AgentFlux

Role

UI/UX Designer at AgentFlux Inc.  |  2014 - 2015

The Problem

Interviews conducted by the product manager identified several pain points Realtors had with their current process. First, Realtors had a hard time accessing the proprietary tools provided by TREB on the go. Second, Realtors wanted an easier way to understand and communicate with their clients, especially when discussing multiple homes the client were interested in. Lastly, they wanted to be able to display their branding to their clients as much as possible.

Solutions

AgentFlux (and it’s accompanying app ClientFlux) aimed to solve this problem with an all-in-one CRM solution for Realtors to connect with and manage their clients. Realtors can search and browse TREB and MLS listings, message and schedule showings with clients, view detailed statistics about each client, and manage their branding directly on the app. The accompanying app ClientFlux was made for home buyers as a simplified version of AgentFlux, allowing home buyers to view listings sent by their realtors, message and schedule showings, and be directly connected with their real estate agent.

Solutions

Property Listings: Realtors wanted a better way to browse listings on the go. Their existing software had limited capabilities on mobile devices and they were not always available to come to the office when meeting with clients. AgentFlux provided the information Realtors needed by paying for and sourcing data directly from TREB’s database. Realtors identified several important details that needed to be displayed for this screen to be useful. This included price change history and days on market, which are both used in their dealings. Other details such as photos, address, rooms and other details follow the same structure to their existing tools, making the transition easier.

Client Communication and Statistics: Realtors wanted a better way to communicate with their clients. Their existing methods include emails, text messages and other messaging platforms. AgentFlux provided a single platform where Realtors can view statistic for each client, such as what location, home type, and price. Realtors can also message clients and directly book home showings right in the app. To create a more organized way of following up on a specific home listing, a thread was created for each property sent to the client.

Self Marketing and Branding: Realtors wanted an easier way to display their branding to their clients. Existing methods include business cards or traditional advertisement. AgentFlux allowed Realtors to transition into a more digital approach by display their branding directly in ClientFlux, the accompanying app for home buyers. This includes their logo, photos, and contact details accessible from anywhere within the ClientFlux app.

Outcome

Realtors reacted positively to most of the features, especially the ability to search and browse listings on the go. Realtors paid $30 per month for this feature alone. However, agents were not making connections with their clients. Realtors did not have time to learn a new method of client acquisition and relationship management. This can be attributed to the lack of testing to find pain points in the flow, such as the inability to import clients from existing databases. Without a connection between agents and home buyers, many of the features could not be used to its full potential.

Around this time, funding was running out. With data on home listings and agents but no clients, we decided to pivot into a home searching app for home buyers called HomeKnocker.

Lessons Learned

Nearly all of the features came directly from needs, goals and pain points that were discovered while interviewing Realtors. But what people say and what they do are different.

We needed to look at their environment to outline a journey map to ensure the product provided solutions in their path. Had we prioritized features such as CSV import of their client list, Realtors may have had an easier time adding their clients.

Ultimately, Realtors were happy to pay $30 a month to access home listings on their phone, which appeared to be their biggest pain point at the time. Focusing on and marketing this feature may have been the key to successful growth, outlining the importance of a focused MVP.