How the broker filter actually works

"Broker-free" is easy to say. Hard to enforce. Here's how we actually do it.

Layer 1 — Self-declaration block at signup

Every signup form has a checkbox: *"I am a broker, agent or property dealer."* Ticking it blocks the registration immediately. False declaration is a punishable offence under IPC §415–420 (cheating + fraudulent inducement). Most brokers will try anyway — that's why we have layer 2.

Layer 2 — Heuristic name/email matching

A simple word-list scans the full name and email for broker-tell words: `broker`, `broker\s`, `realtor`, `realty`, `agency`, `consultancy`, `consultants`, `property dealer`, `dealer`, `estates`, `associates`. A match doesn't auto-block — it asks the user to re-confirm and shows the matched signals. Real owners shrug and proceed. Brokers usually abandon.

Layer 3 — Community reporting

Every property page has a "⚠ Suspect this is a broker? Report" button. Reports go straight to the admin queue. Confirmed brokers get banned, their listings hidden, and they get an email explaining why. The Layer 2 heuristic gets a new word added if the report surfaced a new pattern.

On the builder side

For the *directory* of builders + projects, we only ingest from MahaRERA's Promoter classification — by Indian law, brokers register as Agents, not Promoters. They literally can't appear on our /projects page. We layer a domain blocklist (NoBroker, MagicBricks, 99acres, Housing.com, SquareYards, JustDial, PropertyPistol, etc.) on top of the RERA filter as a belt-and-suspenders.

What we don't do

• We don't do "verified broker" labels. We don't want a broker on the platform, period.
• We don't allow rebrand-as-a-prop-dealer-to-skirt-the-ban. Same heuristic catches "dealer", "realty", "consultancy".
• We don't trust user-uploaded "no broker" promises. Trust but verify — community reporting is part of the loop.

This is an arms race. We win it by being more annoying to brokers than they are to seekers.