Context
After some disastrous home renovation, a frustrated client wanted to create an app that makes it easier for homeowners to connect with contractors.
Goal
A mobile app in the vein of modern gig sites where homeowners advertise projects and contractors bid for the project.
TLDR
Bob, the builder! Can we fix it? Yes, we can!
What's The Problem?
Homeownership is both rewarding and stressful. Along with the usual expenses comes upkeep and renovation. But how do you find the right individuals or teams to improve your beloved haven?
Project Timelines
With an ambitious and eager client raring to go, I had very little time to research the ins and outs of home renovation. However, what became evident was that most contractors rely on word of mouth to sell their services with little consideration for advertising.
Enticement
A service like Wakha could only work if contractors could see the benefits of signing up (for free) and creating a profile for themselves or their business. Before I could tackle matching them with clients, I had to build a platform for said contractors to highlight their skills and flex their expertise. Contractors can provide detailed proposals as well as cost estimates based on the project requirements.
If You Build It They Will Come
With contractors taken care of my focus shifted to the journey clients would take. Because every home improvement project is unique I had to accommodate for a broad base. Photos of the problem area, a detailed description, the ability to set a fixed price and other features rounded out the bouquet for the aspiring renovator.
Hammer And Nail
With both streams taken care of, I needed to integrate them sensibly. Similar apps allowed customers to rate contractors, creating an unfair marketplace that discouraged contractors dealing with demanding clients. To level the playing field, both contractors and homeowners could rate each other, encouraging healthier working relationships.
What I Learned
Sometimes the customer that you think you're catering to isn't the one that matters. With Wakha, the entire experience depended on the value for contractors rather than the paying clients. After all, without them, the marketplace couldn't function :)
