1. Main Objective
Streamline communication and document management between landlords, tenants, and rental agencies to reduce fraud risks and simplify administrative tasks.
2. Context and Problem
- Identified Issues: Many landlords and tenants are overwhelmed by paperwork and verification steps, and the market faces a high number of fraudulent listings.
- User Needs: Provide a secure and simplified document management solution for rentals to enhance trust and efficiency in the sector.
3. User Research
- Methods: Qualitative interviews with tenants, landlords, and agencies; analysis of user feedback on other rental platforms.
- Key Insight: Users seek a solution that ensures document authenticity and enables fast, secure exchanges without burdensome administrative steps.
4. Design Strategy
Proposed an API and intuitive platform for rental management:
- Document Verification and Authentication – A feature that verifies the authenticity of documents (ID, payslips, etc.) to prevent scams and build trust.
- Landlord-Tenant Management Space – A dedicated area for storing, sharing, and signing documents, accessible to agencies and individuals alike.
- Automated Administrative Tasks – Automations to remind users of deadlines, contract renewals, and other key tasks to streamline rental management.
5. Development and Prototyping
- Designed interfaces in Figma for a smooth and simplified user journey.
- Conducted user testing on each version to validate usability and adjust flows based on feedback.
- Test Results: 85% of users found the platform made their processes easier, particularly in document management and e-signatures.
6. Results and Learnings
- Outcome: Homate reduced document processing time by 30%, and user feedback showed a notable increase in satisfaction.
- Learning: Incorporating document verification and automation features directly addressed the needs for security and simplicity in the rental market.