Centris

Modernizing the mobile app for an enhanced real estate experience

The context

Centris.ca is a leading real estate platform in Quebec, connecting buyers, sellers, and renters by bringing together all properties listed by real estate brokers in the province. While the previous mobile application was appreciated by many users, it had certain limitations in synchronizing information with the website, which impacted the overall experience.

The Centris mobile app offered some valuable features, but it did not fully sync all information with Centris.ca accounts. This created a fragmented user experience between the two platforms, where some details were only available on the app and others exclusively on the website. The result? A less fluid and cohesive navigation experience, highlighting the need for a unified and better-integrated solution between the website and mobile app.

Centris needed a modern mobile application that would provide an intuitive and consistent experience across all user touchpoints. After deciding to bring app development in-house, Centris turned to Osedea for its expertise in design and development.

Project details

Industry

Other

Technologies

Maze

Miro

Figma

Flutter

Dart

Swift

Kotlin

Services

Design

Development

The challenge

From a design perspective, the project required a mobile-first approach to integrate key features and data from the website. Our challenge was to bridge the gap between the two platforms to ensure seamless technical and visual integration, creating a unified user experience.

Another creative challenge was balancing the needs of Centris’ diverse audience. Users range from renters and first-time homebuyers to seasoned investors, each navigating the app differently. Addressing these varied user needs required thoughtful and inclusive design that was both flexible and intuitive.

From a technical standpoint, using Flutter—a cross-platform framework from Google enabling developers to create iOS and Android applications from a single codebase—came with its own set of challenges. Initially, its libraries did not support essential features such as custom map markers displaying property prices and aggregated data. To solve this, our team modified the libraries and implemented platform-specific code in Swift (for iOS) and Kotlin (for Android) to deliver seamless and user-centered functionality.

Filter and search features of the new Centris mobile application.

One of the biggest challenges in the project was the filter and search features. We needed to ensure that users could intuitively find the exact types of properties they are looking for and be able to save these parameters to receive instant notifications.

Alerts and filters examples on the new Centris mobile application.

Users can create custom alerts for multiple filters and adjust how often they’ll receive alerts. As soon as a new property is put on the market, users get a push notification to their phones.

The task at hand

We guided Centris through the app redesign by applying our four-phase Discovery process: Understand, Ideate, Materialize, and Plan. In collaboration with stakeholders, we identified key challenges through workshops, persona creation, a UX audit, and user interviews. Engaging with a wide range of users allowed us to highlight opportunities for improvement.

We then developed low-fidelity wireframes and conducted multiple rounds of user testing to validate solutions. Special attention was given to complex features such as search filters for cities, regions, and Centris property numbers. This work continued into the materialization phase, where we created high-fidelity designs, a comprehensive UI toolkit, and interactive prototypes.

In parallel with our collaboration, Centris updated its branding to incorporate best practices in accessibility. Efforts were made to improve readability and contrast issues, particularly those related to the previous teal color palette. These subtle yet impactful adjustments played a key role in creating a more consistent user experience across all platforms, including the website and mobile app. By prioritizing accessibility and inclusivity, Centris positioned itself to reach a broader audience while enhancing user experience.

Once the design phase was complete, development began under the leadership of our mobile developer. Working closely with the Centris team, we ensured a smooth knowledge transfer and efficient workflows. Tools like Figma were used throughout the process, streamlining the transition from design to development and allowing developers to generate code for advanced design elements.

Osedea's discovery process with identification of opportunities.

In parallel with our collaboration, Centris updated its branding to incorporate best practices in accessibility. Efforts were made to improve readability and contrast issues, particularly those related to the previous teal color palette. These subtle yet impactful adjustments played a key role in creating a more consistent user experience across all platforms, including the website and mobile app. By prioritizing accessibility and inclusivity, Centris positioned itself to reach a broader audience while enhancing user experience.

Once the design phase was complete, development began under the leadership of our mobile developer. Working closely with the Centris team, we ensured a smooth knowledge transfer and efficient workflows. Tools like Figma were used throughout the process, streamlining the transition from design to development and allowing developers to generate code for advanced design elements.

Different screenshots of features of the new Centris mobile application.

The end result

Through our collaboration, we delivered a smart, technically robust, and user-friendly application aligned with Centris' mission. Launched in November 2024 on the App Store and Google Play, the new app unifies Centris.ca’s brand and features across web and mobile platforms. The updated design includes a powerful search engine, property alert system, and the ability to save favorites, all seamlessly synchronized with the website. While many of these features already existed, users can now switch effortlessly between the app and the web version without restarting their searches. The app also emphasizes direct contact with real estate brokers, making it easier to transition from searching to taking action.

The new application empowers users to explore all properties listed by Quebec’s real estate brokers independently while providing instant access to brokers when they’re ready to move forward. In today’s economic climate, where buying or selling property can be complex, Centris offers powerful tools to help users make informed decisions and simplify their journey. Our design and development approach resulted in a modern, sleek, scalable, accessible, and effective application for a diverse audience.

What’s next

We continue to support Centris in enhancing its application by integrating new features and responding to user requests. Beyond the app, we are collaborating on additional projects, such as designing tools tailored to real estate brokers' needs to further enrich the Centris ecosystem.

This partnership reflects our passion for developing innovative, user-centered digital solutions. From intuitive design to technical problem-solving, we excel at creating impactful products. We are excited to bring our creativity and expertise to help other organizations strengthen their platforms, craft seamless user journeys, and achieve their digital transformation goals.