Adam Freitag and Thomas Lyles, seniors at UT, have created a new online apartment guide for Knoxville called KnoxDigs.  Freitag, an advertising major and Lyles, an aerospace engineering major, also created VOLMenus with another UT student, Aaron Camp. Despite their busy schedules with school and the business, the students still have time to play.

We work hard and play hard.Thomas Lyles, co-founder of KnoxDigs

KnoxDigs website gives apartment shoppers an in-depth look at apartments in the Knoxville area. Freitag and Lyles work with the apartment complexes to compile their information.

"Usually when you look at places, you see a resort-style picture," Freitag said.

Freitag and Lyles take their own pictures of the apartments so viewers can see what the place truly looks like.

The site can be easily searched either by region or alphabetically. A highlight of KnoxDigs is the review section. Shoppers can post their own reviews of apartments and read what renters have to say before they make their choice to move in. The site also provides a free classifieds section so viewers can post houses and apartments to rent or sublease at no charge.

The UT students came up with the idea after the success of VOLMenus. They said that while looking for an apartment they found no real in-depth and easy guide for apartments in Knoxville.

VOLmenus, Freitag and Lyles' first site, lists restaurants and bars in Knoxville. It shows restaurant specials and deals. VOLmenus also allows people to order online. The students want faculty and students to think of VOLmenus when they decide to eat out.

Freitag and Lyles have also established Nextep Advertising, an internet advertising firm.

"It was a lot of paper work," said Lyles.

Both students are pleased with their businesses and say their ventures pay the bills while providing some spending money.