How does the FuffaScore work?

Finally a way to distinguish serious landlords from time-wasters.

If you've ever searched for housing in Milan Facebook groups, you know the frustration.

"Nice room near the Hospital! Contact for info!"
"Single room available. DM for details."
"Room for rent. Message me privately."

Great. But how much does it cost? Where exactly is it located? Who are you?

We created the FuffaScore to solve this problem.

What is the FuffaScore?

The FuffaScore is our proprietary algorithm that rates each listing from 0 to 100 based on how much concrete information it contains.

0-30 = High quality. Clear details, specific contacts, transparent prices.

31-60 = Medium quality. Some missing information, but manageable.

61-100 = High fluff. Vague, incomplete, probably a waste of time.

Think of it as a fluff detector for real estate listings.

How It Works

Our algorithm analyzes dozens of signals in each listing to determine the quality score. Here's what we look for:

🚩 Negative Signals (Increase the FuffaScore)

Missing Critical Information

  • No price mentioned? +25 points. If someone doesn't tell you the price upfront, it's the most serious signal.
  • No specific location? +15 points. "Near the university" can mean anything.
  • No property details? +10 points. Is it furnished? Does it have a bathroom? Basic things.

Vague Contact Information

  • Says only "contact me privately" or "DM for info"? +15 points.
  • No phone number in a rental listing? +10 points. Serious landlords include contact details.

Suspiciously Incomplete

  • Post under 100 characters? +10 points. If you can't spend 30 seconds describing your rental, we're skeptical.
  • Anonymous poster? +5 points. Not always a problem, but contributes to the fluff factor.
  • 200€/month for a luxury apartment with private bathroom? +8 points. Too good to be true usually is.

✅ Quality Signals (Decrease the FuffaScore)

Clear Contact Information

  • Phone number provided? -10 points. This is what serious landlords do.
  • Named landlord (not "Anonymous Participant") with phone? -5 extra points. Credibility matters.

Detailed Property Information

  • Specific street address? -5 points.
  • Detailed amenities list (over 50 characters)? -5 points. Shows commitment and transparency.
  • Distances from both university AND hospital? -3 points. You actually measured this. We appreciate it.

Professional Presentation

  • Clear availability dates (both start and end)? -3 points. Shows you're organized and serious.

Real Examples from Our Database

FuffaScore: 12 ✨

"Single room on via Amendola, €350/month excluding utilities. First floor with elevator, balcony, independent heating. 2 steps from Campus, 10 min from station. Tel. 368 334 7395"

What makes it good:

Exact price
Specific street
Listed features
Clear distances
Phone number
Professional tone
FuffaScore: 44 😐

"Room for rent for female student in Hospital area. House with two other girls. Write me for info."

What's missing:

No price
No specific address
Vague contact ("write me")
Minimal details
FuffaScore: 78 🚫

"Room available. For info contact me privately."

Why high score:

No price
No location
No property details
No contact information
Only 8 words total
Maximum vagueness

This is basically "I have a thing, ask me about the thing." Not helpful.

Why does it matter?

For Tenants: Stop wasting time with vague listings that lead nowhere. Filter by FuffaScore and focus on serious landlords who respect your time.

For Landlords: A low FuffaScore helps your listing stand out. Include clear information and you'll attract better tenants faster.

For Everyone: Better listings mean better matches. Less frustration, less back and forth, more real rentals that materialize.

The Math

Our algorithm considers:

  • Information Completeness: Do we have price, location, contacts, property details?
  • Contact Quality: Phone number vs. "DM me" vs. nothing
  • Credibility Signals: Named landlord, specific address, detailed descriptions
  • Warning Signals: Too cheap, too vague, too short, anonymous

The weights are calibrated on thousands of real listings from Milan Facebook groups. We know what separates listings that lead to real rentals from those that waste everyone's time.

What We're NOT Saying

The FuffaScore doesn't mean a listing is a scam. A score of 70 doesn't mean the landlord is dishonest—it just means they haven't provided enough information yet.

Some legitimate landlords prefer privacy and want to chat before sharing details. That's fine! But from a tenant's perspective, incomplete listings require more work and risk.

Start Using the FuffaScore Today

Every listing on MilanoRentals.com shows its FuffaScore. Use it to:

  1. Sort listings by quality score
  2. Filter out high-fluff posts
  3. Prioritize your time on complete and credible listings


Have suggestions to improve the FuffaScore? Write us with your ideas.