Custom REW IDX examples?

[MikeNY]

I am looking to see how the REW custom IDX's are set up, I see a lot of REW sites with IDX but I have to sign in and I do not want to waste the site owners time signing in and just using their site to get a feel for the system.

Are there any examples sites I can go to, etc? I am trying to see how it looks and functions as well as I am really trying to use one that has an MLS board that requires the listing brokers info on each listing as mine does, so that custom IDX would be the one I want to take a look at.

Thanks.

[Web Agent]

Michael,

You can take a look at mine. I do not require login.

[MikeNY]

Thanks, I just used it, I don't like how on the listings result page it shows basic info and then the listing broker/office, is that something you asked for? I would hate that. On mine they can only see the listing broker info when they view the listing detail, have you ever considered of getting rid of that display?

I have actually never seen any IDX that shows the listing broker on the search results page like it does on yours.

Thanks for letting my try it.

[Web Agent]

Our MLS board requires the listing information on basic or detail view. It doesn't matter whether I like it or not. If I want to have an IDX I must follow our board rules.

[webmaster]

Mike - what is important to realize with REW IDX (Especially if you are viewing lots of existing customer sites) is that REW IDX starts at something called "CORE" which is a base platform with the $2500 install. It looks and works a certain way and includes all required functionality (Including lead management tie ins, mod_rewrite search engine friendly snippets and details pages, Google mapping, saved searches, saved favorites etc)

But from CORE - you can add as much customization (On the front end or under the hood) and this customization is billed hourly - some sites you view such as www.graycrestrealty.com/idx/ will be completely out of the box CORE (No added modifications) whereas others you view might have hundreds of hours (Past CORE) put into them, truly pulling out that particular customers unique ideas for display and functionality. We are only limited in our customization by (As Eddy said) the rules and regulations of the MLS board - and the actual data available in the feed - "Can we create an open house search?" Sure it's not part of CORE, but if you would like one coded, tell us how you would like it to work and we provide an estimate for you in terms of additional hours. Now naturally in order for us to create a custom feature like this, the actual data for open houses would have to be included in the feed so we can search against it and we must be allowed (By the MLS board) to actually display that data publicly.

[BarryC]

Morgan, your idx's are sick. D$%^ my local MLS. I want one.

[MikeNY]

Mike - what is important to realize with REW IDX (Especially if you are viewing lots of existing customer sites) is that REW IDX starts at something called "CORE" which is a base platform with the $2500 install. It looks and works a certain way and includes all required functionality (Including lead management tie ins, mod_rewrite search engine friendly snippets and details pages, Google mapping, saved searches, saved favorites etc)

But from CORE - you can add as much customization (On the front end or under the hood) and this customization is billed hourly - some sites you view such as www.graycrestrealty.com/idx/ will be completely out of the box CORE (No added modifications) whereas others you view might have hundreds of hours (Past CORE) put into them, truly pulling out that particular customers unique ideas for display and functionality. We are only limited in our customization by (As Eddy said) the rules and regulations of the MLS board - and the actual data available in the feed - "Can we create an open house search?" Sure it's not part of CORE, but if you would like one coded, tell us how you would like it to work and we provide an estimate for you in terms of additional hours. Now naturally in order for us to create a custom feature like this, the actual data for open houses would have to be included in the feed so we can search against it and we must be allowed (By the MLS board) to actually display that data publicly.

Thanks Morgan, I did not realize how different each persons IDX page is and that is really cool that for the most part they are all different and not canned like all the other real estate design company sites. What I am looking for is pretty simple. I also do not know if what I am going to be getting is CORE as you call it.

As far as open houses - glad you brought that up, most of the agents in my area forget to input open house dates so the "open house search" so to say will not give them an accurate result. On my site I just have a link to a form that is an open house request, it basically emails me all their info and search criteria, I explain to them that I really can't give them a true idea of how many open houses are on a particular day so I just put them in my MLS auto email updates and they become my clients.

As I said in a previous post, I am not sure who/what/when to ask these question I have lately but figured I would ask around to be better informed when the time comes that you guys ask me what I want for each aspect of my site.

[MikeNY]

Our MLS board requires the listing information on basic or detail view. It doesn't matter whether I like it or not. If I want to have an IDX I must follow our board rules.

Sorry to hear that, it does suck some of the rules, my board is just as bad with other areas.

[webmaster]

Mike - as a full service client, once again these are things I would be happy to consult with you on. You see it is more complicated than just whether you "can" or you "can't" build something - it is whether the spend level justifies an ROI - and are there any risks - will a custom open house search turn away customers by being less than impressive, or is there a strategy here that could be implemented to use the limited data as a teaser in a way that could generate added warm / hot leads.

From a programming standpoint - yes, what you ordered was CORE - but from a design standpoint, because you are going custom, your skin will be custom as well. Check out what I am doing for Cal right now http://comps.rewdev.com/cal_carter/index3.html as you can see (Or might not see) - the data displayed in the search results is the same as core - however, Cal has given me the freedom to design something that fits his custom design in a unique way, so even with the same data, we can still get creative.

Thanks Morgan, I did not realize how different each persons IDX page is and that is really cool that for the most part they are all different and not canned like all the other real estate design company sites. What I am looking for is pretty simple. I also do not know if what I am going to be getting is CORE as you call it.

As far as open houses - glad you brought that up, most of the agents in my area forget to input open house dates so the "open house search" so to say will not give them an accurate result. On my site I just have a link to a form that is an open house request, it basically emails me all their info and search criteria, I explain to them that I really can't give them a true idea of how many open houses are on a particular day so I just put them in my MLS auto email updates and they become my clients.

As I said in a previous post, I am not sure who/what/when to ask these question I have lately but figured I would ask around to be better informed when the time comes that you guys ask me what I want for each aspect of my site.

[Discover Davis Homes]

Eddie you should be requiring registration. Your site and idx looks great. I am sure you would get a lot of registrations.

Michael I have a slightly modified core IDX on my site. I am sure I will tweak it more at some point. I do require registration but just put rew in the comments if you want to take a look. I'll know you aren't really a lead. Other than MLS board requirements you really are limited only by your imagination (well and budget) in how the listings are displayed.

My board also requires that the listing office be listed on the basic as well as detailed views.