College is expensive. Textbooks, dorm supplies, class equipment, and everyday items add up quickly. At Lehigh, most students rely on scattered GroupMe chats, Instagram stories, or random word-of-mouth to buy and sell things. It is unreliable, unorganized, and not always safe.
We wanted something better. Something simple, student focused, and built around real campus life. DormDealz came from the idea that every student should have access to affordable resources without sorting through dozens of group chats. A clean and safe marketplace designed specifically for Lehigh students felt like the perfect solution.
What it does: DormDealz is a student to student marketplace and messaging platform built for Lehigh University. Students can: Buy and sell textbooks, electronics, dorm items, class equipment, and more Browse items in a familiar marketplace style layout Filter by category, condition, price range, or keywords with auto updating search View detailed listings with multi image galleries Chat safely using an integrated messaging system React to messages and reply to specific messages Block and report users Save items for later Manage listings and conversations in a single place It creates a convenient and safe space for students to get what they need at reasonable prices.
Dynamic filtering that updates listings in real time
A full buying and selling flow that works from start to finish
A fully branded Lehigh look with smooth animations and transitions
Building a complete full stack product within a hackathon timeframe
What we learned
How to structure JSON storage so it works more like a simple database
Better UI and UX design principles such as responsive layouts and clean grid systems
How to build larger front end features without any frameworks
How to keep Flask endpoints clean and modular
How to design safe digital spaces with block and report systems
How to work quickly and efficiently while still focusing on quality
DormDealz helped us practice full stack development, product design, teamwork, and problem solving.
What is next for DormDealz
DormDealz has plenty of room to grow into a full production platform. Future plans include:
Payment integration using PayPal, Stripe, or Venmo
Email notifications for new messages
Ratings and reviews for sellers
Price history insights
Automatic listing expiration and relisting options
Textbook search that matches items to a student schedule
Admin tools for moderation
Better image handling and CDN hosting
A full mobile app using React Native or Flutter
Our goal is to make DormDealz a trusted and essential tool for the Lehigh community.
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