Web Developer...

[cornerstoneit]

Hello All:

I an open source web developer from Warsaw, Indiana. I am insterested in developing a MLS/IDX listing solution for the real estate industry. However, in order to do this I must "partner" with a realtor so I can have access to the MLS database. Would anyone be interested in partnering with me to do this? It will be a very minimal charge as I am also benefiting from your expertise as well. Please let me know. Thank you very much!

Bobbie Stump
Cornerstone IT (cs@cornerstoneit.net)

[abrahamchaffin]

Hey Bobbie, welcome to the real estate forum.com - I do a MLS / IDX mechanisms as well - are you looking to build a large databases from all the MLS's you can collect - or what is your end goal?

[cornerstoneit]

For the script I want to design, my ideal end result would be:

Backend
- Add / edit / remove MLS listings (actual info, photos, etc. in the database)

Frontend
- Search page customized to your site (I see way too many cookie cutter solutions where they just throw the search form in a frame!!)
- Integrated Google Maps search ("drag" your way through the map to find your new home)
- Search by price, beds, baths, MLS etc.
- Professional photography (limited geographical area - there are a LOT of listings out there with bad photos)
- 360 home tours (limited geographical area)

Hardware
- Audio tours (these would be placed inside the homes for sale and would transmit audio about the home - low frequency FM transmitter)

Obviously this is just a start, and more features will come with time as well as requests. I am very good with PHP and MySQL (4+ years experience) and want to work on this.

[abrahamchaffin]

Hmm... not sure many MLS's will like you editing their content - arn't you concerned about breaching the agreement your participant will have with the MLS - or are you thinking of getting the MLS's permission to use their data in this manner? If that's the case you might want to go directly to the MLS to get the feed.

[cornerstoneit]

Okay, maybe I am wrong, but I thought there was a type of "API" that one might be able to use. I would just design the script using the API. Does this mean I can only pull information from an MLS, not feed it to the MLS? I was under the impression I could design a program that could manage MLS listings, maybe I am wrong.

[abrahamchaffin]

Once an agent uploads their listing to the MLS it is not edited unless it is out of compliance with some regulation in the MLS. The only one who would make changes to the listing in the MLS is the listing agent.

[cornerstoneit]

Right, and it wouldnt make sense any other way. What I am saying is I want to enable these people to make changes to, and list, their properties. They have to do it within a "backend" administration interface, and many times that includes an API. How can I interact with this API?

[abrahamchaffin]

RETS I believe - though I am not that familiar with RETS has this capability though I don't advise persuing this as there are already mechanisms in place for people to manage their listings. I could also be wrong about RETS. With RETS it has been my feeling that you get just about no feed back or help from anywhere or not without much difficult searching. Closest thing to what you are wanting to do is to actually develop the Realtor MLS interface for maintaining listings and selling that directly to the MLS.

[HHI Golf Guy]

You also need to realize that there is nothing standard about each MLS inclusing rules and regulations, use of feed, format, data input, or even the programming that powers the MLS.

Even if a local MLS does allow you to use their feed to create your own system, I do not know of any that allow these third party systems to enter data. I believe that is only done on the local MLS system software.

I'm curious as to why so many would be web developers jumping on the bandwagon to develop their own MLS system. I see a lot of them saying it's so that they build more content pages for the site. But most search engines consider them to be more dupe content than actual content.

All you need to do is study Google's recent boilerplate template filter and find all of these custom SEO pages in the supplemental index.

Granted, some local MLS organizations have a lousy IDX system and a 3rd party system would be beneficial. But many MLS organizations will not allow anyone to use their feed.

[JuniperAvenue]

If you're considering in adding hosting to that solution you plan on building I may be interested in working out a deal with you.