Mulk

A little about me

I am a product designer with a background in industrial engineering. That background shapes how I approach unfamiliar and operationally complex products. I first learn how the system works, identify the decisions people need to make, and then design the interface around those decisions.

This project placed me inside a domain where I had experience within commercial real estate however with the localized nature, this was an exciting opportunity to learn about Oman’s landlords and how they serve their tenants

The brief

Mulk is an innovative mobile application designed for real estate investors who prefer to self-manage their properties or choose a more hands-on approach rather than outsourcing entirely to brokers. This project involved close collaboration with the founder to understand the vision and execute a strategic plan-of-action. I developed a prototype that successfully raised $50,000 for Mulk from the Oman Tech Fund.

The Landlord experience

The landlord experience is tailored to facilitate landlords in effectively tracking rental income, monitoring lease obligations, and maintaining property upkeep through an integrated maintenance log, all aimed at enhancing the efficiency of property management.

Tenant

The tenant experience within the Mulk app is centered around a streamlined and secure rent payment process, incorporating validation of payment amounts and method selection, all designed to enhance convenience and ensure timely transactions.

Empowering Real Estate Investment Management

The Mulk project commenced with an in-depth understanding phase where the team closely collaborated with the founder. This step was crucial to align the application's design and functionality with the founder’s vision and the specific needs of the target market – real estate investors managing their properties.

With the real estate market experiencing challenges in rental yields due to a faster supply increase than demand, Mulk offers a solution tailored to optimize rental property management and financial tracking for these investors.

The design and development process of Mulk exemplified a structured and user-focused approach. It combined strategic vision, user research, and technical expertise to create an app that effectively addresses the unique needs of landlords and tenants, offering a sophisticated solution in the property management landscape.

Adding a Tenant

I devised a workflow that guides landlords through capturing essential tenant details, property specifics, and contract terms, ensuring no critical information is missed. The design includes clear visual cues for progress and completion, such as checkmarks and confirmation screens, which provide satisfying feedback at each step. Attention was given to creating an experience that feels natural and efficient, reducing the cognitive load on landlords while ensuring they remain in control of their property management tasks.

Conclusion and Lessons Learned

The Mulk project, aimed at redefining real estate investment management for Oman, concluded successfully with the creation of an innovative app tailored for self-managing landlords and tenants. The development journey, from ideation to execution, showcased a commitment to enhancing property management through technology.

A key takeaway was the importance of close collaboration and understanding between the development team and the founder. This synergy ensured that the app's design and functionality were perfectly aligned with the vision and needs of real estate investors.