Online Property Marketplace Development

1. General Project Information
Project name: e.g., DirectProperty.ng


Business model: Buyer–seller direct connection (no agency fees; only registration fee)


Target audience: Africans at home and in the diaspora


Goal: Build trust, eliminate fraud, and make property transactions transparent



2. Core Functional Requirements
A. User Accounts & Registration
User types:


Buyer


Seller


Professional (Lawyer, Architect, Engineer)


Secure registration (email, phone, NIN, or BVN verification)


Login with social media or Google account (optional)


Account dashboard for each user type


Password reset and email verification system



B. Property Listing Features
Sellers can:


Post property details (title, location, price, description)


Upload images and short videos


Set property type (land, house, rent, sale, commercial, etc.)


Buyers can:


Search and filter listings by location, type, price, or size


View property details and contact sellers directly


Save favorite properties


Property location map integration (Google Maps API)



C. Communication Tools
Built-in chat or message system between buyer and seller


“Request a Call” or “Send Message” buttons


Email or SMS notification for new messages



D. Professional Services Section
Directory of verified professionals (lawyers, engineers, architects, etc.)


Filter by location or service type


Booking system to request their services for a token fee


Admin approval before listing professionals



E. Payment & Fees
One-time registration fee via Paystack or Flutterwave


Token payments for professional services


Wallet or escrow feature (optional for secure payments)


Automated invoice/receipt generation after payment



F. Verification Services
Document upload for land titles, survey plans, etc.


Request form for physical verification of property


Tracking system for verification requests


Integration for uploading verification reports (PDF/image)



G. Admin Dashboard
Manage users (approve, ban, verify)


Manage property listings (approve or flag)


Manage payments and professional service requests


Analytics dashboard (traffic, users, revenue, etc.)


Content management for blog posts and pages



H. Content & Informational Pages
About Us


How It Works


FAQs


Terms & Conditions


Privacy Policy


Contact Us (with inquiry form)


Blog or News section (for real estate education)



3. Technical Requirements
Category
Requirements
Framework
Developer to use a modern web framework (e.g., React, Next.js, or Laravel)
Database
PostgreSQL, MySQL, or Firebase
Hosting
AWS, Hostinger, or DigitalOcean
Security
SSL certificate, anti-fraud checks, data encryption, CAPTCHA
Payment Integration
Paystack or Flutterwave
Email Integration
SMTP service or SendGrid for verification and notifications
Performance
Fast-loading, mobile-optimized, SEO-ready
Scalability
Ability to handle 100,000+ users
Backup
Automatic daily/weekly backup
Support
Post-launch maintenance for 3–6 months


4. UI/UX Requirements
Simple, professional design


Friendly color scheme (green, white, gold tones)


Responsive (mobile-first)


Easy property upload form with preview


Consistent branding (logo, tagline, fonts, colors)



5. Deliverables Expected from Developer
Fully functional website (frontend + backend)


Admin dashboard


Mobile-friendly design


Integration with payment gateway


Verification of user accounts


Website documentation (admin guide + user manual)


Source code and database files


One-month testing and debugging period


Basic SEO setup and Google indexing


Support for at least 3 months after delivery



7. Legal & Administrative Requirements
Non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with developer


Contract outlining deliverables, timelines, and penalties for delay


Ownership clause — you retain all IP rights to the code and design


Maintenance clause (support duration and scope)