Empowering Homeowners - Building a Comprehensive Real Estate Platform
Summary
Our client had a clear vision. Democratize the process of selling homes and save sellers money. In a radically short eight months, we built an online platform that transformed for-sale-by-owner listings, eliminating the need for real estate agents, thrilling users, and saving homeowners over $3 million in commissions.
Introduction
Our client approached us with the vision of democratizing the home selling process, making it accessible and cost-effective for homeowners. We embarked on an 8-month journey to create a robust online platform that eliminates the need for traditional real estate agents, offering a streamlined and user-friendly experience. Our dedicated team focused on maintaining a prioritized roadmap and delivering continuous value, ensuring that every iteration brought tangible benefits to the users.
Challenge
The client needed a user-friendly website to help homeowners sell their properties without traditional real estate agents, thus saving on typical commissions and fees. The objective was to simplify the home selling process, provide necessary legal and transaction support, increase exposure for home listings, and ensure security and professional assistance throughout the process.
Solution
- Platform Development: We implemented a comprehensive website featuring an intuitive user interface that made listing and selling homes straightforward for users.
- Technology Stack: The backend and frontend were built using the Elixir and the Phoenix web framework, which provided a robust foundation. PostgreSQL was chosen as the database for its reliability and scalability. AWS hosted the platform, ensuring high availability and performance, while Stripe was integrated for secure payment processing.
- Key Features: The platform included both free and paid listing options, allowing homeowners flexibility in their approach to selling. Digital purchase contracts and negotiation tools streamlined the transaction process. MLS integration ensured broader exposure for listings. Comprehensive transaction coordination and legal support were provided to guide users through the selling process, and remote agent advisory services offered professional assistance as needed.
- Development Process: The project spanned 8 months, adhering to the estimated timeline. It was developed in two-week sprints, each culminating in a demo and production deployment. This iterative approach ensured transparency and allowed the client to see continuous progress. Our project management emphasized maintaining a prioritized roadmap to consistently deliver value. We balanced complexity in implementations, discerning between immediate feature needs and future enhancements. The final audit of the code and architecture received high praise from the client, with commendations on the quality of work even months after project completion.
Impact
The platform empowered homeowners by enabling them to save over $3 million in commissions. User engagement increased significantly, leading to successful home sales. Feedback from users was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the platform’s ease of use and the support provided throughout the process.
Services Provided:
- Web and Mobile App Development: Comprehensive development of the website and mobile application to ensure a seamless user experience.
- Quality Assurance and Testing: Rigorous testing processes to ensure the platform’s reliability and functionality.
- DevOps and Migration: Efficient deployment and migration strategies to maintain platform stability.
- Cybersecurity and Compliance: Ensured the platform’s security and adherence to regulatory requirements.