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Responsive Website

Building A Transparent Long-Term Rental Review Platform

Renta-view desktop view first view
Renta-view desktop view second view

Project Overview

Creating a user-centric website designed to make the process of finding long-term rental properties transparent and informed. Users are offered reviews from previous renters. This ensures that potential tenants can avoid the common pitfalls of bad neighborhoods, problematic landlords, or poorly maintained properties.

Objective

  1. Provide a platform for users to search for rental properties based past tenants' experiences.
  2. Allow users to filter rental properties based on essential factors like price, pet-friendliness, furnishings, and reviews.
  3. Create an intuitive, modern interface that makes the search process simple and hassle-free.
  4. Foster transparency by offering detailed, honest reviews of each rental property.

Research Methodology

Market Analysis

Researched existing competitors such as Zillow, Apartments.com, and Rent.com to analyze their strengths and weaknesses regarding rental transparency and user reviews.

User Interviews

I spoke to individuals who fell into the following categories:

  • •People currently searching for a rental property.
  • •People who had recently moved into a new rental.
  • •People planning to move within the next six months.

Key Questions

  • What challenges did you face during your last rental search?
  • What information do you wish you had before signing your lease?
  • What factors influence your decision when choosing a rental property?

Key Findings

Lack of Transparency

Hidden fees and misleading lease terms

Landlord Issues

Poor landlord communication and unresponsive property management

Tenant Issues

Wish they had known about past tenant experiences before committing to a lease

Neighborhood Uncertainty

Concerned about safety, noise levels, and overall neighborhood quality but struggled to find reliable sources for this information

Neighbours Uncertainty

Concerned about unfriendly or loud neighbours

Sitemap

sitemap of project

Low - Mid Fidelity Wireframes

Home page
Slide 1

High Fidelity Wireframes

Property Results List
Slide 1

Usability Testing

I conducted usability tests with four participants, presenting them with the desktop prototype and a scenario simulating a real-life property search. The goal was to uncover any usability barriers that might prevent users from efficiently finding and evaluating long-term rental properties based on authentic reviews and relevant filters.
Scenario: "You’re planning to move to a new city for work and want to find a long-term rental that’s both affordable and well-maintained. Use the platform to browse available properties, read reviews from previous tenants, and decide whether you’d feel confident reaching out to a landlord or previous renter for more details. How easy was it to find a property that met your needs?"
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Task Completion Success
All participants were able to navigate the platform and complete the scenario with minimal difficulty. They successfully applied filters, explored property details, and accessed user reviews as well as tried to add new reviews.

Experience The Prototype

The final design successfully met the project’s objectives, delivering a responsive platform that empowers users to find long-term rentals with confidence. The website not only emphasizes transparency and informed decision-making, but also provides a seamless and trustworthy experience for renters. Users can easily browse properties, filter by price, amenities, and neighborhood, and access authentic reviews from previous tenants. The prototype demonstrates a user-centric approach, making the process of finding a safe and suitable rental straightforward and reliable.
image showing a sample of the product
Future Impact
For future iterations, I plan to refine the user experience by integrating feedback from real renters and landlords as the platform gains traction. Continuous usability testing and design improvements will ensure that the website remains intuitive, transparent, and aligned with the evolving needs of users. The goal is to build a trusted community where tenants can make confident housing decisions, and landlords can maintain credibility through authentic, verified reviews.
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