The Problem

Homeowners need transparency into the financial burden and return when pursuing renovations within the #1 home valuation tool, Zillow.

For financially-conscious homeowners or real estate investors, navigating the complexities of home renovation costs while understanding their potential impact on property value is crucial to their personal net worth or business. Statistics reveal that, on average, homeowners overspend their renovation budgets by about 20-30%. Such variations can impact not only immediate financial plans but also the overall return on investment. Home improvements can lead to an increase in market value, with some renovations yielding a return on investment (ROI) of up to 70% or more. Property owners need a reliable tool to quickly estimate renovation expenses and evaluate how these changes could affect its overall market value, or Zestimate, ensuring that their investments align with their financial goals and expectations.

Solution

A home renovation cost calculator integrated with Zillow's Owner Dashboard would offer homeowners financial insights for upcoming projects.

The home improvement calculator would be integrated into Zillow's Owner Dashboard where users claim their home listing and track their home's value, or Zestimate. The renovation tab allows users to input details of planned or completed projects and customizing the level of finish or how the project will get completed. By factoring in these improvements, the Zestimate would offer a more accurate reflection of a property's potential value, helping homeowners make informed decisions about which upgrades to pursue.

This tool would also serve as a valuable financial planning resource, offering homeowners precise cost estimates and ROI projections for various projects. This empowers users to prioritize the most impactful improvements and better manage their renovation budgets.

01

Discover

Exploring the terrain

Competitive Analysis

Realtor.com Renovation Calculator

Full Report

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User Interviews

Primary research consisted of two interviews with financially-conscious homeowner couples varying from 30 to 60 minutes in length. With each interview, notes were transcribed in Notion and Otter.ai.

Veteran Homeowners

33 Years as Homeowners

Virginia

Young Homeowners

3 Years as Homeowners

Maryland

User Survey

The user survey revealed the motivations behind home renovations and their history with project costs and returns.

Full Report

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User Personas

Sarah Thompson is a financially-conscious DIY homeowner who seeks to make budget-friendly improvements while ensuring they add value to her property. James Williams, an experienced real estate investor, focuses on maximizing profits by flipping homes and requires quick, accurate renovation estimates to guide his high-stakes decisions.

Full Report

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04

Deliver

Arrive at the destination

User Testing

9 Users Tested

Calculate home renovation project

Success

Customize project estimate specifics

Needs Improvement

Users couldn't immediately see the customize accordion since it required them to scroll down the screen. Since the wireframe was tested with users, links weren't stylized or obvious. It's important that high-fidelity prototypes include standout link styling and redesign for less scrolling on the final screen to access the customization levers.