Who is the Best third Party IDX Provider?

[San Diego Real Estate]

Ok Folks,

Are there any recommendations when it comes to IDX services? ;)

[Phoenix Realtor]

Killer IDX, but I think they are only in Arizona.

[frobn]

Ok Folks,

Are there any recommendations when it comes to IDX services? ;)

You really need to ask that question. :)

[San Diego Real Estate]

Any great IDX providers for San Diego CA? ;)

[frobn]

Any great IDX providers for San Diego CA? ;)

If you have access to your local MLS IDX for download, you can choose The BEST provider (period) from anywhere in the world. Why settle for less?

[San Diego Real Estate]

frobn...we used the local MLS for years and there are much better options available such as CMS and Drip Mail included! ;) such as Birdview, IDX Pro & Panosys just to name a few!

[chachi]

What kind of features are you looking for?

[Phoenix Realtor]

One thing our MLS (Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service - ARMLS) won't let you do with their free IDX solution is have it on more than one site.

Killer IDX will.

ARMLS also will not let us have links to certain searches, IE Carefree homes priced from $700,000 to $1M, or whatever. We have to have the search screen where peopl fill in details, and that is the only screen we may have for free.

Killer IDX has city and criteria specific links available.

There are a lot more arguements for Killer IDX. The only reason I don't have it is because I'm cheap. They want something like $800 a year for the feed and I get the regular feed for free from ARMLS.

[frobn]

Here a partial list of killer feature (not associated with Killer IDX) and I am only scratching the surface.

100% customized and 100% control over the data.

What does this mean:

1. any field that is the IDX can be included in the browsing page or listing view page. Customize your listing view, make it look the way you want.
2. all images can be displayed if your MLS allows it
3. every listing view page, which is every listing, has a search friendly url, a unique title and a unique meta description. If you have 3000 listing, you will have 3000 pages for the search engines.
4. only one MLS conversion per area to avoid duplicate content

Complete membership area. Members can
1. save a search
2. email a search page
3.print a search page
4.Can be set up to email listings to members.

Best of all. It is yours, no yearly/monthly fees.

[frobn]

frobn...we used the local MLS for years and there are much better options available such as CMS and Drip Mail included! ;) such as Birdview, IDX Pro & Panosys just to name a few!

It looks like you are talking about a framed approach. If you have access to download the raw IDX then you can do what you want with it. Commercial IDX providers have to get the IDX data from your local MLS. The value added is in what they do with the data. The biggest problem with most commercial providers, including the ones you mentioned, is that they own the data, you only lease it. If you are a broker you are leasing your own data. A second problem arises when you want to customize or add new features. If they do it all it will cost a sizable amount. Don't take my word for it ask them and I am sure they will give you 1000 reasons why the one-size-fits-all approach is best. :)

[Phoenix Realtor]

Hey frobn,

What about these guys? What are your thought about what they have to offer? www successwebsystems com/killeridx_41965.cfm

This is who I was considering. They offer a fairly in depth customization and unlimited pages, with unlimited searchs pre-set up to my liking, etc.
Let me know your thoughts on them after veiwing their site. Thanks.


BTW, how long have you lived in Key West? I absolutely love it down there. I went my first trip there alone to really get a feel of the place. Hit the trendy stuff of course, found that others like to be on the top floor of that hotel on Duval for sunsets, found a yoga class taking place on one of the Southern beaches, found that my rental car was a waste of money since I also rented a scooter and only drove it the whole time I was there, even found the drive from Miami to Key West was quite pleasurable... and so much more. If you feel like chatting about it, open a new thread and post the URL here. K?

[chachi]

Your board won't let you link to a particular listing or group of listings? So, you can't link to your own listings to profile them on your own website?

[frobn]

Hey frobn,

What about these guys? What are your thought about what they have to offer? www successwebsystems com/killeridx_41965.cfm

This is who I was considering. They offer a fairly in depth customization and unlimited pages, with unlimited searchs pre-set up to my liking, etc.
Let me know your thoughts on them after veiwing their site. Thanks.


BTW, how long have you lived in Key West? I absolutely love it down there. I went my first trip there alone to really get a feel of the place. Hit the trendy stuff of course, found that others like to be on the top floor of that hotel on Duval for sunsets, found a yoga class taking place on one of the Southern beaches, found that my rental car was a waste of money since I also rented a scooter and only drove it the whole time I was there, even found the drive from Miami to Key West was quite pleasurable... and so much more. If you feel like chatting about it, open a new thread and post the URL here. K?


