Real Estate Listing Platform: Listing Los Cabos

My client, Julio, approached me with an urgent need to overhaul a real estate platform that was initially developed using React for the frontend and Firebase as the database. The platform faced numerous challenges, including poor design, usability issues, and non-functional core features like Listing creation and map integration. Additionally, the client lacked ownership of the source code and the Vercel account where the application was hosted, which added a layer of complexity to the project.

Upon assessing the situation, we decided to adopt an agile development methodology, breaking the project into key milestones to ensure a systematic approach to problem-solving.

1. React Code Overhaul: The original codebase was entirely built in React. We identified the need for better separation of concerns, so we developed a service layer to decouple the business logic from the UI components. Although this was a significant improvement, we still plan to refactor the code further to migrate the business logic to a backend service for enhanced maintainability.

2. Responsive Design Enhancements: One of the major pain points was the lack of responsiveness. We made substantial improvements to the code, ensuring that the platform is now fully responsive across all devices, offering a consistent user experience regardless of the screen size.

3. Security Improvements: The original code had hardcoded keys and sensitive information, posing a significant security risk. We replaced these with environment variables, ensuring that sensitive data is stored securely and can be easily managed through a key repository.

4. Restoring Backend Control: Given the client's lack of control over the existing backend, we set up a new environment on Vercel. We deployed the updated React frontend along with a minimal backend to handle essential functionalities, ensuring that Julio had exclusive control over the entire system.

5. User Authentication Integration: The platform originally lacked user authentication, allowing anyone to access its services. We integrated a robust authentication system to secure the platform, restricting access to authorized users only.

6. Stripe Subscription Integration: To monetize the platform, we integrated Stripe to support a subscription-based model. We developed three distinct subscription plans, each unlocking different features, providing flexibility and value to the platform's

The project was a resounding success. Julio now has a fully functional, secure, and responsive real estate platform under his control. The integration of Stripe for subscription services added a new revenue stream, while the improvements in design and usability significantly enhanced the user experience. We are proud to have delivered a solution that not only resolved the existing issues but also positioned the platform for future growth and scalability.