Why You Need IDX on your Real Estate Website
If you’re a realtor in the market for a new website, it’s important to hire a web development company who has experience creating websites for realtors. The reason for this is because not every web firm knows the ins and outs of the Internet Data Exchange (IDX). Coding IDX into your website is enormously important for many reasons. Here’s a little background on what it is, and why you need IDX on your real estate website.
What does IDX mean anyway?
An Internet Data Exchange (IDX, also known as Information Data Exchange) is a real estate property search site which allows the public to conduct searches of approved Multiple Listing Service (MLS) properties in a certain area. – Wikipedia
Your website visitors will appreciate the ability to be able search for homes right from your website. Real Estate IDX Websites pull detailed listing data directly from your Realtor Multiple Listing Service, in real time, meaning listings are constantly up to date. Potential clients will have confidence in your services immediately based on the functionality of your website. more so than realtors without IDX based sites.
Let your customers search at their own pace.
One benefit to you as a realtor is that users of your IDX website can search MLS listings freely, on their own time. Your web visitors can continue to browse for homes after hours or on holidays. Letting web users search at their own pace may free up some of your time as well, since you won’t have to pull, print and deliver MLS lists for customers. Your website’s listings stay up to date 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without the need for you to manually update anything.
House hunters can refine lists themselves.
Knowledgeable, well-educated, customers are the best. Most of your customers likely already know what they want in their new home. Your new website with IDX capability will let your visitors refine their search by location, size, features and more. These custom lists will show only homes relevant to their interests and in their desired location. Plus, often your clients will already have refined their search on your site, before contacting you, saving both your time and theirs.
Create profile, save homes and request showings.
Communication between you and your clients is streamlined with our solution. On your new website, customers will be able to create profiles, log in and save properties of interest. They can request a showing right from your website, which gets securely delivered to your email inbox. Keeping in touch with your clientele couldn’t be easier.
How we differ from other IDX solutions.
A variety of options exist for displaying IDX content on real estate websites. Our websites embed the content on your website Other companies using iframe-driven implementations. Our embedded content is beneficial in several ways.
- Improved search engine optimization.
- An increased number of unique webpages.
- Smart Search technology helps your web visitors find what they’re looking for quickly.
- Our lists are pulled in real time. Each time your MLS board pushes out an update, we capture it immediately for display on your site.
A common and standard data exchange protocol for IDX information is the Real Estate Transaction Specification (RETS). This is the form of IDX implantation we prefer for our customers. IDX implementations and standards have changed drastically over recent years, this is one reason why it’s smart to hire a company whose sole focus is real estate, like us. Our full time developers optimize websites with IDX-driven listing content and constantly stay up to date with the latest trends and innovations in the field. I hope this has helped you understand why it’s important to include IDX on your real estate website.
