IDX showdown with local board

Breckenridge Real Estate · #**1 IDX showdown with local board** 12-22-2005, 09:47 PM

I have good SERPs (thanks to this forum) and subscribe to a fairly decent IDX service.

I have been warned by my managing broker that the my local association of Realtors intends to severely limit the information that is going to be provided to IDX feeds in an attempt to eliminate IDX service providers and reduce the business that sites like mine generate.

The owner of the IDX service provider that I subscribe to has told me not to worry as IDX policies are dictated by NAR, not local boards.

What do people here think of all this? If this is a potential problem for me, how do I fight it?

I am concerned that there are a lot more local Realtors who have sites which are not on page one of the SERPs than otherwise and therefore I may not have much leverage in this matter.

P.S. After first making this post, I went to Realtor.org and read the Enhanced IDX (Internet Data Display) Policy.

My main concern is the following:

Quote:

The following guidelines are recommended but not required to conform to National Association policy. Pursuant to these guidelines, MLSs may:

11. establish reasonable limits on the amount of data/number of listings that consumers may retrieve or download in response to an inquiry

I geuss I need to find out what is considered “reasonable limits”.

pcdoc · 12-23-2005, 06:14 AM

I geuss I need to find out what is considered “reasonable limits”.

It's just another instance of an ambiguous, subjective policy that was probably written or influenced by legal counsel.

judyo · 12-23-2005, 10:05 AM

Our IDX in Northern IL is useless, as far as I'm concerned, which is why I offer VOW on my site. Brokers were allowed to opt-out of IDX before it was established and so many did that the offerings are extremely slim. For example (but don't quote me), I once did a comparison as my broker had both IDX & VOW. VOW results were around 12 properties for a particular search, IDX was 2 or 3.

So if I offer IDX only & buyers know there are more properties than what I'm providing, they won't come back to my search.

webmaster · 12-23-2005, 03:04 PM

They are working on new policies to get rid of the current IDX feed mandates, but implementation and enforcement might take a while, I would hope it happens in 06.

As it stands right now, boards have way to much control over the data. For instance, in Hilton Head, the MLS board will not grant ANY broker or third party vendor access to the data to create an IDX solution. The only option websites have is to iframe in their solution, which is not all that great. It's pretty frustrating - but as of right now there is nothing we can do.

I would suggest you dig up the new docs for the integration of VOW and MLS (Anyone have that link? it was discussed here a few months ago)

Best of luck and keep us posted.

David Abernathy · 06:58 PM

It amazes me that any Association of Realtors would rather have their potential customers all be driven to the Realtor.com to see properties in their own market area rather than allow themselves to offer the same directly to their prospects

I just don't understand why we would not want to have the best offerings on our own site...from a Realtors perspective. From the MLS side, just figure out how they can make more money and they will be on your side

Best of luck in your efforts. I see a future where only the large national and regional brokerages have enough listings on their sites to retain potential buyer clients and they would have to opt out of providing their listings to the Realtor.com solution. It does not look promising.

Good Luck

Oppenheimer Group · 12-27-2005, 08:24 PM

In Pittsburgh, where our office is located the local board controls the MLS and will not allow agents to feature a search on their own sites. This to hoard any searchers onto the brokers sites.

Angelika · 12-29-2005, 08:50 AM

Something interesting I just read on the NAR website:
http://www.realtor.org/realtororg.NS...NARFilesMotion

Happy New Year!

Angie

AaronSOLD · 12-29-2005, 06:18 PM

Of course there is something you can do. The board is made of local Realtors, just vote the right membership in that will vote for the change! You pay the dues that run it and you are part owner in the system... change it if you are unhappy!

Quote:

Originally Posted by webmaster

They are working on new policies to get rid of the current IDX feed mandates, but implementation and enforcement might take a while, I would hope it happens in 06.

As it stands right now, boards have way to much control over the data. For instance, in Hilton Head, the MLS board will not grant ANY broker or third party vendor access to the data to create an IDX solution. The only option websites have is to iframe in their solution, which is not all that great. It's pretty frustrating - but as of right now there is nothing we can do.

I would suggest you dig up the new docs for the integration of VOW and MLS (Anyone have that link? it was discussed here a few months ago)

Best of luck and keep us posted.

Jnazareno · 12-30-2005, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronSOLD

Of course there is something you can do. The board is made of local Realtors, just vote the right membership in that will vote for the change! You pay the dues that run it and you are part owner in the system... change it if you are unhappy!

100% right ..it's like when people complain about the President but
they don't even vote in the elections..;-)

No Vote-No Vitching..

as far as local changes to your board, Yes Vote
for the board members or run for one.

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