Role

UI/UX Design
Research
Branding
Design System

Duration
6 Months

Deliverables
High-fidelity Mockups
User Research

Tools
Figma, FigJam, Adobe CC
Google Meet & Docs, Notion

Avada is an innovative property tech app designed to address the challenges faced by individuals seeking rental properties in Nigeria. The app’s primary focus is to connect property owners and potential tenants directly, cutting out the need for traditional real estate agents and their hefty commissions. The vision behind Avada is to empower users with a user-friendly, trustworthy, and cost-effective platform to simplify their property search.

In today’s fast-paced world, finding a suitable rental property can be a daunting task, especially in a bustling city like Lagos, Nigeria. The process often involves dealing with agents, facing fraud risks, encountering unverified listings, and bearing the burden of high agent commissions. This case study delves into the journey of developing “Avada,” a revolutionary property tech solution aimed at streamlining the property acquisition and rental process while eliminating intermediaries and reducing costs for renters in Nigeria.

The inception of Avada stems from a personal experience. I had a terrible encounter when I relocated to Lagos. The process of finding a suitable rental apartment was filled with frustrations due to unscrupulous agents, fake listings, and exorbitant commission fees. This arduous journey ignited the spark to develop a solution that could revolutionize the real estate industry in Nigeria.

The User Problem:

Real estate transactions are expensive and time-consuming due to the involvement of real estate agents, who typically charge a commission fee of 30-50% of the property value. This high commission fee increases the cost of property acquisition for buyers and tenants alike and reduces the amount sellers and property owners receive from the sale. Furthermore, real estate agents may not always act in the best interest of the buyer or seller, leading to conflicts of interest and mistrust.

I embarked on a thorough and meticulous process to understand the existing challenges faced by property owners and potential tenants starting in Lagos, Nigeria. The primary objective was to gain valuable knowledge and data that could guide the creation of a solution catering to the specific needs of the target market.

To begin with, I conducted in-depth surveys and interviews with various stakeholders, including property owners, renters, real estate agents, and property managers. These interactions provided firsthand accounts of the pain points experienced by individuals involved in the property rental process. Participants shared their struggles, concerns, and frustrations, ranging from unreliable agents and false property listings to the difficulty of finding trustworthy tenants.

In addition to direct engagements, I also analyzed relevant data and market trends in the real estate industry. I studied the rental prices, demand-supply dynamics, and geographical preferences in Lagos. By analyzing this data, patterns and insights emerged, shedding light on the most sought-after locations, prevalent rental rates, and the types of properties in high demand.

Furthermore, I explored online forums, social media platforms, and customer reviews related to property rental experiences in Lagos. This exercise helped to gauge the sentiment of the target audience and identify recurring themes in their feedback.

By delving into the lives, goals, and behaviors of our users, we aim to tailor Avada’s features to seamlessly align with the unique expectations of both property owners and tenants. These user personas embody the essence of the individuals who will navigate the Avada platform, ensuring that their experiences are not just intuitive but transformative. Let us embark on a journey to meet the protagonists of Avada’s narrative—the tenants, property owners, and agents who will shape the future of real estate transactions.

Each persona encapsulates the goals, challenges, behaviors, and tech-savviness of these key stakeholders. As we delve into their stories, we gain valuable insights that illuminate the design decisions behind Avada, ensuring that every feature resonates with the diverse needs of our users. These personas serve as the foundation for a user-centered approach, propelling Avada to redefine the realm of real estate transactions.

I engaged in a comprehensive analysis of existing solutions and platforms within the real estate market. The primary aim was to identify competitors, understand their offerings, and explore areas where Avada could differentiate itself to provide a unique value proposition to its target audience in Lagos, Nigeria.

To begin the exploration process, the I conducted an extensive review of various property tech apps, online rental platforms, and real estate websites already operating in the Nigerian market. I assessed each platform’s features, user experience, and strengths and weaknesses. This analysis enabled me gain valuable insights into the competitive landscape and understand what aspects were already successfully meeting the needs of property owners and renters.

Through this exploration, I discovered that most existing platforms focused primarily on connecting real estate agents with potential tenants. While these platforms provided an avenue to explore property listings, they didn’t necessarily address the issue of trust and transparency, which were essential factors in the Nigerian property rental market.

Furthermore, I observed a lack of innovative features in the existing platforms. This presented an opportunity for Avada to introduce unique functionalities that would set it apart from the competition and cater to the specific pain points identified during the “Gathering Insights” phase.

One of the most significant discoveries during this exploration was the absence of an algorithm-based tenancy application module in the market. Recognizing this gap, I saw an opportunity to create a groundbreaking feature that would evaluate potential tenants based on various criteria, such as credit score, rental history, and employment status. This algorithm would not only expedite the application process for tenants but also enable property owners to make more informed decisions when selecting tenants.

One of the most interesting Insights was the revelation that none of the explored local alternatives or international real estate websites offered an algorithm-based tenancy application module. This particular feature became a game-changer for Avada. I realized that potential tenants would face uncertainty and anxiety when applying for rental properties, not knowing whether their application would be successful. By introducing an algorithm-based module, Avada could predict the likelihood of a tenant’s application being accepted based on various factors such as credit score, rental history, and employment status. This innovative feature would not only save time for both tenants and property owners but will boost transparency in the tenant selection process, fostering trust and confidence in the app.

Additionally, the data collected shed light on the critical importance of trust and credibility in the property rental market. Many potential tenants expressed concerns about encountering fraudulent listings or dealing with unscrupulous agents. Property owners, on the other hand, were eager to find reliable and responsible tenants. Avada took these insights to heart and developed a stringent verification process for property listings. Only genuine properties that passed the verification criteria were allowed to be listed on the platform, thereby ensuring a trustworthy and reliable rental marketplace.

Another insight was the significance of a user-friendly and intuitive platform. I noticed that some of the explored alternatives had cluttered interfaces and complicated navigation, leading to a less-than-optimal user experience. Avada will leverage on this insight and prioritize a clean, simple, and easy-to-navigate user interface, making the app accessible to a wide range of users, including those less tech-savvy.

Furthermore, the data revealed a demand for comprehensive property management solutions among landlords and property managers. Many property owners struggled with managing multiple properties efficiently and staying in communication with tenants. Avada will address this need by incorporating a property management module, empowering landlords and property managers to streamline rental operations, track payments, and respond to maintenance requests within the service.

Based on the insights gained earlier, I refined my vision for Avada. I focused on key features, such as the algorithm-based tenancy application module, verified property listings, and a robust property management system. By streamlining the app’s core functionalities, Avada aims to address specific pain points and deliver a user-friendly, trustworthy, and transformative solution for the Nigerian property rental market.

With the valuable insights and analysis at hand, I narrowed down the app’s core functionalities. The focus was on three primary modules: the rental and listings module, the algorithm-based tenancy application module, and the property management module for landlords and property managers.