Better.com: Revolutionizing Home Bidding with Multi-Faceted Solutions

Crafting a New Chapter in Home Bidding

At Southleft, we were entrusted with the monumental task of developing a comprehensive platform for Better.com that would allow users to bid on homes, explore mortgage options, and delve into insurance offerings. The project was multi-layered, involving real estate listings, mortgage API integration, and insurance functionalities. The stakes were high as Better.com was on the brink of an IPO, and this platform was envisioned to be a cornerstone in adding value to their market presence.

Crafting a New Chapter in Home Bidding

At Southleft, we were entrusted with the monumental task of developing a comprehensive platform for Better.com that would allow users to bid on homes, explore mortgage options, and delve into insurance offerings. The project was multi-layered, involving real estate listings, mortgage API integration, and insurance functionalities. The stakes were high as Better.com was on the brink of an IPO, and this platform was envisioned to be a cornerstone in adding value to their market presence.

Navigating a Labyrinth in Record Time

The primary challenge was the exceedingly tight deadline set against the backdrop of Better.com’s forthcoming IPO. The client aimed to diversify and enrich their service offerings to bolster their market valuation. The project was complex, involving multiple facets from real estate listings to intricate mortgage calculations. Adding to the complexity was the dynamic nature of the project requirements, which were continually evolving, making the target ever-shifting.

Navigating a Labyrinth in Record Time

The primary challenge was the exceedingly tight deadline set against the backdrop of Better.com’s forthcoming IPO. The client aimed to diversify and enrich their service offerings to bolster their market valuation. The project was complex, involving multiple facets from real estate listings to intricate mortgage calculations. Adding to the complexity was the dynamic nature of the project requirements, which were continually evolving, making the target ever-shifting.

Agility Meets Ingenuity

Understanding the urgency and fluidity of the project requirements, we adopted an agile approach. We broke the project into granular tasks and distributed them among our specialized team members. To expedite development, we strategically chose off-the-shelf solutions like Airtable for database management. Airtable’s user-friendly interface allowed even non-technical team members at Better.com to easily manipulate data, saving significant time.

I discovered and liked Airtable through this project. Its simplicity and user-friendly nature made it a great choice for a fast-paced project like this.

–Justin Young, Senior Front-End Developer

To further streamline the process, we used a monorepo structure, allowing us to share components and themes across different parts of the project. The project was built using Next.js and React, enabling rapid development and deployment. We also implemented OAuth for authentication and used Formspree for email functionalities.

Key Technologies/Tools Used:

• Airtable: For its user-friendly database management capabilities.
• Next.js: For its efficiency in front-end development.
• React: For its robustness in building UI components.
• OAuth: For secure authentication.
• Formspree: For seamless email functionalities.

Reflections: The Road Traveled

This was one of my first projects as Director of Technology. It was stressful but rewarding. I enjoyed making informed decisions and guiding our team’s project.

–Ben Voran, Director of Technology

Despite tight deadlines and changing objectives, the final product was a resounding success. Our platform allowed users to bid on homes and provided realtors with real-time updates on the highest bids, all through a user-friendly Airtable interface.

The client wanted the moon, and we gave him the stars as well. He was very satisfied in the end.

This project was a whirlwind, but ultimately, our agile approach and technical expertise enabled us to exceed expectations. The experience highlighted our team’s resilience and adaptability, demonstrating the value of flexibility, quick solutions, and clear communication. While unclear requirements occasionally led to revisions, we adapted swiftly. The project underscored the importance of agility, effective communication, and wise technology choices in meeting tight deadlines.

We’re proud of what we achieved in the time we had, and the project serves as a testament to our team’s ability to deliver under pressure.