I moved down to KW nine years ago. It's perhaps the friendliest community in the US. When you walk down the street 90% of the people greet each other. I'll put up a post later about KW.

******************
I went to the Killer web site. I could find no examples of their IDX so what I conclude may not be accurate.

It appears that they hold the IDX data on their server and lease it to you on a yearly basis. As a broker you will be leasing your data. The IDX data comes from the reciprocal broker agreements from your local MLS.

The say you can "Customize your Header & Footer" This does not sound like a full integration. It is either a sophisticated frame or a data feed. In all likelyhood you will not be able to make it consistant with your own site design.

They go on to talk about "Private Labeling / Color Matching" Again this would indicate less than a full integration.

There is nothing unusual or special about the other features.

Price: $780 a year is not bad for an IDX but you can get a full integration and more features for about the same.

[frobn]

Your board won't let you link to a particular listing or group of listings? So, you can't link to your own listings to profile them on your own website?

I believe you are referring to a framed IDX. In a framed IDX you must display it on your site as it comes to you.

Each MLS has its own rules, some are liberal and some are overly restrictive. In most cases, at least the ones I have encountered, if you are authorized to download the raw IDX date you can format the listings into web pages and link to them from other web pages. This will cause the search engine spiders to visit and index the listing pages. The easier you make it for the SE spiders the better result you will get.

[Phoenix Realtor]

Your board won't let you link to a particular listing or group of listings? So, you can't link to your own listings to profile them on your own website?

No they won't! %@#$*&%@#%&&*

[Phoenix Realtor]

This is all any of us gets
http://www.phoenixhomes.com/Nav.aspx/Page=http://armlsidx.vstone.com/?agentid=MP067

After that you have to pay. So, our Arizona MLS must be getting a kick back.

frobm wrote: Price: $780 a year is not bad for an IDX but you can get a full integration and more features for about the same.

Where can I get IDX in Central Arizona other than Killer IDX? I think they are the only provider allowed by ARMLS.

BTW, PM me the URL for the thread about KW, Fl. when you start it. I love it there. I got lucky and stayed in a nice B & B cheap because I checked in at the visitors center and they told me about vacancy's for hte day and 50% off rates. Any-who, I'll wait for that thread...

[frobn]

This is all any of us gets
http://www.phoenixhomes.com/Nav.aspx/Page=http://armlsidx.vstone.com/?agentid=MP067

After that you have to pay. So, our Arizona MLS must be getting a kick back.

Where can I get IDX in Central Arizona other than Killer IDX? I think they are the only provider allowed by ARMLS.


If this is the case there is not much you can do. To be certain send your MLS an email and ask them and perhaps challange them. The NAR has mandated that each local MLS institute a policy to allow member brokers to download the raw IDX data. Some MLSs are purposely violating this mandate with overly restrictive rules and limiting access to one or two preferred providers. My prediction is that it will eventually come back to bite them because the brokers own the data. Send an email to support at you MLS and ask them specically how to obtain access to download the raw IDX data for your web site. You may be surprised at their answer. If you have access to the data you can integrate it into your web site and if you want a quote for a custom integration let me know.

[judyo]

My MLS is very restrictive, too (Northern Illinois MLS). Last time I checked there weren't any third party providers. I have to pay $600 just to get VOW on my site from my MLS. However, I can link to it from more than one site.

So I can't link to any individual listings, not even my own. I'll have to check about the raw data but I've heard others agree with me that MLSNI is a tough one.

[Phoenix Realtor]

frobn, why would i need a quote? All work for members is free, isn't it? :rolleyes:

I will contact ARMLS and see what they say about raw data, thanks.

[frobn]

frobn, why would i need a quote? All work for members is free, isn't it? :rolleyes:

I will contact ARMLS and see what they say about raw data, thanks.

All my work is free, it's my programmer who is holding out :o

[Phoenix Realtor]

LMAO!

You know I was J/K, right. :D

[chachi]

That is pretty bad. It is silly for your board to do that, but I guess people see things differently. I guess that is why the big brokerages in NYC still maintain their own "book" and only share with a few others. Comedy.

I know that Sandicor (San Diego's board) charges for framed MLS access (to put on your website), but the FTP feed is free. I guess they are passing along their costs on developing or licensing their website solution, but it is funny that you can get the data for free and most agents have no idea.

[frobn]

LMAO!

You know I was J/K, right. :D

I know you were. But it is true during our intitial stages I am absorbing all the costs and not earning anything so I am working for free. I am developing a new business plan though. It goes something like this. If any brokers are interested in taking advantage of the internet with a world class web site but do not want to invest (or gamble time) effort and money, contact me.

