The Software House was chosen to help Property Finder refactor their legacy systems and develop a completely new data platform for real estate agents across the UAE region.
Property Finder, the UAE's largest property marketplace, had systems that were getting old and slow. Their existing modules ran on server-side rendering, which meant longer load times and a dated user experience. They needed a partner who could not only help them modernize what they had but also build something entirely new from the ground up.
Partnership goal:
→ Modernize Property Finder's existing systems and develop a brand new data platform to serve real estate agents more efficiently across the UAE and the region.
Property Finder
Property Finder is the largest property real estate marketplace in the UAE and the entire region. They provide access to a wide range of residential and commercial properties for both sale and rent, connecting property seekers with real estate agents across the Gulf and Middle East markets.
INDUSTRY
Real Estate / PropTech
COUNTRY
United Arab Emirates
SERVICE PROVIDED
DevOps, Platform modernization
Challenge
Property Finder's existing systems were built on older technology that was starting to show its age. The modules they relied on were based on server-side rendering, which meant slower performance and limited scalability as their business grew.
But this wasn't just about fixing what was broken. Property Finder saw an opportunity to build something entirely new - a dedicated platform that would give real estate agents better tools to do their job. They needed a partner who could handle both the modernization of their current systems and the development of this new platform from scratch.
Key challenges Property Finder faced:
-> Legacy systems built on outdated server-side rendering technology
-> Slow loading times affecting user experience
-> Need to refresh and optimize existing service modules and management panel
-> Requirement to build a completely new platform (Data Finder) with its own API
-> Finding a reliable DevOps partner to support the refactoring process
Solution
The Software House started by proving ourselves with DevOps services. Once Property Finder saw we understood their infrastructure and business needs, the engagement expanded into full-scale web development projects. We took a two-pronged approach: first, modernize what exists; second, build what's needed.
For the existing modules, we didn't just patch things up. We introduced lazy loading so different sections could load separately, cutting down load times significantly. This meant users got faster access to the features they needed without waiting for everything to load at once. For the completely new Data Finder platform, we started from a blank slate and chose a modern tech stack that would support Property Finder's growth for years to come.
Process
Technology Stack:
Backend: PHP (latest version), Symfony framework
Database: PostgreSQL
Frontend: TypeScript, React
Testing: Comprehensive automated test suite
Development Process:
We began by reviewing the existing codebase of the modules we were asked to modernize. The code review revealed opportunities for significant performance improvements, particularly around how content was being rendered and loaded.
Modernizing Existing Systems
We updated PHP and React to the newest version, and decided to introduce strongly-typed TypeScript language.
Then our priority was to improve load times. We introduced lazy loading across the platform, allowing different sections to load independently rather than all at once.
The work on the existing modules and management panel focused on optimization and refactoring. We updated outdated patterns, improved code quality, and made sure the systems could handle increased traffic without performance degradation.
Building Data Finder From Scratch
For the new Data Finder platform, we had the opportunity to build with modern best practices from day one. We selected the latest version of PHP paired with the Symfony framework for the backend, giving us a solid foundation for complex business logic and API development.
PostgreSQL was our database choice - one of the most advanced relational databases available, perfect for handling the complex property data relationships and queries that real estate agents would need. On the frontend, we went with TypeScript and React to deliver clean, maintainable code that would be easy to extend as new features were added.
Testing was baked into our development process. We wrote detailed automated tests for all components to ensure everything worked properly and securely before it reached production. This meant fewer bugs, faster deployment cycles, and more confidence in every release.
Outcome
Property Finder's filled a talent gap in days and modernized their systems for faster load times and a significantly improved user experience.
→ Over 500 real estate agents actively using the new Data Finder platform across the UAE and the region
→ Significantly reduced loading times through lazy loading implementation across existing modules
→ Long-term partnership established with ongoing cooperation to maintain service quality and continue development
