Home Configuration Flow
Homebound’s pilot configurator launched in Colorado made selecting finishes overly complex and didn’t adapt to different build timelines or business needs. I led the end-to-end redesign from research to execution; simplifying navigation, improving cost transparency, and creating a flexible flow that scaled across different home configurations. Within 45 days of the Southwest Florida market launch, the new experience generated $10.1M in contract value and a 65% increase in upgrades.
Industry
Real Estate
Year
2023
Problem
Pilot concept revealed scalability and usability roadblocks
User research and heuristic evaluation revealed major UX and scalability issues in the pilot: confusing navigation, hidden content, and limited context throughout the flow. Early iterations tried to preserve the original design, but the options page remained overwhelming and inflexible, unable to support Homebound’s shift to preset packages or evolving business needs.
Process
Improving the design through user testing and stakeholder reviews
After retiring the original configurator (shown above), we explored multiple variations with stakeholders, inspired by car configurators and competitors. I designed a new version with clearer navigation, simplified home options by room, and leveraged bigger home renderings for greater impact. Frequent discovery sessions with tech partners ensured the new design was fully supported by the backend (Blueprint), which hadn’t been possible before.
Solution
Simplifying the complex process of home customization
Informed by feedback from usability testing and stakeholder, I elevated the stepper into the header for clearer way-finding, added a persistent footer with real-time cost estimates, and refined the bottom drawer for quick access to selections—resulting in a more intuitive and transparent experience for the final design.
Impact
New experience drives 56% higher upgrade rates
The redesign drove significant results: in the first 45 days after launch in Southwest Florida, we achieved $10.1M in contract value and a 56% increase in upgrade take rates over the base home. Compared to the pilot experience in 2022, where 23% of users upgraded above the Essential design package, the new experience saw ~39% of users choosing higher-tier options. This translated to 20 contracts signed and approximately $1M in options profit.
