Add last_update_date filtering and improve time interface DX

Part A: Add last_update_date filtering (client-side)
- Add updated_since parameter (accepts datetime object or ISO string)
- Add updated_in_past_hours parameter (accepts int or timedelta)
- Implement _apply_last_update_date_filter() method for client-side filtering
- Add mutual exclusion validation for updated_* parameters

Part B: Improve time interface DX
- Accept datetime/timedelta objects for datetime_from, datetime_to
- Accept timedelta objects for past_hours, past_days
- Add type conversion helper functions in utils.py
- Improve validation error messages with specific examples
- Update validate_datetime to accept datetime objects

Helper functions added:
- convert_to_datetime_string() - Converts datetime objects to ISO strings
- extract_timedelta_hours() - Extracts hours from timedelta objects
- extract_timedelta_days() - Extracts days from timedelta objects
- validate_last_update_filters() - Validates last_update_date parameters

All changes are backward compatible - existing string/int parameters still work.

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)

Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>

homeharvest/__init__.py

@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
 import warnings
 import pandas as pd
+from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 from .core.scrapers import ScraperInput
-from .utils import process_result, ordered_properties, validate_input, validate_dates, validate_limit, validate_offset, validate_datetime, validate_filters, validate_sort
+from .utils import (
+    process_result, ordered_properties, validate_input, validate_dates, validate_limit,
+    validate_offset, validate_datetime, validate_filters, validate_sort, validate_last_update_filters,
+    convert_to_datetime_string, extract_timedelta_hours, extract_timedelta_days
+)
 from .core.scrapers.realtor import RealtorScraper
 from .core.scrapers.models import ListingType, SearchPropertyType, ReturnType, Property
 from typing import Union, Optional, List
@@ -13,7 +18,7 @@ def scrape_property(
     property_type: Optional[List[str]] = None,
     radius: float = None,
     mls_only: bool = False,
-    past_days: int = None,
+    past_days: int | timedelta = None,
     proxy: str = None,
     date_from: str = None,
     date_to: str = None,
@@ -23,9 +28,12 @@ def scrape_property(
     limit: int = 10000,
     offset: int = 0,
     # New date/time filtering parameters
-    past_hours: int = None,
+    past_hours: int | timedelta = None,
-    datetime_from: str = None,
+    datetime_from: datetime | str = None,
-    datetime_to: str = None,
+    datetime_to: datetime | str = None,
+    # New last_update_date filtering parameters
+    updated_since: datetime | str = None,
+    updated_in_past_hours: int | timedelta = None,
     # New property filtering parameters
     beds_min: int = None,
     beds_max: int = None,
@@ -67,8 +75,10 @@ def scrape_property(
     :param offset: Starting position for pagination within the 10k limit (offset + limit cannot exceed 10,000). Use with limit to fetch results in chunks (e.g., offset=200, limit=200 fetches results 200-399). Should be a multiple of 200 (page size) for optimal performance. Default is 0. Note: Cannot be used to bypass the 10k API limit - use date ranges (date_from/date_to) to narrow searches and fetch more data.
 
     New parameters:
-    :param past_hours: Get properties in the last _ hours (requires client-side filtering)
+    :param past_hours: Get properties in the last _ hours (requires client-side filtering). Accepts int or timedelta.
-    :param datetime_from, datetime_to: ISO 8601 datetime strings for precise time filtering (e.g. "2025-01-20T14:30:00")
+    :param datetime_from, datetime_to: Precise time filtering. Accepts datetime objects or ISO 8601 strings (e.g. "2025-01-20T14:30:00")
+    :param updated_since: Filter by last_update_date (when property was last updated). Accepts datetime object or ISO 8601 string (client-side filtering)
+    :param updated_in_past_hours: Filter by properties updated in the last _ hours. Accepts int or timedelta (client-side filtering)
     :param beds_min, beds_max: Filter by number of bedrooms
     :param baths_min, baths_max: Filter by number of bathrooms
     :param sqft_min, sqft_max: Filter by square footage
@@ -77,6 +87,8 @@ def scrape_property(
     :param year_built_min, year_built_max: Filter by year built
     :param sort_by: Sort results by field (list_date, sold_date, list_price, sqft, beds, baths, last_update_date)
     :param sort_direction: Sort direction (asc, desc)
+
+    Note: past_days and past_hours also accept timedelta objects for more Pythonic usage.
     """
     validate_input(listing_type)
     validate_dates(date_from, date_to)
@@ -90,6 +102,12 @@ def scrape_property(
     )
     validate_sort(sort_by, sort_direction)
 
