Finding a student sublease near Purdue has historically been a chaotic, unstructured process. Students were forced to chase unverified leads across Facebook groups, Snapchat stories, and Instagram DMs. A system full of noise, scams, and incomplete information where getting basic details like pricing and availability could take weeks of back-and-forth.
BoilerSub is a gated, Purdue-exclusive subleasing marketplace built specifically for the West Lafayette housing market. It centralizes listings, standardizes property data, verifies every user, and keeps all communication on-platform. Giving students a clear, trusted path to sublease housing.
Engineered a strict verification gate requiring a @purdue.edu email address. Integrated an OTP (One-Time Password) email verification flow to block spam, eliminate bad actors, and build a high-trust user base from day one.
Built and deployed a scalable backend architecture on Supabase. Managed secure database APIs for data fetching, implemented strict rate limiting for platform stability, and established owner-only row-level protections to prevent unauthorized listing modifications.
Programmed a cross-device, QR-driven workflow allowing users to seamlessly capture listing photos directly from their mobile device while working on desktop. This removes friction from the publishing process and dramatically speeds up listing creation.
Integrated an interactive 3D panorama viewer into detailed listing pages, giving prospective subtenants a virtual walkthrough of the space before ever reaching out. Reduces low-intent inquiries and increases listing quality signal.
Developed a secure, built-in live messaging system featuring inbox threading, real-time chats, and message edit/delete capabilities. Entirely eliminates the need for users to share personal phone numbers or rely on external social media DMs.