Redesign Switzerland’s Leading Real Estate Platform
Challenges
ImmoScout24 struggled to retain users due to complex filters, a lack of context about property locations, and fragmented tools that disrupted the user journey.
Solution
I led a redesign that introduced proximity search for commute insights, simplified filters, and integrated tools like mortgage calculators directly into the app.
User retention went up 18% in 3 months
User engagement increased by 12%
Company
Scout24
Position
Sr. Product Designer
Year
2019 – 2020
Market
Switzerland, B2C
Challenges
When I joined Scout24 in late 2019, ImmoScout24 was already Switzerland’s leading real estate platform. However, user retention and engagement was not good: Many users abandoned the app before completing their property searches.
Key user behaviors revealed deeper issues. People struggled to find relevant properties due to overly complex filters. Simple questions like "How far is this property from work?" or "Are there good schools nearby?" remained unanswered. Moreover, tools like mortgage calculators were missing in the app, forcing users to leave to plan their next steps.
These gaps disrupted the flow from browsing to decision-making, leaving users frustrated and disengaged.
Solution
To improve retention and engagement, we redesigned ImmoScout24 to deliver a smarter, more seamless experience for users. The focus was on solving the frustrations that caused people to abandon the app.
We began with research—interviews, surveys, and behavioral data revealed that users didn’t just want listings; they needed context. Questions like commute times, proximity to schools, and neighborhood details were critical but missing. Armed with this insight, I designed the proximity search feature, allowing users to input destinations and instantly see commute times for each property. Location data became actionable, making decisions faster and easier.
Filters were another key issue. Overly complex options left users overwhelmed, so I simplified the interface to make finding relevant properties intuitive and quick. Essential tools like mortgage calculators were also integrated directly into the app, creating a cohesive journey from browsing to decision-making.
To support the redesign, I maintained the design systems for iOS and Android. This ensured consistency, sped up development, and maintained a professional, polished feel.
Impact
User retention rose from 60% to 78% within three months, while user engagement increasing by 12%. The ImmoScout24 app claimed the No. 1 spot on the App Store and Google Play, cementing its place as Switzerland’s top real estate platform.
Internally, the design system reduced handoff times by 16%, enabling faster rollouts of features and maintaining consistency across platforms.