+    # Validate new last_update_date filtering parameters
+    validate_last_update_filters(
+        convert_to_datetime_string(updated_since),
+        extract_timedelta_hours(updated_in_past_hours)
+    )
+
     # Convert listing_type to appropriate format
     if listing_type is None:
         converted_listing_type = None
@@ -98,6 +116,14 @@ def scrape_property(
     else:
         converted_listing_type = ListingType(listing_type.upper())
 
+    # Convert datetime/timedelta objects to appropriate formats
+    converted_past_days = extract_timedelta_days(past_days)
+    converted_past_hours = extract_timedelta_hours(past_hours)
+    converted_datetime_from = convert_to_datetime_string(datetime_from)
+    converted_datetime_to = convert_to_datetime_string(datetime_to)
+    converted_updated_since = convert_to_datetime_string(updated_since)
+    converted_updated_in_past_hours = extract_timedelta_hours(updated_in_past_hours)
+
     scraper_input = ScraperInput(
         location=location,
         listing_type=converted_listing_type,
@@ -106,7 +132,7 @@ def scrape_property(
         proxy=proxy,
         radius=radius,
         mls_only=mls_only,
-        last_x_days=past_days,
+        last_x_days=converted_past_days,
         date_from=date_from,
         date_to=date_to,
         foreclosure=foreclosure,
@@ -115,9 +141,12 @@ def scrape_property(
         limit=limit,
         offset=offset,
         # New date/time filtering
-        past_hours=past_hours,
+        past_hours=converted_past_hours,
-        datetime_from=datetime_from,
+        datetime_from=converted_datetime_from,
-        datetime_to=datetime_to,
+        datetime_to=converted_datetime_to,
+        # New last_update_date filtering
+        updated_since=converted_updated_since,
+        updated_in_past_hours=converted_updated_in_past_hours,
         # New property filtering
         beds_min=beds_min,
         beds_max=beds_max,

homeharvest/core/scrapers/__init__.py

@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ class ScraperInput(BaseModel):
     datetime_from: str | None = None
     datetime_to: str | None = None
 
+    # New last_update_date filtering parameters
+    updated_since: str | None = None
+    updated_in_past_hours: int | None = None
+
     # New property filtering parameters
     beds_min: int | None = None
     beds_max: int | None = None
@@ -115,6 +119,10 @@ class Scraper:
         self.datetime_from = scraper_input.datetime_from
         self.datetime_to = scraper_input.datetime_to
 
+        # New last_update_date filtering
+        self.updated_since = scraper_input.updated_since
+        self.updated_in_past_hours = scraper_input.updated_in_past_hours
+
         # New property filtering
         self.beds_min = scraper_input.beds_min
         self.beds_max = scraper_input.beds_max

homeharvest/core/scrapers/realtor/__init__.py

@@ -558,6 +558,10 @@ class RealtorScraper(Scraper):
         elif self.listing_type == ListingType.PENDING and (self.last_x_days or self.date_from):
             homes = self._apply_pending_date_filter(homes)
 
+        # Apply client-side filtering by last_update_date if specified
+        if self.updated_since or self.updated_in_past_hours:
+            homes = self._apply_last_update_date_filter(homes)
+
         # Apply client-side sort to ensure results are properly ordered
         # This is necessary after filtering and to guarantee sort order across page boundaries
         if self.sort_by:
@@ -730,6 +734,50 @@ class RealtorScraper(Scraper):
                 return getattr(home.flags, 'is_contingent', False)
             return False
 
