Our cross-functional team shipped FixTrackr, a maintenance-tracking mobile app for property managers and accompanying maintenance request responsive website for tenants. FixTrackr makes it easy for small-scale landlords to keep their properties in top shape.
Duration: July 2024 - September 2024
Role: Lead Product Designer
Tools: Figma, Figjam, Google Suite, Canva, Trello
Project Details:
Define Product Goals/MVPs
Collab with Dev Team & PM
Prototyping & User Testing
Small-scale landlords need a way to track maintenance requests.
Property maintenance encompasses everything from tracking maintenance requests and scheduling repairs, to communicating with tenants and supervising contractors. Managing these elements reliably maintains tenant satisfaction, reduces turnover, and establishes well-run operations.
My team and I have created Fixtrackr. Fixtrackr provides a streamlined, user-friendly tool for tracking and managing maintenance requests. This simplifies communication between landlords and tenants regarding maintenance issues, and thus improves overall property management experience by reducing reliance on manual processes and disparate tools.
Research Objectives
1. Pain Points
We want to Identify the key pain points and needs of small-scale landlords in managing and organizing maintenance requests.
2. Existing Tools
We want to understand the preferred tools and methods used by landlords for property management.
3. Preferences
We want to explore user preferences for integrated and user-friendly property management solutions with special attention to maintenance tracking applications.
4. Market Trends
We want to evaluate current market trends and regulatory changes impacting small-scale landlords.
Competitive SWOT Analysis
The initial phase of our research involved conducting a thorough market analysis to identify competitors and their unique strategies. Our primary area of focus encompassed property management tools for small-scale land lords, property managers, and small property management firms.
The direct competitors we analyzed using a SWOT analysis were Appfolio, Buildium, and Upkeep. We also analyzed indirect tools such as Trello, WhatsApp, and SMS/iMessage. Below is a summary of the SWOT analysis we did on all of these tools.
Strengths:
- Simple and user-friendly interface
- Integrated maintenance tracking
- Hands-off, automated communication features
Weaknesses:
- Limited awareness among target audience
- Initial development costs
Opportunities:
- Growing market of small-scale landlords seeking simpler solutions
- Potential partnerships with small property management associations
Threats:
- Established competitors with larger user bases
- Rapid technological changes and user preference shifts
To understand key pain points, needs, and behaviors of small-scale landlords in managing tenant relationships, the product manager and I conducted 10 user interviews and a survey (to 6 other potential users). Below is a summary of what the interviewees had to say.
expressed a strong preference for property management tools that are simpler and more user-friendly.
reported reliance on basic tools that are not tailored to property management.
expressed struggling with keeping maintenance requests organized and addressing them adequately.
Task Flows
I created multiple task flows as to better reduce our app concept into an MVP. While some similarities may arise in the final version, it's important to note that adjustments are likely as the building process unfolds.
Time Constraint: We were limited on how much time we had to produce this app. So we prioritized two features; the ability for users to create/receive maintenance requests and the ability to organize requests.
Manager Receives Request:
Sign Up:
Manager has Update:
Low Fidelity Wireframes
Having amassed sufficient information, I embarked on crafting a preliminary low-fidelity concept. Presented below is the preliminary screens:
Notifications Page
This is so users can see all requests from their tenant showing priority information about the request.
Maintenance Request
This shows the information tenants inputed, which includes images, as this was noted as necessary in interviews.
Create Task
Once a user accepts the request additional inputs are shown to better organize the task card.
Task List
This is the main feature of the app and is where all task cards are stored and sort/filtered.
High Fidelity Wireframes
As a result of our Agile sprints, I was able to create high fidelity wireframes of an MVP for our app.
Notifications Page
We reduced the amount of information shown, as to make it easier for users to scan new requests.
Maintenance Request
We changed the request card, so when users open the request, the additonal inputs are already there.
Create New Task
We included an option for users to create their own task card.
Task List
We created an easier UI for the sort/filter feature to allow users better organization of their tasks.
Objectives
Usability: Can users easily navigate the app and complete tasks?
Functionality: Does the app meet the needs of small-scale landlords and property managers?
Satisfaction: Are users satisfied with the app’s features and user interface?
Suggestions: What improvements or additional features do users recommend?
Testing Plan
Users should be able to complete the following:
1. Log a maintenance request as a tenant
2. Find tenant request within the notifications page and complete a card
3. Search and update maintenance request card
4. Manually create a maintenance request card
100% Success
Recommended Iterations
Revised High Fidelity Wireframes
Using the feedback from user testing I revised the high fidelity wireframes of the MVP for our app.
We conducted 2nd round of user testing and found that there was a 27% increase in overall user satisfaction.
Additional Features
Our upcoming feature will introduce a tenant interface for submitting maintenance requests. We aim to design a user-friendly, web-based platform that allows tenants to easily fill out request forms without requiring them to download an additional app. The feature will also include real-time tracking, enabling tenants to monitor the progress of their maintenance requests effortlessly.
Mobile App
Fixtrackr
By leveraging agile methodologies, particularly sprint cycles, I successfully collaborated with my product manager and development team to create FixTrackr, a maintenance portal app. Our process began with thorough market research and competitive analysis, revealing a significant gap for straightforward solutions tailored to small-scale landlords. This insight guided our user research, where targeted interviews and surveys highlighted the demand for a simple, intuitive management tool. We focused on developing an easy-to-use maintenance request and organization app, iterating continuously based on user testing and feedback throughout the sprints.
Want to learn more?
Ask me in an interview:)
