Full-Stack Development Team for Global Real Estate Franchiser
A global real estate franchiser with over 15,000 agents worldwide was in search of tech talent to enhance its core application suite supporting operations for all US-based agents. Their VP of Technology, a St. Louis native, reached out to Happen initially seeking a talented UX Designer.
To support the rapid digital evolution, Happen was engaged to provide strategic staffing solutions. Starting with a high-priority UX Designer placement, the partnership quickly expanded to include a full-stack engineering team. Through our rigorous vetting process and fast delivery, we helped the client enhance usability, performance, and deliver new features across their core application suite—earning long-term trust and continued collaboration.
CHALLENGES
Needed to transition from a small in-house development team to a scalable model.
Required support for both new client buildouts and ongoing maintenance of existing client websites.
Sought a solution that could scale with their growing pipeline while maintaining quality and speed.
OUR SOLUTIONS
Provided a dedicated team of skilled developers to augment their in-house capabilities.
Implemented an agile staffing model, starting very small and then scaling team size based on pipeline growth.
Established streamlined workflows to ensure seamless collaboration between in-house and external teams.
Introduced best practices for development, quality assurance, and deployment to enhance efficiency.
OUR COOPERATION
The initial team included a WordPress developer, a part-time Webflow developer, and a part-time project manager. As the agency’s workload has increased over the years, we’ve seamlessly scaled the team to match demand. We continue to meet with client stakeholders biweekly and onboard additional members as their project pipeline continues to grow.
KICK-OFF MEETINGS
TEAM EXPANSION
INTERVIEW PROCESS
01/ Culture & Language Screening
- Ensured strong English communication skills
- Explored candidate fit with both Happen and the client’s company culture
02/ Technical Interview
- In-depth, 90-minute session led by a tech lead in a similar tech stack
- Follow-up to assess coachability, critical thinking, and openness to feedback
03/ Meet the Leadership
- Facilitated by Happen founders
- Assessed team dynamics, pressure handling, and alignment with company values
OUTCOME
The agency consistently reports positive feedback from both its internal stakeholders and end clients. With the dedicated team in place, they’ve been able to deliver projects faster, take on larger engagements, and enhance their already high standard of client service. Our scalable staffing solution has provided the flexibility they needed to grow without operational bottlenecks.
Hours Saved
Cultural Screenings
Technical Interviews
Wanna work with us?
FAQs
Why would an agency choose a full dedicated team rather than outsourcing individual projects?
Project-based outsourcing seems flexible—but it often limits collaboration. Every decision gets filtered through budgets, scopes, and approvals, which slows things down and discourages doing things the "right" way. With a dedicated team, you're not negotiating every tweak—you’re building momentum. Your devs think like part of your agency, help you make smarter technical calls, and move faster. Plus, their effective hourly rate is typically lower than freelancers or dev shops. It's more control, better work, and stronger margins.
How long does it take to place a top-tier software developer?
Our average placement time for a developer for a long-term contract (6+ MO) is three weeks.
Do I have to replace my in-house devs, or can Happen support my existing team?
We’ve seen great success with both scenarios. We can add 2-3 devs/designers to your current team or we can BE your team. It’s up to you.
