The decision to make first
A webhook recipient needs to distinguish an authentic inquiry event from an arbitrary request and avoid processing the same event repeatedly. Use an authenticated endpoint, a defined payload and a stable event identifier before connecting automated inquiry delivery.
What the handoff should contain
Specify event type, inquiry ID, property reference, permitted contact fields, timestamp and the receiving team’s failure owner.
Suggested wording to approve
Example wording: “The webhook transfers an inquiry record for processing. Successful delivery does not mean an agent has accepted the inquiry or that a showing is confirmed.”
Test the difficult case
Test an invalid signature or credential, a duplicate event and a malformed property field using fictional records. Do not expose an unauthenticated endpoint that accepts arbitrary client records or include private credentials inside the event content.
Worked example
Fictional example: Send a fictional event twice, then repeat the payload with invalid authentication. The receiver should avoid duplicate business work for the authentic repeat and reject the unauthenticated request. A sender log showing three HTTP attempts does not prove that the destination handled identity, validation and replay behavior correctly.
Review it in operation
Review failed deliveries with minimal sensitive logging and make the receiver responsible for reconciling events it cannot process.
Check before you launch
- Use an authenticated endpoint, a defined payload and a stable event identifier before connecting automated inquiry delivery.
- Specify event type, inquiry ID, property reference, permitted contact fields, timestamp and the receiving team’s failure owner.
- Test an invalid signature or credential, a duplicate event and a malformed property field using fictional records.
- Review failed deliveries with minimal sensitive logging and make the receiver responsible for reconciling events it cannot process.
Further reading
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