IDX Solution

[Agnafl]

What is everyone using for their IDX Solution? I currently use ihomefinder and i am very disappointed with it. The functionality is sub-par and the search options are very generic. There is not a whole lot of flexibility for the user. The lead capture and conversion tools are less disappointing as well. I don't neccesarily want a customized IDX to the tune of $3,000, but I would like to know whos happy and whos not with what they are using. I really don't want to spend more than $6-800 + the feed for the solution.

Matt

[webmaster]

Matt - you will find that almost all third party vendors are inflexible (They make their $ on volume and residuals (And beware the hidden fees, something that is $20 a month to start can wrack up $400 in usage fees pretty quickly)

I don't think you will get everything you are looking for on your budget, but the trick is to find the canned solution that (Out of the box) fits your needs. Most IDX vendors should have a trial and or a demo you can use.

[RonnieG]

I have been very pleased with my IDX solution/provider until recently, but unfortunately (for everyone else), they are local to my market and very few others. It is also still just an IFrame plug-in, which nearly all of the major IDX products are. This means no SEO benefits, since the SEs don't see or crawl the target website on your behalf.

You need only one or two deals from users who find you because of the enhanced placement a SEO friendly custom IDX would provide to pay for it. And, as Morgan indicated, the monthly add-on charges of a "canned" IDX can eat you up. With the difference in monthly charges, I can pay off the initial costs of a custom REW IDX within 18 months, even if I don't get one extra deal from it, so I am now in the process of moving in that direction.

The only fear I have is the "nickel & dime" periodic charges of minor (and major) enhancements to a custom IDX, that most vendors provide automatically and at no charge to their subscribers as they upgrade their products for everyone, all at once. My hope is that it would generate so many more leads and deals that it won't matter to me as much as I fear now.

[BuyHawkeye]

Morgan, et al:

I know a lot of old hands reading this thread are aware that you guys provide an IDX solution. I assume there are tons of lurkers or new members who are interested, but unaware that you guys do this. Additionally, Ron brings up a point about SEO friendly IDX.

Not to hijack this thread, but can you speak to how your IDX solution is SEO friendly or point to a previous discussion for others (including myself) to read up on? I will happily start a new thread so that this one may continue on its way.

Matt: I am not ready to fund Morgan's new car, either . However, the one I use comes directly from our local MLS (FMLS) and it is pretty lame. When I am ready to grow my business in that direction, I am pretty sure I will turn to REW.

[Jason Painter]

I think that a IDX solution that had the following traits...which I believe REW does most of this, would be best.

1. A simple search as well as an advanced search.
2. A feature that makes the user sign in after viewing a few listings.
3. One that the database is local to the site...therefore no i-frames.
4. One that created a page for each and every listing in your MLS.
5. Each MLS "page" should automatically be search engine friendly, with urls and titles that reflect the address and subdivision of the listing.
6. Map integrated search options as well as the result pages.
7. Ability for the user to save listings to their favorites.
8. Ability to do a search of say home in Englewood between 100-200k and then place this link on the site....this link would automatically update itself with new listings.

I think the advantages of a solution like this would be great.
1. It should help on Google Serps because Google loves big websites.
2. Long tail searches of specific streets, subdivisions and condo projects would be through the roof!
3. Users would flock to your site for its ease of use and unique features that other sites in your area do not have.

Hmm, I think I may give Morgan another call...I just sold myself.

[webmaster]

LMAO - actually, REW IDX does all of what you have asked for. http://www.386realestate.com has some extra's but for the most part, it is out of the box.

Ronnie - Your fears are founded in some cases (And not to worry about) in others.

We have MLS's boards who's technology is very stable and well formed and pretty much never changes, these are great because there is very little changes required.

On the other hand, there are boards that are just nightmares, constantly flip flopping in technology selection, don't know how to support their own feeds, malformed data etc, and you end up (Especially if you are the only user in the market) having to pay for changes to your technology every time your MLS changes their technology (This is happening in Memphis right now to some extent and sucks for him for sure)

Ronnie, you board has great technology for the most part - however, they do have issues with rules and regs in a lot of ways (Changing their mind on what you can and can't do for agents vs broker or record etc) - In this case, it causes us more compliance grief than it does actual fees to the customer but its a little of both.

Also guys keep in mind - this is for CORE IDX, meaning our standard install and framework which is extensively tested. When you get into some crazy modifications or additions specific to your site, the levels of complexity increase exponentially, and adding a custom feature here can break something over there (Ronnie got your email and there is some of this going on in the site you referenced, in other instances such as only requiring an email to login is completely a custom request by the client and not something we have advised)

[Agnafl]

I understand that once you start making modifications that the price tag will sky rocket. What price range does the CORE IDX fall into.

I too am not ready to pay for Morgan's new car!

Also guys keep in mind - this is for CORE IDX, meaning our standard install and framework which is extensively tested.

[RonnieG]

So, Morgan:
If I have the REW "Core IDX" for my MLS, with no coding customizations, then I can get it upgraded at no (or very little) charge if/when the "Core IDX" for our MLS gets enhanced and/or bugfixed by your developers? The answer to this is key to my final "go/no go" decision, regardless of the minor technical issues that I have reported and know you guys will get fixed. I don't want to have to pay even trivial charges to get my site'e IDX updated with bug fixes and whatever enhancements you and the developers may periodically decide are worthy of going into the "Core IDX', such as whatever database and/or code changes may be required to make it compatible with the new lead management (or CRM) components you are working on. I would even rather pay a slightly greater monthly IDX hosting fee than have to pay for implementation of core bug fixes and standard enhancements later, that new users in my market would get when they initially start up.

[Ryan Ward]

Here is an example of a CORE IDX with a few upgrades that I created in the form of the buttons. I don't require registration so you can click through to few the details pages. I have a few minor things in the work order forum and I will be about finished. Incidentally Webmaster, I really like the one in your example.

Below the link to mine, you will find a link to a google search that shows how a custom IDX can generate additional visits (SEO benefit) by very targeted visitors who search by street address or by mls number or lsiting descriptions or whatever.

www.ryanwardrealestate.com/search-mls.php

Here is a search query for an indexed details page that I received clicks on yesterday:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...78&btnG=Search

You may note while looking at the search results that I have spot number 1 and 2. One is a map page and one is the listing detail page.

You absolutely cannot get more targeted than that.

Ultimately, this is the long term benefit of a custom IDX hosted on your domain. The more time that passes the more pages will be indexed, the more clicks you will get from pages such as these...

[OCTeam]

Ryan's right on!

You can also set up separate tract pages with just those tract listings showing up on that page. My experience shows that set up correctly with metas, footers, etc, even though most will likely end up as "supplemental", the majority of those pages will be in top positions in the SERP's. Here is an example of a very simple page getting a couple of visitors a day on one of our sites when searching for "Talega San Lucar" http://www.guidetolocalrealestate.co...-San-Lucar.php (Talega is a major development, San Lucar is the tract ). We sort of domintate the Talega area (for the 35+ tracts) on the internet at this point and agents in our office have to use PPC to even show up. An added benefit is that now the specific tract page is also on the site map and can be found that way.

Another benefit.. our mapping page is #1 for [Orange County MLS Map Search] and on the first page for [MLS Map Search] right after Mark's REW site and right at the top for most of the cities we target. Mapping seems to be the hot ticket right now based on the results we see.

Amazing how many are searching for specific tracts, neighborhoods and specific MLS numbers, at least in our area.

Custom IDX is worth the money and REW knows how to do it right, even if there are a few extra buck along the way when you want custom snippet code, some tweeks, etc. Definitley sets you apart from the competititon.