INTRODUCTION TO PROJECT
The real estate industry is bogged down by high commissions and complex, opaque processes. My goal was to challenge this model by creating Save On Brokerage, a platform that simplifies home buying and selling and empowers users to save money. This MVP aimed to prove a simple, cost-effective, and transparent alternative was not only possible but desirable.
PROBLEM SPACE
The traditional real estate process is burdened by inefficiencies. Buyers and sellers struggle with non-verified leads, no direct communication channels, and a heavy reliance on brokers to initiate and finalize deals. This not only creates delays and mistrust but also results in significantly high brokerage fees, leaving both parties feeling disconnected and disempowered.
PROJECT TIMELINE
I divided the project and structured it across six distinct phases.
PROCESS
Discovery Phase
1. Overview of the Discovery Phase
2.Conducted User Research
To truly understand user needs and validate market assumptions, a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods was employed:
User Personas
Leveraging my research, I identified two distinct user persona that capture the unique challenges faced by the real estate market. This approach allowed me to detail the specific problems each segment encounters and foster a deeper understanding and empathy, ensuring addresses their needs effectively.
Impact-Effort Matrix
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
To ensure a seamless and intuitive user experience, I structured the navigation to prioritize clarity, accessibility, and ease of use.
LOW FI WIREFRAME
With fundamental concepts sketched out some low fi-wireframes that helped me to identify key elements.
MID FI WIREFRAME
HIGH FI WIREFRAME
TESTING AND ITERATION
After reviewing and getting the user feedback I changed few elements and color schemes for home page.
To assess the impact of my design improvements, I conducted several rounds of user testing and iterated based on the qualitative insights gathered. I refined the home page by standardizing the color scheme to ensure consistency with the brand identity and removed unwanted, distracting hues. Additionally, I revamped the navigation menu to enhance clarity and ease of use while eliminating unnecessary information that previously cluttered the interface. These targeted changes resulted in a cleaner, more intuitive user experience that aligned with both user expectations and best design practices.
KEY LEARNINGS & TAKEAWAY
Throughout this process, I learned the importance of designing components correctly from the beginning rather than retrofitting them later this approach not only minimizes extensive revisions but also streamlines the overall workflow. I also discovered the immense value of engaging continuously with stakeholders to provide optimal solutions rather than simply adhering to their initial ideas. For instance, when the client proposed using a hamburger menu to reveal additional pages that had not yet been defined, I suggested removing it to maintain a clean, focused interface, and I recommended avoiding distracting elements like gradient backgrounds that didn’t align with the brand’s identity. Overall, this experience reinforced that consistent stakeholder communication and proactive feedback exchange are key to achieving a user-centric and efficient design.
