From Idea to MVP: Building Rwanda’s First Comprehensive Real Estate Platform
Every developer dreams of building something that solves a real-world problem. For me, that dream was Murugo, a real estate platform designed to modernize the property market in Rwanda. This is the story of how Murugo went from a simple idea to a Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
The Problem: A Fragmented Market
Finding a property in Rwanda often involves a frustrating mix of word-of-mouth referrals, endless scrolling through social media groups, and dealing with outdated listings. I saw a clear need for a centralized, reliable platform that could connect landlords, renters, and buyers in a seamless and efficient way.
The Vision: A One-Stop Shop for Real Estate
My vision for Murugo was simple: create a platform that would be:
- Comprehensive: A single place for all property listings, from apartments to commercial spaces.
- User-Friendly: An intuitive interface for both property seekers and landlords.
- Trustworthy: Verified listings and secure communication channels.
Choosing the Right Tools: Why Laravel?
For the foundation of Murugo, I chose Laravel, a powerful PHP framework. Here’s why:
- Rapid Development: Laravel’s elegant syntax and built-in features allowed me to build the MVP quickly.
- Scalability: I knew that Murugo would need to grow, and Laravel’s architecture is designed for scalability.
- Ecosystem: Laravel has a vast ecosystem of packages and tools that I could leverage for features like authentication, image handling, and more.
Building the MVP: Core Features
The MVP focused on the essential features needed to launch the platform:
- User Authentication: Secure registration and login for landlords and renters.
- Property Listings: A simple form for landlords to create and manage their properties.
- Search and Filtering: Basic search functionality to help users find properties based on location, price, and type.
- Property Details Page: A dedicated page for each property with images, descriptions, and contact information.
Challenges and Lessons Learned
Building the MVP was not without its challenges. I had to make decisions about the database, server configuration, and deployment process. In the next post, I’ll dive into the “Database Dilemma” and explain why I started with SQLite and when I knew it was time to switch to something more powerful.
Stay tuned for the next chapter in the Murugo journey!