+    def _apply_last_update_date_filter(self, homes):
+        """Apply client-side filtering by last_update_date.
+
+        This is used when updated_since or updated_in_past_hours are specified.
+        Filters properties based on when they were last updated.
+        """
+        if not homes:
+            return homes
+
+        from datetime import datetime, timedelta
+
+        # Determine date range for last_update_date filtering
+        date_range = None
+
+        if self.updated_in_past_hours:
+            cutoff_datetime = datetime.now() - timedelta(hours=self.updated_in_past_hours)
+            date_range = {'type': 'since', 'date': cutoff_datetime}
+        elif self.updated_since:
+            try:
+                since_datetime_str = self.updated_since.replace('Z', '+00:00') if self.updated_since.endswith('Z') else self.updated_since
+                since_datetime = datetime.fromisoformat(since_datetime_str).replace(tzinfo=None)
+                date_range = {'type': 'since', 'date': since_datetime}
+            except (ValueError, AttributeError):
+                return homes  # If parsing fails, return unfiltered
+
+        if not date_range:
+            return homes
+
+        filtered_homes = []
+
+        for home in homes:
+            # Extract last_update_date from the property
+            property_date = self._extract_date_from_home(home, 'last_update_date')
+
+            # Skip properties without last_update_date
+            if property_date is None:
+                continue
+
+            # Check if property date falls within the specified range
+            if self._is_datetime_in_range(property_date, date_range):
+                filtered_homes.append(home)
+
+        return filtered_homes
+
     def _get_date_range(self):
         """Get the date range for filtering based on instance parameters."""
         from datetime import datetime, timedelta

homeharvest/utils.py

@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ def validate_input(listing_type: str | list[str] | None) -> None:
 
 def validate_dates(date_from: str | None, date_to: str | None) -> None:
     if isinstance(date_from, str) != isinstance(date_to, str):
-        raise InvalidDate("Both date_from and date_to must be provided.")
+        raise InvalidDate("Both date_from and date_to must be provided together.")
 
     if date_from and date_to:
         try:
@@ -180,9 +180,16 @@ def validate_dates(date_from: str | None, date_to: str | None) -> None:
             date_to_obj = datetime.strptime(date_to, "%Y-%m-%d")
 
             if date_to_obj < date_from_obj:
-                raise InvalidDate("date_to must be after date_from.")
+                raise InvalidDate(f"date_to ('{date_to}') must be after date_from ('{date_from}').")
-        except ValueError:
+        except ValueError as e:
-            raise InvalidDate(f"Invalid date format or range")
+            # Provide specific guidance on the expected format
+            if "does not match format" in str(e):
+                raise InvalidDate(
+                    f"Invalid date format. Expected 'YYYY-MM-DD' format. "
+                    f"Examples: '2025-01-20', '2024-12-31'. "
+                    f"Got: date_from='{date_from}', date_to='{date_to}'"
+                )
+            raise InvalidDate(f"Invalid date format or range: {e}")
 
 
 def validate_limit(limit: int) -> None:
@@ -222,21 +229,53 @@ def validate_offset(offset: int, limit: int = 10000) -> None:
         )
 
 
-def validate_datetime(datetime_str: str | None) -> None:
+def validate_datetime(datetime_value) -> None:
-    """Validate ISO 8601 datetime format."""
+    """Validate datetime value (accepts datetime objects or ISO 8601 strings)."""
-    if not datetime_str:
+    if datetime_value is None:
         return
 
