Realtor Verifier
This app connects homebuyers, sellers, and investors with realtors based on their specific goals.
Product Experience
Problem Space
Problem Statement
How might home buyers, sellers, and investors find a simple way to see proof of how experienced a realtor is so that can easily connect with them.
Problem Background
The goal of Realtor Verifier as a social platform is to facilitate homebuyers, sellers, and investors in finding suitable agents aligned with their goals, showcasing evidence of the agents' expertise and experience to achieve clients' objectives.
With over 2.1 million active realtors nationwide many agents pretend they’re selling a home when in reality they are taking credit for another realtor's work and promoting it on their social media. This is a problem because many clients have lost money on the table when it comes to selling their home and negotiating credit.
Research Insights
User Pain Points
Conducted a survey to obtain initial user data with regards to connecting with the right realtor. To address this problem effectively the questions were focused on finding the right realtor. In the research, it was found that about 64% of potential clients find realtors from word to mouth. It was also found that 32% of clients find their realtors on social media. 46% said they were satisfied with their realtor and 54% said they should have interviewed more agents.
These findings confirmed that clients do want to connect with more realtors before making a final decision.
Feedback
Our user research validated this problem because this survey was sent out to homeowners, past home sellers and investors. Past homesellers mentioned that who they use as a realtor significantly depends on factors like location, market conditions and personal preference. 72% said they would use an app to find verified realtors and analyze their profile to see if they fit their needs.
Landing on the Solution
Based on the pain points of our potential users it was identified that the main pain point for most clients was finding the right realtor and going into the process reassured.
After we showcased our prototype to the users, we learned that clients would be all over this app if they knew about it before starting their real estate venture.
Future Steps
I plan to take my experience and lessons learned with this project to develop a new product with a team of designers and engineers. If in the future I am at a point where I have the time and resources to fully execute this, this is definitely a product I would enjoy developing and bringing to life.
Learnings
Product Manager Learnings:
Fernando Vargas
As a product manager it is important to focus on defining a problem space that is focused on one problem. And though the solution space should be explored with your team, it is also important to have a focused approach of how the solution will be executed. I also learned that developing personas is crucial to envisioning how your product will be used. I also learned that defining quantitative metrics and milestones are crucial for developing a MVP. With quantitative metrics, it is easier to prove and monitor how your product is making a realistic impact in the world and with its users. These metrics tied back to both user and market research are what ultimately help define the product’s success and guide its potential growth.
Designer Learnings:
Designer Learnings:
Jo Sturdivant
- Adapting to an Established Team: Joining the team in week 6 of 8 was challenging, as I had to quickly adapt to existing workflows, dynamics, and goals. This mirrors real-world situations where you often integrate into teams mid-project, and flexibility is essential.
- Work-Blocking for Efficiency: With only two weeks to complete the project, I learned the importance of a structured work-blocking system. This approach allowed me to manage my time effectively and meet deadlines under pressure.
- Making Data-Driven Design Decisions: Unlike my past projects, I had to rely on research conducted by others. This was a valuable experience in using pre-existing data to guide design decisions, helping me focus on the core insights without starting from scratch.
Developer Learnings:
Developer Learnings:
Vanady Beard
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As the back-end developer, I learned how important it is to create efficient and reliable systems that support the entire application. This experience also taught me the importance of optimising the database and ensuring the backend is scalable and easy to maintain.
Developer Learnings:
Stephen Asiedu
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As a back-end developer, I've come to understand the importance of being familiar with various database systems and modules. This knowledge enables me to build diverse applications and maintain versatility in my work. I've also learned that the responsibility for making the right choices rests on my shoulders, guided by my best judgement.
Developer Learnings:
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Developer Learnings:
Maurquise Williams
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- Process of Creating an MVP: Developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) taught me how to focus on delivering core functionalities balancing between essential features and avoiding scope creep.
- Collaboration in a Real-World Tech Setting: This experience taught me how to collaborate efficiently in a fast-paced tech environment, keeping the team aligned and productive, even while working remotely across time zones.
- Sharpening Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: This experience honed my ability to think critically and solve problems efficiently. By tackling challenges and finding quick solutions, I sharpened my decision-making and troubleshooting skills in a dynamic, real-world setting.
Developer Learnings:
Jeremiah Williams
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All in all this experience was very awesome I learned that in coding with others being transparent is key
Developers Learnings:
Justin Farley
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I learned how important communication is when working with a team. Communication provides understanding, advice, ideas, and much more. While working with the product team, I’ve found that communication keeps everything flowing smoothly. Working with a team also showed me that every member brings something different to the table and we all have to work together in order to align and meet our end goal.