Six weeks in. The foundation is laid, the walls are up, and people are actually walking through the door. Now comes the part where we make this thing genuinely great.
We've been listening to every piece of feedback that comes through, reading every flag report, watching which features get used and which ones collect dust. And we have a clear picture of where to go next.
What's on the Workbench
Photo uploads for listings. This is the most-requested feature by a mile, and for good reason. Nobody wants to buy a couch they can't see. We're building a clean, fast image uploader that works even on a shaky subway connection. Multiple photos per listing. No stock photos allowed.
Neighborhood-level notifications. Right now you get notified about activity across your borough. But if you're in Bushwick, you probably don't need to hear about every stoop sale in Bay Ridge. We're building granular notification controls tied to your specific neighborhood.
Direct messaging improvements. The current messaging system works, but it's bare bones. We're adding read receipts, the ability to share listings in a conversation, and better organization so your inbox doesn't become a mess.
Saved searches. Looking for a one-bedroom in Astoria under $2,000? Set it and forget it. We'll ping you when something matches.
Business dashboard. Local shops told us they want analytics on their listings and profile views. We're building a simple dashboard that shows what's working without drowning anyone in data.
What We're Not Building
Just as important as what we're adding is what we're deliberately leaving out:
- No algorithmic feed. Your feed shows what's new, not what some engagement model thinks you should see.
- No promoted posts that look like organic content. If something is an ad, it'll say so.
- No social features for the sake of social features. We're not adding stories, reels, or reactions. The Porch is for conversation, not performance.
The Timeline
We ship fast because we're small. Most of these features will roll out over the next four to six weeks. Photos and saved searches are first in line.
We're building this in public, so you'll hear about it as it happens. And if there's something you want that isn't on this list, tell us. We read everything. Seriously. We're a small team and your feedback goes straight to the people writing the code.
This is still early. The best version of The NYC Classifieds hasn't been built yet. But it's getting closer every day.