Centrim was developed between 2015-2017 to help Quebec real estate agents showcase their listings on personal websites through a WordPress plugin.
Technical Implementation
- Backend: PHP for WordPress integration
- Database: PostgreSQL for reliable data storage
- Hosting: DigitalOcean for deployment
Key Features
Data Integration
- Automated CSV and FTP imports from Centris
- Real-time listing updates
- Custom property display templates
User Experience
- Intuitive admin interface
- Customizable property displays
- Mobile-responsive design
Development Challenges
- Data Integration: Working with non-standard APIs required creative solutions
- Performance: Optimizing large dataset handling
- User Adoption: Making complex features accessible to non-technical users
Business Impact
- Helped agents differentiate their online presence
- Streamlined property listing management
- Reduced manual data entry
Lessons Learned
- Data handling: Robust error handling is crucial for data sync
- User feedback: Direct agent input was invaluable
- Scalability: Early performance optimization pays off