Case study: Uproots – Redesigning the Rental Market Experience
Uproots is an innovative platform designed to streamline the rental market for both renters and property agents. Unlike traditional property listing websites, Uproots focuses solely on the rental market, providing an end-to-end experience for users. The platform allows users to search, view, make offers, and complete rental agreements all in one app, simplifying the process for both renters and agents. This case study explores the design process behind Uproots, focusing on how we crafted an intuitive, user-centric experience for both parties.
Project Goals:
For Renters: Enable users to seamlessly search, find, and view rental properties. Provide a smooth process for making offers and completing paperwork directly within the app.
For Agents: Create an easy-to-use platform for agents to list properties, manage offers, and complete rental agreements on behalf of landlords.
End-to-End Journey: Ensure both renters and agents have a seamless and efficient experience, from the initial property search to completing the rental agreement.
Challenges:
Dual User Base: Designing a platform that catered to two distinct user groups (renters and agents) with differing needs and objectives.
Simplifying Complex Processes: Condensing the traditionally complex rental process—including search, offers, negotiations, and paperwork—into an intuitive, single-platform experience.
Building Trust and Transparency: Ensuring clear communication and transparency between renters and agents to foster trust, particularly during negotiations and signing agreements.
Research & Discovery:
We began by conducting user research, focusing on the pain points of both renters and agents in the current rental market:
For Renters: Lengthy processes, unclear property details, difficulty contacting agents, and cumbersome paperwork were key challenges.
For Agents: Managing multiple listings, dealing with numerous inquiries, and coordinating offers with landlords were time-consuming tasks that often lacked efficiency.
Our findings indicated a strong need for a streamlined experience that could centralize the process, allowing renters and agents to interact more efficiently and complete transactions quickly.
Design Process:
1. User Journey Mapping:
We created detailed user journey maps for both renters and agents to visualize the flow from start to finish. For renters, the journey began with browsing listings and ended with digitally signing the lease. For agents, the journey started with creating listings and included managing offers, communicating with renters, and finalising rental agreements.
This journey map highlighted key touchpoints, ensuring we addressed potential bottlenecks and frustrations for both users.
2. Wireframes & Prototyping:
Using the journey maps, we developed low-fidelity wireframes to outline the core flows for each user type:
Renters: Focused on ease of search with filters for location, budget, and amenities. Once a property is selected, users can view detailed listings, schedule virtual or in-person viewings, make offers, and complete the paperwork—all within the app.
Agents: Created a dashboard for managing property listings, viewing incoming offers, and interacting with renters. Agents can approve offers, negotiate, and send rental agreements electronically, streamlining the administrative tasks.
These wireframes were turned into interactive prototypes to test with users and gather feedback.
3. Iterative Design & Testing:
Through multiple rounds of testing, we fine-tuned the design to ensure usability and smooth navigation:
Search & Filters: Renters wanted more control over filtering results, so we added advanced search options and personalized property recommendations based on past searches.
Offer System: Renters appreciated the ability to make offers directly through the app, while agents required a clear view of all incoming offers. We implemented a negotiation feature that allowed back-and-forth discussions in-app, reducing the need for external communication.
Paperwork Automation: Both user groups valued the ability to digitally sign and submit documents within the app. We focused on simplifying legal documentation with clear, step-by-step guidance for renters, reducing the chances of errors.
A user journey map to making an offer for a rental property
Final Solution:
For Renters:
Intuitive Property Search: Users can search for rental properties using detailed filters such as price range, location, size, and amenities. The search results display high-quality images, video tours, and detailed descriptions.
In-App Viewings: Users can schedule viewings directly through the app, with options for in-person or virtual tours.
Offer Submission & Negotiation: Renters can make offers and negotiate rental terms through a built-in messaging feature, ensuring transparency and convenience.
Digital Paperwork & Signing: Once an offer is accepted, all rental agreements and paperwork can be completed within the app, allowing for a paperless, streamlined process.
For Agents:
Property Management Dashboard: Agents can easily upload and manage property listings, track offers, and respond to inquiries from a single dashboard.
Offer Management: The system automatically organises offers, allowing agents to review and respond efficiently. The app also facilitates communication between agents and renters during the negotiation process.
Automated Paperwork: Once an agreement is reached, agents can send contracts directly through the app for renters to sign electronically, saving time on administrative tasks.
Design Features:
Clean and Simple UI: A modern, clean interface that prioritizes usability, making it easy for users to navigate through searches, offers, and paperwork.
Responsive Design: The app is fully responsive, ensuring a seamless experience across mobile devices and tablets, perfect for users on the go.
Secure Transactions: Uproots uses secure encryption to handle sensitive transactions like making offers and signing rental agreements, building trust and confidence in the platform.
A screen from the live product applying filters to customise search results