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. User and stakeholder interviews revealed many pain points and unmet needs. I led the end-to-end redesign, 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 guidance 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
Ideating to salvage the original proved fruitless
After retiring the original configurator, we explored multiple variations with stakeholders, inspired by car configurators and competitors. Prototypes tested navigation, simplified home options by room, and highlighted the home renderings. 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 usability testing and stakeholder feedback, I elevated the stepper into the header for clearer wayfinding, 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 2023 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 Florida experience saw ~39% of users choosing higher-tier options. This translated to 20 contracts signed and approximately $1M in options profit.
