Building a custom IDX what is involved

[webmaster]

A lot of people enquire about getting custom IDX Systems built and want to know what is involved so I thought I would put together a quick thread on it and answer questions for you guys.

Ok to get started a broker needs to apply to their MLS provider for the IDX datafeed, this usually comes in the form of an ftp download or other download. Now be prepared (Rather have your server prepared) downloading the IDX data requires Gigs of extra storage space and takes a lot of bandwidth (Which makes sense as you are download thousands, sometimes hundreds of thousands of photos depending on how big your MLS is)

Once your broker has signed the forms and gotten permission and a login to download the IDX Data, we then login and download the data to the server. Once we have the data (In whatever form it came in XML, Excell etc) We then write a script that parses the data and converts it into a mysql database.

Once we have the data into the database there is a ton that can be done with it, but the basics are creating the search form, the basic listings pages and the details pages.

Example search page
http://www.realestatejackson.com/mls.php

Example listings page
http://www.realestatejackson.com/lis...Search&action=

Example Details page
http://www.realestatejackson.com/lis...erty=propertyA

Now there are 2 things involved in the creation of these pages, the programming (Backend coding) and then the skinning (Creating the layout and design, graphics etc)

I have to take my son to a piano recital will finish this post later

[kyle422]

So far that is a very informative post. I wish you had done this back when I was working out the details IDX implementation on my own.

[thataway61]

This thread is information I have been wanting to know!

Would an REW client that wanted a custom IDX solution have his data feed server located at REW and maintained by REW? I know servers are pretty cheap now, would the cost of the server be included in pricing of custom solution? Don't need quote at this point, just wanted to know how the process works.

Could MLS statistics be graphed for display on an agents web site from the feed data? For example, average list price, average sale price for particular areas over time at monthly intervals or daily for that matter. Would MLS boards allow display of such graphical information compiled from board data?

Graphical display of data is the type of information I would want as a consumer, it is available for other markets, but I seldom see it for Real Estate markets other than NAR graphs that are not specific to our market.

[sergeysid]

What i am thinking of is if it's possible to create a commercial product (front-end+backend included) for Real Estate companies.

I read a lot at this forum, and, thanks to all, i found all the necessary info. Having read some threads, it seems to me that there is no a general and convenient ready solution. I can confess i am from a company which provides read made web sites. So, i investigate into this matter.

What do you think about it? I want to start a new product for real estate companies, though so far i see that in most cases people either create site on their own or use some CMS-like solution (example, Open Realty).

[thataway61]

What i am thinking of is if it's possible to create a commercial product (front-end+backend included) for Real Estate companies.

Sure, REW has already done it!

And for those a little more tech savvy, the Joomla Open Realty solution is great. But if you place a value on your time, the REW solution will probably be much cheaper than the free open source solutions. IMHO

[frobn]

What i am thinking of is if it's possible to create a commercial product (front-end+backend included) for Real Estate companies.

I read a lot at this forum, and, thanks to all, i found all the necessary info. Having read some threads, it seems to me that there is no a general and convenient ready solution. I can confess i am from a company which provides read made web sites. So, i investigate into this matter.

What do you think about it? I want to start a new product for real estate companies, though so far i see that in most cases people either create site on their own or use some CMS-like solution (example, Open Realty).

What you are suggesting is an integrated CMS, CRM and an IDX listing manager. There is presently a group developing such a product using open source. Why open source? The multitude of existing components and support for those components (like the listing management of open-realty for the IDX and Sugar CRM) will in turn generate support, innovation and contributions that proprietary products will have a difficult time matching. Like other open source projects, the wisdom is for hands-on-agents, web designers and web developers to get involved and benefit from each other. The project will probably go public within the next couple of months. Anyone that would like advance notification let me know by email or PM.

[webmaster]

Our fees are just for coding time, we can of course host the solution for you on our servers (Would likely charge $40 per month) or we could develop it on your servers, it doesnt matter. (We only code in php though, no windows or cfm YUCK!)

Its true servers arent that expensive, but you wont likely find a reliable one for under $100 per month that will allow you to do all the things you need to do, deal with the bandwidth, and have the storage space (Note I said reliable)

Of course you could always share the cost of a decent server (And the IDX coding for that matter) with some friends in the office, then everyone could use the same IDX, would just be a matter of changing the contact forms on each one per site (If you do this, you need to get permission to have the IDX on each site, you dont just apply once) Then a $200 server costs you each $20 per month, and $2000 in development costs you $200 (Assuming you do it with 10 buddies)

Would an REW client that wanted a custom IDX solution have his data feed server located at REW and maintained by REW? I know servers are pretty cheap now, would the cost of the server be included in pricing of custom solution? Don't need quote at this point, just wanted to know how the process works.