I'm a fan of the UK tv show Property Ladder, recently renamed to Property Snakes and Ladders*, thanks to the volatility of the housing market. In the show, host Sarah Beeny helps steer first-time property developers towards the right decisions for their property developing project. For 99% of the show's participants, making money is a priority. They'll want to design, implement and sell as quickly as possible for maximum return. Unfortunately, personal taste and emotions can cloud judgment.

As I watch each of the shows, it's occurred to me that many of the lessons that Ms. Beeny teaches can also be applied to user experience design.

Don't design for yourself

Some abstracted wisdoms: Don't impose your personal taste. The way way you work and live is not the way others work and live. Don't anticipate usage in a particular way. The space won't necessarily be used in the way you expect it will be. Imposing your design taste doesn't mean it's going to be a successful design (it can actually be off-putting)! Don't assume future owners preferences.
The majority of small web teams collaborate together and only consult outside opinion when it's easy or convenient, and usually not as frequently or extensively as needed. I've seen a lot of web apps that were built by people who design to suit their own styles of working. Actually, I'm sure we've all been guilty of that at least once.

In several episodes, Sarah takes the clueless renovators to the street to ask random strangers directly their opinion on a design decision. It usually turns out that the renovators instincts were wrong, and these early user interviews were pivotal in making the right decision for the placement of say, a kitchen. Without this user testing, the renovators would have made a terrible mistake that would have likely resulted in very few people being interested in the house, and an unsuccessful project.

Too much aggravation to go back to planning stages is not a good excuse

In several episodes, frustrated and budget-conscious renovators sometimes come to the conclusion (or are told by Sarah!) that they're headed down the wrong path, but the renovators do not want to go back to the planning stage because it's too much aggravation or will put the project behind schedule. If they're making a huge mistake, isn't it better to fix it before it's really too late? In many cases, spending 10k to get it right will result in a three fold plus financial return.
Getting the basics right is essential in a tight market, and this is true for renovations or web applications. Does the apps do what it was meant to do, and does it do it well? If you've partially built a feature, but then decide it's probably not right, decide if it's better better to remove it or to keep battering at it. Get opinions from potential users. Above all, don't fall in love with an idea and refuse to change if it's not right for the project.

Learn good design

Keep separate areas separate. Create maximum impact without breaking the bank.
Less is more. Don't overwhelm your users with choice. In a web app, make sure each screen has got a primary focus; a primary function or call-to-action. Don't go over budget and over schedule trying to fit everything in. Remove sections or features that aren't essential. You can always add them back later if they are still needed.

Conclusion

It's very easy to get caught up in creating a web app in a mad rush, but at all stages of the design and build it's essential to take a step back and de-personalize. Always ask yourself and others whether that feature, that page, that customizable area, or that extra search function is really enhancing the design and the user's experience.

On a personal level, we spent 2 years and far more money than we wanted on renovating a circa 1895 house in Bristol, England, prior to our move to the US. Thankfully, we asked builders, estate agents and friends a lot of questions about what features would be most appealing to our target market of buyers and renters. I'm confident we didn't do anything stupid, and it must have worked. We decided to rent, rather than sell, and the first couple to view the house ended up renting it!

Have you got experience with property development and/or user experience design? Do they seem related? Comments appreciated!

* Snakes and Ladders is the British name for the boardgame known as Chutes and Ladders in the US. The takeaway from this particular game is that one minute you're up, the next minute you're down. Such is life.