Rentspree Tenant Screening Revamp

Research & Insights

User Research

We conducted qualitative interviews with 12 recent applicants and analyzed quantitative funnel data from the past year.

Key Findings:

  1. Perceived Length & Complexity:
    Users described the application as “never-ending” and “too detailed for an initial rental inquiry.”

  2. Mobile Friction:
    65% of users reported struggling with input fields, scrolling, and navigation on mobile devices.

  3. Redundant Questions:
    Several questions asked for information already provided in previous steps (e.g., employer details, contact info).

  4. Unclear Progress Indicators:
    Applicants weren’t sure how much was left, increasing drop-offs mid-way.

  5. Trust & Privacy Concerns:
    Users were hesitant to share sensitive info (like SSNs or bank details) before understanding how data would be used.

Competitive Analysis

We benchmarked 5+ competitor apps (Zillow, Avail, Turbotenant and Apartments.com).

.

Redesign Strategy

As a step 1, we Audited the Existing Flow step by step for Performance and Friction

We began by reviewing the end-to-end application flow to understand how users progressed through each step.

  • Mapped the full flow from entry to submission

  • Identified stages with lower completion or higher abandonment

  • Flagged steps that introduced unnecessary complexity or repetition

This allowed us to pinpoint where the flow needed structural changes rather than surface-level fixes.

Analyzing the existing application and rethinking the questionnaire logic

Part 1: Applicant Information

Part 2: Rental Application

Part 3: Tenant Screening

Part 4: Pay and Submit

Design Approach

1. Simplification of Content

  • Audited all 98 questions with PMs and Legal to identify unnecessary or repetitive fields.

  • Reduced total questions by 32% (to 67).

  • Grouped related questions (e.g., income + employment + references) into concise modules.

2. Progressive Disclosure

  • Introduced contextual step logic so users only see questions relevant to their answers (e.g., co-signer info appears only if “Yes” is selected).

  • Reduced visible form length on mobile by 40%.

3. Mobile-First Design Update

  • Rebuilt form components for mobile usability:

    • Larger tap targets and autofill support

    • Persistent progress bar

    • Sticky “Save & Continue” CTA

    • Real-time validation with in-line feedback

  • Updated typography and spacing using the new design system (DS v2) for consistency and accessibility.

4. Visual Feedback & Trust Signals

  • Added micro-interactions for form completion (“Step complete!”).

  • Included clear privacy explanations at data-sensitive steps to build trust.

5. Smart Save & Resume

  • Implemented auto-save and re-entry checkpoints to reduce frustration for users interrupted mid-process.

Simplified and Reordered the Flow

Based on the audit, the overall structure of the application was streamlined.

  • Reduced the number of steps where possible

  • Combined related inputs to minimize context switching

  • Reordered steps to better match user expectations and mental models

These changes helped maintain momentum and reduced drop-off caused by perceived effort.

Restructuring and Dividing the questions

Simplified and Reordered the Flow

Based on the audit, we streamlined the overall structure of the application.

  • Reduced the number of steps

  • Combined related inputs to minimize context switching

  • Reordered steps to better match user expectations and mental models

Reduced Time and Effort per Step

We optimized individual interactions to make each step faster and easier to complete.

  • Removed redundant inputs and confirmations

  • Improved input validation to prevent errors before submission

Based on the prototype testing, this lowered cognitive load by and shortened time on task ~7-11 mins without sacrificing clarity.

Clarified Progress and System Feedback

  • Made progress more explicit at each stage

  • Provided immediate feedback for user actions

  • Set clear expectations around loading and processing states

Updated Web Flow

Designed Mobile-First and Adapted for Scale

Given that most users accessed the flow on mobile, we prioritized mobile usability throughout the redesign.

  • Optimized layouts for smaller screens

  • Improved touch target sizing and spacing

Mobile Flow

katya dorofeeva