+    # Already a datetime object - valid
+    from datetime import datetime as dt, date
+    if isinstance(datetime_value, (dt, date)):
+        return
+
+    # Must be a string - validate ISO 8601 format
+    if not isinstance(datetime_value, str):
+        raise InvalidDate(
+            f"Invalid datetime value. Expected datetime object, date object, or ISO 8601 string. "
+            f"Got: {type(datetime_value).__name__}"
+        )
+
     try:
         # Try parsing as ISO 8601 datetime
-        datetime.fromisoformat(datetime_str.replace('Z', '+00:00'))
+        datetime.fromisoformat(datetime_value.replace('Z', '+00:00'))
     except (ValueError, AttributeError):
         raise InvalidDate(
-            f"Invalid datetime format: '{datetime_str}'. "
+            f"Invalid datetime format: '{datetime_value}'. "
             f"Expected ISO 8601 format (e.g., '2025-01-20T14:30:00' or '2025-01-20')."
         )
 
 
+def validate_last_update_filters(updated_since: str | None, updated_in_past_hours: int | None) -> None:
+    """Validate last_update_date filtering parameters."""
+    if updated_since and updated_in_past_hours:
+        raise ValueError(
+            "Cannot use both 'updated_since' and 'updated_in_past_hours' parameters together. "
+            "Please use only one method to filter by last_update_date."
+        )
+
+    # Validate updated_since format if provided
+    if updated_since:
+        validate_datetime(updated_since)
+
+    # Validate updated_in_past_hours range if provided
+    if updated_in_past_hours is not None:
+        if updated_in_past_hours < 1:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"updated_in_past_hours must be at least 1. Got: {updated_in_past_hours}"
+            )
+
+
 def validate_filters(
     beds_min: int | None = None,
     beds_max: int | None = None,
@@ -282,3 +321,95 @@ def validate_sort(sort_by: str | None, sort_direction: str | None = "desc") -> N
             f"Invalid sort_direction value: '{sort_direction}'. "
             f"Valid options: {', '.join(valid_directions)}"
         )
+
+
+def convert_to_datetime_string(value) -> str | None:
+    """
+    Convert datetime object or string to ISO 8601 string format.
+
+    Accepts:
+    - datetime.datetime objects
+    - datetime.date objects
+    - ISO 8601 strings (returned as-is)
+    - None (returns None)
+
+    Returns ISO 8601 formatted string or None.
+    """
+    if value is None:
+        return None
+
+    # Already a string - return as-is
+    if isinstance(value, str):
+        return value
+
+    # datetime.datetime object
+    from datetime import datetime, date
+    if isinstance(value, datetime):
+        return value.isoformat()
+
+    # datetime.date object (convert to datetime at midnight)
+    if isinstance(value, date):
+        return datetime.combine(value, datetime.min.time()).isoformat()
+
+    raise ValueError(
+        f"Invalid datetime value. Expected datetime object, date object, or ISO 8601 string. "
+        f"Got: {type(value).__name__}"
+    )
+
+
+def extract_timedelta_hours(value) -> int | None:
+    """
+    Extract hours from int or timedelta object.
+
+    Accepts:
+    - int (returned as-is)
+    - timedelta objects (converted to total hours)
+    - None (returns None)
+
+    Returns integer hours or None.
+    """
+    if value is None:
+        return None
+
+    # Already an int - return as-is
+    if isinstance(value, int):
+        return value
+
+    # timedelta object - convert to hours
+    from datetime import timedelta
+    if isinstance(value, timedelta):
+        return int(value.total_seconds() / 3600)
+
+    raise ValueError(
+        f"Invalid past_hours value. Expected int or timedelta object. "
+        f"Got: {type(value).__name__}"
+    )
+
+
+def extract_timedelta_days(value) -> int | None:
+    """
+    Extract days from int or timedelta object.
+
+    Accepts:
+    - int (returned as-is)
+    - timedelta objects (converted to total days)
+    - None (returns None)
+
+    Returns integer days or None.
+    """
+    if value is None:
+        return None
+
+    # Already an int - return as-is
+    if isinstance(value, int):
+        return value
+
+    # timedelta object - convert to days
+    from datetime import timedelta
+    if isinstance(value, timedelta):
+        return int(value.total_seconds() / 86400)  # 86400 seconds in a day
+
+    raise ValueError(
+        f"Invalid past_days value. Expected int or timedelta object. "
+        f"Got: {type(value).__name__}"
+    )