The complexities and possibilities when it comes to renovating one’s home is highly publicised. Blogs, forums and even globally renowned magazines and social channels (Architectural Digest comes to mind) meticulously outline the process, all the possibilities and costs. From the most mundane of tasks (fixing your lighting) all the way to the most ambitious of projects (breaking down walls to create space), it can be an overwhelming experience for even the most seasoned interior designers.

Here is where BuildBuddy, a UK-based business that provides anyone planning to renovate their home, or undertake an extension project with a specialised tool that helps homeowners with planning and budgeting, comes to the rescue.

“We’re a team committed to simplifying home extensions. Born out of necessity, BuildBuddy utilises technology to guide homeowners at each project step. We envision a stress-free, transparent building process for all” - David Altberg, founder of BuildBuddy

Very recently, the National Association of Home Builders reported a surge in home renovation and remodelling projects, with 75% of those surveyed stating that in 2020 they opted to extend their living space. This clearly highlights a trend toward maximising existing properties. BuildBuddy recognised the need for a product like theirs that could support homeowners throughout what can be a very stressful process.

"We were looking for a reliable partner, the team that excels at project management and communication, ensuring a seamless workflow, with an ability to deliver a high-quality, functional product that meets the client's expectations and needs. We chose Skillwork." - David Altberg, founder of BuildBuddy

Last year, Buildbuddy approached Skillwork to support them in their next stage of growth, which included validating and building a digital MVP that solved the unique pain points felt by their target audience. 

A little more about the task at hand: 

Use Case: The planning process remains challenging for homeowners. Key issues include managing costs, finding the right builder and accurately scoping the project. These factors must be carefully addressed to ensure a successful outcome for the homeowner.

Challenges for Buildbuddy: Buildbuddy wanted to cultivate a strong brand identity that resonated with homeowners in a matter of seconds, and develop a scalable, web-based MVP within a three month-span. Furthermore, the MVP had to be built without a fully realised product roadmap, allowing for adaptability and iterative improvements.

The Solution

Understanding the business: Skillwork understood that to ensure a smooth and seamless process for the client, careful planning was essential. What ensued was the team’s deep dive into the project challenges, vision and incremental goals to refine the product roadmap.

Fast execution: Speed to market was critical, so working in sprints (based on the customer journey) allowed Skillwork to release the MVP in smaller, manageable chunks. This enabled the team to test the platform and finalise the user onboarding within the first month of development, even before all features were completed. 

Our technical approach: Throughout the sprints, Skillwork anticipated and incorporated changes to the initial scope based on evolving requirements and customer feedback. Currently, the team’s certified DevOps specialists and business experts prepared a scalable server architecture, taking full ownership of the process to significantly enhance our speed to market.