My Role
Product Design
Team
Jenny Zhang
Product Design
Ruby Lee
Product Design
Samuel Mixon
User Research
Goried Tian
Documentation
Aditya Shirodkar
Documentation
Timeline
Jan 2024
-
Mar 2024
Tools
Figma
Canva
A transparent centralized housing search system for students
NestQuest is a mobile app designed to help college students navigate the off-campus housing search process with greater transparency and confidence. The platform centralizes housing listings, peer reviews, comparison tools, and filters tailored specifically to student needs. Unlike traditional real estate platforms, this app prioritizes tenant experiences and student wellbeing over landlord marketing.
As the lead Product Designer on this project, I designed and built the iterations of prototypes according to user feedback.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Securing off-campus housing as a college student is overwhelming for many students, especially those transitioning directly from high school. Lack of experience reviewing leases, identifying hidden fees, or evaluating landlord reliability, existing housing platforms prioritize listings and transactions, often burying tenant feedback and offering limited tools for meaningful comparison. Students need a transparent, student-centered housing platform that reduces uncertainty.
Research Question: How can we reduce uncertainty and increase trust in the off-campus housing search experience for college students?
We chose some questions to survey students on their experiences regarding housing:
Where are students currently living?
How confident are they during the search process?
What makes them hesitant about off-campus housing?
What tools are they currently using?
Where does the process feel unclear/stressful?
Have they encountered misleading/fraudulent listings?
USER RESEARCH
We surveyed 85 college students on their current housing situation
What students said about off-campus housing hesitations:
“Fear of safety and security, price and unfamiliarity with the area.”
“Landlords, high apartment prices near campus.”
What students said about encountering fraudulent or misleading listings while searching for off-campus housing:
“Rent monthly prices are not what they seem… hidden fees such as utilities and other expenses.”
“I was told I could do a 9 month lease… which turned out to be a clear lie. They only offered 12 month leases and if you signed but changed your mind it was $9000 to get out of it.”
Key Insights
1. Pricing transparency is a major concern.
Many students reported hidden fees, misleading lease terms, and unclear total costs. Nearly one-third of students reported financial sensitivity, making transparent pricing crucial.
2. There is little trust for landlords and listings.
Over half of respondents experienced or suspected misleading information.
2. There is little trust for landlords and listings.
Over half of respondents experienced or suspected misleading information.
3. Students feel only moderately confident navigating housing.
Most rated their confidence at 3/5.
4. Safety concerns create hesitation to move off-campus.
Neighborhood security is a key factor, especially for students unfamiliar to the area.
OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT
Research revealed that the core challenge was the lack of confident and informed decision-making. Students reported pricing ambiguity, low trust in landlords, and hesitation driven by financial and safety concerns.
To address these challenges at scale, a centralized digital platform provides the most accessible and sustainable solution. Students need a transparent, trustworthy platform that supports first-time renters.
SOLUTION
The final platform is an app that is intentionally structured to address the 4 main insights identified through the user research.