive map based Web site, Picket Report licenses their lifestyle data and offers a widget that can be used on any real estate-based website. The widget allows real estate agents to host the neighborhood research tool directly next to a listing, which gives homebuyers lifestyle information on the location of a house, beyond a photo.

Picket Report was founded through a collaborative effort by co-founders Bryan Kunka, Brian Bandemer, and Patrick Misch while attending Bizdom, the Detroit-based entrepreneurial accelerator founded by Dan Gilbert, founder and chairman of Quicken Loans. Non-profit Bizdom is a three-month program giving entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn from professionals with real-world experience, and providing the tools and funding necessary to implement ideas and create startup businesses. A percentage of all Picket Report's proceeds go towards supporting other Detroit-based businesses developed at Bizdom.

For more information, please visit www.picketreport.com

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