Web Development: Condos On Yonge

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Visit: http://condosonyonge.com

The web application allows the client to manage property listings and various contact forms targeted at a variety of home buyers and sellers.

A custom CMS for my client, a Real Estate agent. The web application allows the client to manage property listings and various contact forms targeted at a variety of home buyers and sellers. It is aimed at the middle-class & affluent Toronto condominiums market.

All the tools are built right into the application.

For Real Estate Agents, it is important to have a powerful but simple online presence. I am convinced that the plethora of turn-key solutions already existing on the market are outdated and very poorly implemented and designed, so I set out to build this CMS/LMS that is highly targeted to the client's niche market but powerful enough and easy to use that he can update the content at any time, anywhere there is an online connection. All the tools are built right into the application.

Some of the features of the site are:

  • Automatic Google maps generation for each location based on the inputted address
  • Automatic image re-sizing and formatting for location presentation
  • The ability to highlight featured items for the location listings
  • Ability to customize the featured items on the home screen
  • Forms have been custom tailored to the client's needs and the data is email to the client right away. It is also stored in an online database which allows the client to view an archive and gain access at all the submitted information
  • Home buyer's and seller's information is email as well as stored for the real estate agent to have quick notification and access to it.
  • Secure administration interface allows the client to update pages, add location and item listings.
  • Listings are organized into categories, location categories are created on demand by the real estate agent.
  • The interface is simple and easy to use, no hassle no clunky graphics, this allows for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and quick response times for the application (Very important for a happy user experience).
  • RSS/ATOM feed for timely updates for subscribers

Technologies used:

  • Ruby on RAILS 3 for application development
    • Geocoder gem
    • MySQL database
    • Devise gem for authentication
    • Carrierwave gem for image processing
    • Sitemap Generator gem for creating search engine friendly site-maps
  • Hosted on WebbyNode for rapid "push-button" updates and deployment
  • Secure administration interface for managing content in a user friendly manner
  • Automatic geo-location and Google maps generation based on human friendly address input