[Phoenix Realtor]

I think I will take you up on your offer then.

BTW, where is that Key West thread? I need some "mind vacation" time. PM me with the URL to the thread when you start it.

[IDXExplorer]

Ok Folks,

Are there any recommendations when it comes to IDX services? ;)

My company's idx solutions are pretty unique to the industry. Currently we only offer Sandicor and DesertMLS data feeds. We are expanding to Arizona this year. We are setting up "seed" accounts in the Arizona area, so when we move into production, I can give you an account for free for a year if you are interested.

I also really like the products from IDXcentral.com, but they do not support Arizona yet as well.


Here are the features:

www.IDXplorer.com
examples: www.AmysProperty.com
www.WendyHallRealEstate.com

Online IDX application
Ajax technology based(like google maps). Utilizing this technology results in a "no page reloading" user experience.

Company Photo, logo and information are heavily branded throughout user search experience.

IDX users have the ability to save searches.

IDX owners have the ablity to show or not show addresses.

Automated featured property displays based on agent mls id.

Application features basic wizard type search and a fast search option.

School data and locations displayed on map relative to search criteria.

Application features ajax based map search utilizing google maps apis.
Map only has to render one time during user map search experience.

Property detail pages contain links to full bleed higher resolution, branded property detail PDF files. PDF files can be printed to full bleed or saved.

www.RealAgentMarketing.com
Features:

All leads from your mls or other surveys and forms are added to your contact marketing database.

The application has the ability to create and store an html based letter library. Letter can be used in emarketing campaigns.

The application has the ability to create pdf and html based property flyers.

The application has the ability to create custom online forms, surveys, polls, etc. All data collected from these web forms is stored in your contact marketing database. Reports are show in graphical format.

The application has the ability to send letter, forms and property flyers to groups or individuals.

The application has the ability to edit website homepage text, add pages and edit the homepage featured property.

[sobe]

What is the price range for an IDX? I couldn't find any price information and I don't like giving my email before I know if it is something I can afford or not.

[abrahamchaffin]

I have a prebuilt mechanism that can be emplemented into any website with the flexability to customize the look and feel to your personal website at a very good price. All you need is your MLS to provide the proper data transfer service. Check out some of what I do at http://realestate.apc.cc (http://realestate.apc.cc/)

[timmy77]

Ok Folks,

Are there any recommendations when it comes to IDX services? ;)

Realtytech.com is by far the best. I have generated over 900 leads in the last 3 months with them. The call to action and click ability is the best I have seen. (FOR A CANNED PRODUCT)

[RobM]

I use IDXpro but I havent really compared them with too many others but it works for me

[DMike]

RobM, how many leads do you have monthly ? You've checked how the site is doind with google analytics - with it you can see the number of visitors and stuff like that

[RobM]

I do use google analytics but usually only track the home page hits. I have other means of tracking users and get about 12,000 page views per month. This is different than hits as I want to track how many pages are actually being viewed and the top entry page and top exit page. This way you can see the logical progression that people are making to manuever around your site and you can leave them bread crumbs as to where you want them to go...I've been doing this for a while so in other industrys as well

[DMike]

That's a pretty large number - seems like you have a really good plan to keep visitors on the site - and you said it's working ! You have a blog to keep visitors around ?

[RobM]

Like anything...people are looking and searching...but most are waiting in the wings. and with all the great things going on in the financial markets...I have to wait in the wings as well. Either that or I get people that want to buy at $0.50 on the dollar...and although those are out there...they are not what makes up the majority of my business. I am strictly a listing agent, my wife is pretty much one too although she poses as a buyers agent. We use to have a buyers agent, but he decided to go off and do other things.

We would love to have another buyers agent again as we typically maintain 25-30 listings

rob

[DMike]

What's the difference between an listing agent and a buyers agent ? You have around 30 listings ? You probabily have one page for listing, it should be easy to see the number of visitors and which pages they saw

[RobM]

A buyers agent works with buyers...and a listing agent works with listings or sellers. My whole function in this job is to get sellers to list with me, thus I supply what the buyers want. I do not take buyers out to view property, my wife does that currently, unless it is my own listing and my wife is not available.

And yes, I can see what listings people are looking at and how many times they are looking at it on my own site as well as realtor.com, and some other sites that I have my listings posted at...but not all areas as some dont give you any statistics.

[DMike]

I guess you already advertise with google base, trulia and those sites where you can list your homes

[RobM]

yup...sure do as well as others