Initially named, Home Checkers, Checkd is one of Consumer Reports’s products within the New Business Ventures segment. Since home services are one of the many areas that require financial fairness regulation, Checkd strives to educate new home owners with detailed information and step-by-step processes around the home buying and owning journey. More importantly, Checkd aspires to help buyers with the tedious task of finding a reliable home inspector in their area.

Mischa Pouyavand (UI & UX Manager)

Cara Determan (Director of UX)

Rosalin (Product Owner)

Monica L (User Researcher)

Aaraditha Saraf (Copywriter)

Marie (Project Manager)

Kevin (Engineer)

Since this is a startup with a larger organization, it required a team of professionals who had extensive experience within the startup economy. Having worked with several startups before, I knew that the first and most important step was to conduct user research.

I sifted through 200 pages of research and documents to understand the problems and the needs of consumers looking to buy their first home. After gathering and compiling the relevant information, we began the process of refining and rebranding Home Checkers into what later became Checkd. We tested the new design prototypes with real users and conducted interviews to build user personas.

1. Finding a reliable home inspector is a challenge for most new home buyers.

2. They don’t know what a home inspection report is or where the home-inspection process starts.

3. They go to friends or family or even worse their realtor for a recommendation. Their realtor wants them to close the deal without addressing the critical problems or issues with the home - for selfish interests.

4. Many homebuyers are forced to get their home inspection report done in a rush because they are pressured that they may lose their offer on the house they're trying to buy.