System Requirements Document

1. Introduction

This System Requirements Document (SRD) outlines the functional and non-functional requirements for PropertyHub, a full-stack MERN (MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, Node.js) real estate property listing platform. It serves as a comprehensive guide for the design, development, testing, and deployment of the system, ensuring alignment between stakeholders and the engineering team.

2. System Overview

PropertyHub is a web-based property marketplace designed to facilitate the discovery, management, and inquiry of real estate listings. It supports various user roles, including Buyers, Agents, and Admins, each with distinct capabilities. The platform is built using the MERN stack and features a responsive single-page application with a REST API backend.

3. Functional Requirements

3.1 Authentication & Authorization

• As a user, I want to register as a Buyer or Agent with my name, email, password, and phone number.
• As a system, I must reject any public registration request that specifies the Admin role.
• As a user, I want to authenticate using my email and password and receive a JWT upon successful login.
• As a system, I must hash all passwords with bcrypt before storing them.
• As a user, I want to log out and invalidate my session/token.
• As a user, I want to retrieve my profile information via a "Get Current User" endpoint.
• As an authenticated user, I want to change my password after verifying my current password.
• As a user, I want to reset my password using a secure, time-limited reset link/token.
• As a system, I must enforce role-based authorization on all protected API routes.
• As a system, I must apply rate limiting to authentication endpoints to prevent brute-force attacks.

3.2 User Profile Management

• As a user, I want to view and update my profile information, including my name, phone, and avatar.
• As a user, I want to upload and replace my profile photo via cloud storage.
• As an Agent, I want to maintain an extended profile with bio, experience, specialization, and location.
• As a user, I want to view a public Agent profile page listing the agent's active properties, rating, and contact options.

3.3 Property Management (Agent)

• As an Agent, I want to add a property using a multi-step form that includes Basic Info, Pricing, Details, Location, Amenities, Media, Preview, and Submit.
• As a system, I must validate all property fields on both the client and server before storing them.
• As an Agent, I want to edit or delete a property I own, subject to confirmation.
• As a system, I must support various property types and statuses, including Pending, Approved, Rejected, Sold, Rented, and Inactive.
• As a system, I must set a newly submitted property's status to Pending until reviewed by an Admin.

3.4 Property Media & Upload

• As a user, I want to upload multiple images per property via drag-and-drop or file picker.
• As a user, I want to see a live preview and upload progress for each media file.
• As a user, I want to reorder uploaded images and designate a primary image.
• As a system, I must validate file types and sizes for every upload and reject non-conforming files.
• As a system, I must store all media via Cloudinary or an equivalent cloud storage provider.

3.5 Property Search, Filtering & Sorting

• As a user, I want to search for properties using location, property type, listing type, and budget.
• As a user, I want to filter properties by various criteria such as city, price range, and amenities.
• As a user, I want to sort search results by Newest, Price, Most Viewed, and Most Popular.
• As a user, I want to view search results in Grid, List, and Map views with synchronized filter state.

3.6 Property Details

• As a user, I want to view a full property details page with an image gallery and interactive map.
• As a user, I want to see detailed property information, including price, type, and amenities.
• As a user, I want to contact the listing agent directly from the property details page.

3.7 Favorites, Comparison, Saved Searches & Recently Viewed

• As a Buyer, I want to save properties as favorites and manage them on a dedicated page.
• As a Buyer, I want to compare up to 3 properties side-by-side.
• As a Buyer, I want to save search criteria for later reuse and manage notifications for saved searches.
• As a Buyer, I want to view a list of recently viewed properties.

3.8 Inquiry System

• As a Buyer, I want to submit an inquiry for a specific property or agent.
• As a Buyer, I want to track the status of my inquiries.
• As an Agent, I want to view and respond to inquiries received on my listings.

3.9 Notifications

• As a user, I want to receive notifications for various events, such as new inquiries and property approvals.
• As a user, I want to view and manage my notifications in-app and via email.

3.10 Agent Dashboard & Analytics

• As an Agent, I want a dashboard summarizing my properties, views, favorites, and inquiries.
• As an Agent, I want to manage my listings and profile from the dashboard.

3.11 Admin Dashboard & Platform Management

• As an Admin, I want a dashboard with metrics on users, agents, properties, and inquiries.
• As an Admin, I want to manage users, agents, categories, locations, and featured listings.

3.12 Property Approval Workflow

• As an Admin, I want to approve, reject, or request changes on pending properties.
• As a system, I must notify the submitting Agent of the review outcome.

3.13 Reporting & Moderation

• As a Buyer, I want to report properties for issues like incorrect information or fraud.
• As an Admin, I want to review reported properties and take appropriate action.

3.14 Maps, EMI Calculator & Utilities

• As a user, I want to view property markers on an interactive map.
• As a user, I want to use a home-loan EMI calculator for financial planning.
• As a user, I want to switch between Light, Dark, and System display modes.

4. User Personas

• Buyer/User: General public users who browse, search, and inquire about properties.
• Agent: Real-estate professionals or property owners who list and manage properties.
• Admin: Platform operators responsible for moderation, configuration, and oversight.

5. Core User Flows

Buyer/User

1. Register or log in to the platform.
2. Search for properties using various filters.
3. View property details and contact agents.
4. Save properties as favorites and manage saved searches.
5. Submit inquiries and track their status.

Agent

1. Register or log in to the platform.
2. Create and manage property listings.
3. Respond to buyer inquiries.
4. View analytics and manage profile from the dashboard.

Admin

1. Log in to the platform.
2. Review and approve/reject property listings.
3. Manage users, agents, and platform settings.
4. Monitor platform metrics and reports.

6. Visuals Colors and Theme

The application will feature a modern, responsive design with support for light, dark, and system themes, styled using Tailwind CSS.

7. Signature Design Concept

The design will draw inspiration from leading real estate platforms, featuring a clean, intuitive interface with a focus on usability and accessibility.

8. Interaction Model & Motion Direction

The application will use smooth transitions and animations to enhance user experience without obstructing core interactions.

9. Non-Functional Requirements

• Performance: The system must paginate property listings and use MongoDB indexes for efficient querying.
• Security: The system must apply security headers, rate limiting, and input validation to protect against attacks.
• Usability & Accessibility: The UI must be consistent and accessible, supporting keyboard navigation and color contrast.
• Reliability & Availability: The system must handle errors gracefully and provide actionable error messages.
• Scalability & Maintainability: The architecture must support independent scaling and maintenance of components.
• SEO: The system must generate SEO-friendly URLs and include meta tags for property pages.
• Compatibility: The application must render correctly on major browsers and be fully responsive.

10. Tech Stack

• Frontend: React.js + Vite, Tailwind CSS, Redux Toolkit
• Backend: Node.js with Express.js
• Database: MongoDB with Mongoose ODM
• Authentication: JWT + bcrypt
• Media Storage: Cloudinary
• Maps Provider: Google Maps API or Mapbox
• Email Delivery: Nodemailer

11. Assumptions and Constraints

• The system must strictly follow the MERN stack.
• Admin accounts are created via a privileged internal process.
• All private API endpoints must be protected by authentication and role-based authorization middleware.

12. Glossary

• MERN: MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, Node.js
• JWT: JSON Web Token
• CRUD: Create, Read, Update, Delete
• EMI: Equated Monthly Installment
• SRS: Software Requirements Specification
• API: Application Programming Interface
• RBAC: Role-Based Access Control
• SEO: Search Engine Optimization
• FR: Functional Requirement
• NFR: Non-Functional Requirement