Optimizing property browsing and agent sign-up: A Nobul case study
Nobul is a Toronto based startup that provides customers–looking to sell or buy a home–transparency and a marketplace enabling them to take control of their real estate journey.
At Nobul, I worked with a cross-functional team to redesign property search and agent sign-up—simplifying real estate interactions, boosting engagement, and improving usability.
Nobul faced high drop-offs in property search due to confusing filters, slow loads, and cluttered UI. Our goal: fix these pain points to boost retention, cut bounce rates, and drive engagement.
Goals at a glance
Through 40+ user interviews and prototype surveys, we gathered qualitative data to uncover patterns, map user journeys, and identify root causes of frustration.
Through user survey we discovered:
of users reported confusion when trying to apply filters.
of users admitted they didn’t even use filters because they were too difficult to understand.
of users left the platform after waiting longer than 5 seconds for pages to load.
of users abandoned their search within the first 2 minutes due to difficulty navigating the site.
Survey data and behavioural map
We simplified browsing by merging filters with the property grid. Applied filters appeared as clearable labels, and the panel was reworked to surface the most-used options first.
Moving filters left and keeping the map visible improved browsing flow and navigation. Adding cash-back incentives boosted engagement and exploration across the platform.
Many agents abandoned sign-up due to confusion and too many steps. Our goal: simplify the journey so agents could join easily and confidently.
Goals at a glance
The agent onboarding process had several friction points, causing confusion and frustration for new users. By focusing on user feedback, we identified critical areas that needed improvement.
There was a lack of understanding due to insufficient metrics and tracking.
The sign-up process was perceived as confusing and tedious.
Many agents dropped off during the process, exiting before completion.
Lack of clear guidance throughout the process.
Overwhelming number of steps and information fields.
Unclear communication of the benefits of completing the sign-up.
Addressing the issues in the agent sign-up process involved thoughtful planning and targeted improvements based on user feedback and industry insights.
To address these challenges, we followed a structured approach:
To tackle the identified pain points, we implemented targeted solutions designed to enhance usability and streamline both the property browsing and agent onboarding experiences.
The redesigned onboarding experience led to measurable improvements: