Real Estate Buyer & Seller Marketplace
Business Requirements Document (BRD)
Version 1.4 | November 2026
Prepared by: mizanseek.com
Prepared for: SHAH estates
1. Executive Summary
This document outlines the business requirements for a verification-first real estate marketplace that connects property sellers with genuine buyers. The platform will be delivered as a mobile application (iOS and Android), a web-based Admin Portal, and a public-facing Landing Page.
Users are onboarded strictly as either a Buyer or a Seller. There is no mode switching.
- Buyers can browse the marketplace, view properties, and unlock seller contact details by paying a per-property fee.
- Sellers can only manage and update their own property listings after paying a subscription fee.
Both buyers and sellers complete a simple phone and email verification process, which is reviewed and approved by the admin team. The platform includes a basic recommendation engine, clear monetisation (buyer contact unlock + seller subscription), robust listing approval controls to avoid duplication, and full admin export capabilities.
2. Product Vision & Objectives
Vision
To become a trusted digital marketplace where verified property owners can list their assets with credibility, and serious buyers can discover and engage with confidence — while generating revenue through clear, transparent charges.
Primary Objectives
- Onboard users clearly as either Buyer or Seller
- Provide a clean marketplace experience exclusively for buyers
- Allow sellers to manage only their own properties
- Implement a simple recommendation engine based on buyer and seller data
- Monetise through seller subscription (to add properties) and buyer per-property contact unlock fee
- Give admins strong control over verification, listing approval, and data export
- Prevent duplicate listings through systematic admin approval workflows
- Launch with all essential legal, branding, and operational foundations in place
3. Target Users & Roles
| Role | Description | Primary Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer | Individual looking to purchase or explore properties. Can browse listings and unlock seller contact details by paying a fee. | Mobile App |
| Seller | Property owner who lists and manages their own properties after paying a subscription. Cannot browse the full marketplace. | Mobile App |
| Admin / Operations Team | Internal staff responsible for verifying users, approving listings, preventing duplicates, managing payments, and exporting data. | Web Admin Portal |
| Website Visitor | Potential user discovering the platform for the first time. | Landing Page |
4. Verification Framework
Both buyers and sellers follow the same lightweight verification process:
- Phone number verification via OTP
- Email address verification
Once completed, the profile moves to a Pending state. An admin reviews and either approves or rejects the profile.
- Approved → User gains access according to their role (Buyer or Seller)
- Rejected → User is notified with a reason and can re-attempt verification
No document upload is required in Version 1.0. Admin approval is the final gate.
5. Platforms & Core Features
5.1 Public Landing Page
A clean, professional marketing website that serves as the primary entry point. It will include:
- Clear value proposition and trust messaging
- Visual or interactive demos showing how the app works for Buyers
- Visual or interactive demos showing how the app works for Sellers
- Display of real or realistic property data so the marketplace feels live
- Clear explanation of the subscription (for sellers) and contact unlock fee (for buyers)
- Call-to-action buttons to download the mobile app
- Links to Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Company Policy
- SEO-friendly structure
5.2 Mobile Application
Buyer Experience
- Browse and search the full property marketplace
- Apply filters (location, budget, property type, etc.)
- View property details, photos, and description
- Receive basic recommendations based on their behaviour and seller data
- Unlock seller contact details for a specific property by paying a fee (example: ₹49 per property)
- Easy redirect to seller's whatsapp, phone or email after payment
- Shortlist / Wishlist properties
- Push notifications for relevant recommendations and updates
Seller Experience
- Register and get verified as a Seller
- Pay a subscription fee (example: ₹149) to unlock the ability to publish after adding properties
- Create, edit, and update only their own property listings
- Upload photos, set price, and add property details
- View enquiries received on their listings
- Basic performance view (views and enquiry count)
- Cannot browse or search the full marketplace
Common Features
- Profile management
- Notification centre
- Support and help section
- Clear display of verification and payment/subscription status
5.3 Monetisation Model (Version 1.0)
| User Type | Charge | Purpose | Example Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seller | Subscription | Required to add / publish property listings | ₹149 |
| Buyer | Per-property fee | Required to view seller contact details for a specific property | ₹49 |
Payments will be processed through an integrated payment gateway. Admin will have full visibility of all transactions.
5.4 Recommendation Engine
A basic recommendation system will suggest relevant properties to buyers. Recommendations will be driven by:
- Buyer preferences and behaviour (searches, shortlists, viewed properties)
- Property attributes and details provided by sellers
- Location, budget range, and property type matching
5.5 Listing Management & Admin Approval
The system will enforce a controlled listing workflow:
- Sellers publish property listings after paying the subscription
- All new listings enter a Pending Approval state
- Admins review listings for quality, completeness, and potential duplicates
- System will flag possible duplicate listings (based on location, price, description similarity, etc.) to assist admins
- Admins can Approve, Reject, or Request Changes
- Only approved listings become visible to buyers in the marketplace
- Clear audit trail of all approval actions
5.6 Web Admin Portal – Core Modules
| Module | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Dashboard | Overview of pending verifications, pending listings, active subscriptions, revenue, and key metrics |
| User Management | View and manage all buyers and sellers |
| Verification Queue | Approve or reject buyer and seller profiles (phone + email) |
| Listing Moderation | Review, approve, reject, or flag property listings; detect and prevent duplicates |
| Subscription & Payments | View seller subscriptions and buyer contact unlock transactions |
| Data Export | Easy export of buyer and seller information (CSV / Excel) for internal use, marketing, or compliance |
| Reports & Analytics | User growth, listing performance, revenue, verification turnaround, and recommendation effectiveness |
6. High-Level User Journeys
Buyer Journey
Discovers platform via Landing Page -> Downloads app -> Registers as Buyer -> Completes phone + email verification -> Admin approves -> Browses marketplace and receives recommendations -> Pays ₹49 to unlock seller contact details for a property -> Connects with seller.
Seller Journey
Discovers platform via Landing Page -> Downloads app → Registers as Seller -> Completes phone + email verification -> Admin approves -> Pays ₹149 subscription -> Adds property listing -> Listing goes for admin approval -> Once approved, listing appears in the marketplace -> Receives enquiries from buyers who unlock contact details.
7. Scope Definition
In Scope for Version 1.0
- Public Landing Page with Buyer demo, Seller demo, real data display, and clear pricing
- Mobile app with separate Buyer and Seller experiences (no mode switching)
- Phone + Email verification for both buyers and sellers
- Admin-controlled user approval
- Seller subscription (example ₹149) required to add properties
- Buyer per-property contact unlock fee (example ₹49)
- Basic recommendation engine
- Controlled listing submission and admin approval workflow with duplicate detection support
- In-app notifications and basic enquiry flow
- Admin ability to easily export buyer and seller data
- Web Admin Portal covering verification, listing moderation, payments, and exports
Proposed Next Phase (Future Enhancements)
- Advanced recommendation and personalisation engine
- Virtual property tours and 360° walkthroughs
- Dedicated Agent / Broker accounts
- In-app scheduling of property visits
- Full escrow / transaction support
- Multi-language support
- AI-assisted property descriptions
- Document e-signing
- Referral and loyalty programs
- Advanced fraud detection
- White-label options for agencies
- Higher-tier verification (document-based)
8. Operational, Legal & Setup Requirements
The following items are required for a proper and compliant launch:
Setup & One-Time Costs
| Category | Items Needed | Estimated Cost | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform Development | Complete platform built by us (Mobile App, Admin Portal, Landing Page, backend) | ₹30,000 | One-time |
| Domain | Brand-relevant domain (e.g., shahestates.com / .in), privacy protection, DNS setup | ₹800 – ₹1,500 | Annual |
| Branding | Logo, brand colours, typography | – | One-time |
| Legal Identity | Trademark registration (recommended) | – | One-time |
| Google Play Store | Google Play developer account, app listing assets | ₹3,000 | One-time |
| Apple App Store | Apple Developer account, app listing assets | – (Not required for now) | – |
| Legal Documents | Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, Company Policy, Refund & Cancellation Policy | – | One-time |
| Data Protection | Data protection and privacy compliance measures, user consent flows, secure storage of personal data | Included in development | — |
| Payments Setup | Payment gateway (Razorpay or Stripe) setup and compliance (including GST handling if applicable) | - | One-time |
Running Costs (Recurring)
| Item | Estimated Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting / Cloud | Observed & shared after 2 – 3 months | Finalized only after watching application behavior in production (tentatively ~₹2,000/month) |
| Payment Gateway | Up to 2% per transaction | Charged on seller subscriptions and buyer contact unlocks |
| SMS OTP Gateway | ₹0.20 – ₹0.60 per OTP | Charged per OTP sent for phone verification |
| Domain Renewal | ₹800 – ₹1,500 per year | Annual auto-renew |
Note: All amounts are approximate estimates in INR / USD and may vary based on vendors, region, and negotiated rates. Hosting cost will be assessed and communicated after the application has been live for 2 – 3 months.
Done by Us (mizanseek.com)
- Design and development of the Mobile Application (Android) with separate Buyer and Seller experiences (iOS later, if needed)
- Design and development of the Web Admin Portal (dashboard, verification queue, listing moderation, payments, exports)
- Design and development of the Public Landing Page
- Backend development (APIs, server, database) and cloud infrastructure setup
- QA / testing and handover of the complete platform
Done by You (SHAH estates)
- Provide brand assets: logo, brand colours, typography (or approve ours)
- Purchase and provide domain name (or approve us to register it on your behalf)
- Create / pay for Google Play Store account (Apple App Store not required for now — Android only)
- Provide / pay for hosting and cloud infrastructure accounts (cost observed & shared after 2 – 3 months, tentatively ~₹2,000/month)
- Provide company registration documents and legal identity details
- Approve legal documents (Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, Company Policy, Refund & Cancellation Policy) — drafting can be done by us or your legal team
- Complete payment gateway KYC and compliance formalities (including GST details if applicable)
- Approve app store listing assets (screenshots, descriptions)
- Day-to-day platform operations: user verification approvals, listing moderation, and payment oversight after launch
- Provide property data / seed content for the initial marketplace (if needed)
- Approve final designs and sign off on each delivery milestone
Document Status: Final Draft
Prepared by: mizanseek.com
Prepared for: SHAH estates