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+# Deployment Guide
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+- Git installed on the server
+- Docker and Docker Compose installed on the server
+
+## Step 1: Configure environment
+
+Copy the example env file and fill in real values:
+
+```bash
+cp .env.production.example .env.production
+```
+
+Edit `.env.production` and set all 11 variables:
+
+- `DATABASE_URL` — Neon PostgreSQL connection string
+- `SIGNING_JWT_SECRET` — secret for signing JWT tokens
+- `AUTH_SECRET` — NextAuth secret
+- `AGENT_EMAIL` — agent login email
+- `AGENT_PASSWORD` — agent login password
+- `CONTACT_EMAIL_USER` — SMTP username
+- `CONTACT_EMAIL_PASS` — SMTP password
+- `CONTACT_SMTP_HOST` — SMTP host (e.g. `smtp.gmail.com`)
+- `CONTACT_SMTP_PORT` — SMTP port (e.g. `465`)
+- `OPENAI_API_KEY` — OpenAI API key for AI field placement
+- `APP_BASE_URL` — public URL of the app (e.g. `https://teressacopelandhomes.com`)
+
+## Step 2: Run database migration
+
+Run migrations from the project directory on the host (not inside Docker):
+
+```bash
+DATABASE_URL=<your-neon-url> npx drizzle-kit migrate
+```
+
+This must complete successfully before starting the container. Migrations are never run inside the Docker image.
+
+## Step 3: Build and start
+
+```bash
+docker compose up -d --build
+```
+
+## Step 4: Verify
+
+```bash
+curl http://localhost:3000/api/health
+```
+
+Expected response: `{"ok":true,"db":"connected"}`
+
+## Updating
+
+To deploy a new version:
+
+```bash
+git pull
+# If schema changed, re-run migration first:
+DATABASE_URL=<your-neon-url> npx drizzle-kit migrate
+docker compose up -d --build
+```