IDX Broker Features and Benefits:
A recent study found that 77% of the public begins looking for their next home using the internet. By displaying MLS listings on your website, you are able to have buyers seek you out for particular listings, even when you are not the primary listing agent. One of the great benefits of using IDX Broker is the fact that you never have to touch the data or worry about keeping your website up-to-date. This allows you to concentrate on helping your clients in other ways instead of worrying about your website content.

This application is best used as an integrated tool within your customized realtor website. We take your customized website and place it within your IDX account. The end result? You get a completely customized and integrated solution that works and feels like it's built directly into your website.

Features:
- Easy to Use IDX Control Panel
- MLS Search Results w/ Mapping
- display a dynamic map listing all active listings
- Custom Detail Pages
- MLS search pages are custom built for each MLS we service.
- Custom Search Features
- Agent Bio Pages
- If you have multiple agents in your office, then the Multi-User license is the way to go! Each Agent gets individual access to all the lead, listing and customization tools within the IDX Control Panel. Give your agents the power to manage their own account without losing control of all the company's leads!


IDX FAQ's:

What is IDX?
How does IDX work?
Who can participate in IDX?Broker Reciprocity?
Who is a "Participant"?
Who is a "Subscriber"?
How can I add IDX to my existing website?
I'm a Broker. How can I take advantage of IDX/Broker Reciprocity?
I'm an Agent. How can I get IDX/Broker Reciprocity?
Why would I want to let someone else display my listings on their website?
Why would I want to display someone else’s listings on my website?
How can I opt-in to my IDX/Broker Reciprocity program?
Broker Reciprocity isn't for me. How can I opt-out?
Why should I care about Broker Reciprocity?
Who governs Broker Reciprocity?
When was the Broker Reciprocity policy approved?
What is the general level of participation in an any MLS IDX program?
Does the IDX data contain any confidential information?
Is it required to identify the listing firm information on search results?
How often do you update the data?
I don't have a website but I want to get started. Can you help me?

What is IDX?
IDX is an acronym for Internet Data Exchange. IDX is the policy instituted by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) to govern how MLS member participants can display active MLS listing information on their websites. In simple terms, IDX is the means of extracting the data from a Multiple Listing Service and delivering it to a website for public consumption. IDX is sometimes called Broker Reciprocity or IDD.

How does IDX work?
IDX is the process that converts the MLS listing database to a database that can be integrated within any website. IDX Broker Pro accomplishes this process for you daily and automatically, without any maintenance on your end. Above is a simple illustration of how this process works.

Who can participate in IDX?Broker Reciprocity?
This depends on the rules established by your local board and/or multiple listing service. Since your board/MLS is independently governed, these rules might be different than rules of another boards and MLS's. Normally all Broker members (Participants) may participate in IDX/Broker Reciprocity. Agents (Subscribers) may, or may not, participate in Broker Reciprocity program depending on the rules. Sometimes individual agents can display IDX data directly on their personal websites with permission of their Broker, sometimes they cannot. Our staff can help you determine if this is the case, we just need to know the name of your local board/MLS.

Who is a "Participant"?
A "Participant" is the Broker member, or Principal Broker member of a Multiple Listing Service.

Who is a "Subscriber"?
A "Subscriber" is the non-Principal Broker member of a Multiple Listing Service (I.E. an Agent).

How can I add IDX to my existing website?
This is what we specialize in! Our staff can work with you, or your designer and get IDX on almost any existing website. Implementation of the IDX data can be accomplished in several ways. Before you get too excited, there are a few forms we will need to send you. Your local board/MLS requires you fill out paperwork and get authorized to receive the IDX data.

I'm a Broker. How can I take advantage of IDX/Broker Reciprocity?
You are probably already participating since your listings are being displayed on other websites. The next step is to add IDX to your website to start capturing leads much like your competitors have been doing. We can work with you or your website developer to get IDX delivered to your website. If you really want to get a jump on the competition, consider signing up for our "Small Office IDX" service. This multi-user account can help boost the number of leads managed by your Agents........and help you generate a greater sales volume as a result.

I'm an Agent. How can I get IDX/Broker Reciprocity?
It depends on the policies of your local board/MLS. Most boards have stopped limiting IDX to only the Principle Brokers and now allow the IDX data on agent websites as well. Check out our MLS coverage page to see if your Multiple Listing Service allows Agents.

Why would I want to let someone else display my listings on their website?
Think of it as free advertising. The more exposure for your listings the better! The more places your listings show up, the faster they are likely to sell. The bottom line is that no one gets paid until the property closes. The Internet has taken a once closed MLS system and opened it up for consumers to make faster and better informed buying/selling decisions. IDX opened the door for free advertising on tens of thousands of websites.

Why would I want to display someone else’s listings on my website?
When you display these listings on your site, you give consumers one more reason to keep coming back to your site. Your site, and thus you, become a tremendous resource for home buyers in your area. Plus, homebuyers today are looking for specific information. Adding IDX to your website can help answer some of the questions about what homes are available in the MLS.

How can I opt-in to my IDX/Broker Reciprocity program?
Most boards/MLS have already included all member Brokers and Agents by default. It is likely you were automatically opted-in the Broker Reciprocity program some time ago. In most cases, a Broker must explicitly ask to opt-out and sign the official paperwork to do so. Brokers who have opted-out may opt back in by submitting the proper paperwork from their board. Only in a few rare cases has the board/MLS chosen to have opt-out as the default. In these rare cases, we can help provide you, or your Broker, get the paperwork to opt-in the program.

Broker Reciprocity isn't for me. How can I opt-out?
Brokers (and supporting Agents) who decide not to participate in Broker Reciprocity may submit the opt-out form provided by their local board/MLS. However, opting-out is not a great idea since your listings will not be displayed on the Internet at all. Opting out will greatly decrease exposure for your listings, and in our opinion, should be seriously reconsidered. Furthermore, opting-out of the Broker Reciprocity will decrease the ability getting the benefit of this powerful marketing tool, which will decrease sales.

Why should I care about Broker Reciprocity?
Broker Reciprocity allows for the greatest amount of exposure for property listings. The power of the Internet, combined with the power of IDX has seriously leveled the playing field and helped to maximize the visibility of listings. If you don’t display IDX on your website, potential buyers are probably not going to frequent your site in favor of your competition, who may provide these search tools. Broker Reciprocity has given the "little guy" some of the same marketing potiental as the "bigger guys".

Who governs Broker Reciprocity?
Broker Reciprocity is governed at the national level by NAR. Each local board/MLS also has a set of policies of their own.

When was the Broker Reciprocity policy approved?
The NAR Board of Directors originally approved the policy on May 22, 2000. Since that time the NAR has made several revisions. IDX has been around for a few years, but recently it has become critical to the online marketing successes of real estate professionals.

What is the general level of participation in an any MLS IDX program?
Participation in any IDX program varies greatly. We have seen some cases where participation is below 50%, or as high at 100%. Participation is on the rise as more Brokers across the country choose to be involved in the program. Based on experience, we believe the average participation rates nationwide are somewhere in the 70-75% range.

Does the IDX data contain any confidential information?
No. The IDX data fields available for display to the public are approved by the board/MLS and do not contain confidential information.

Is it required to identify the listing firm information on search results?
Most of the time some information that identifies the listing firm is required. This is usually some combination of the listing agent name and/or phone, or the listing office and/or phone. Every board/MLS requires a different combination. The "rule of thumb" is that we are required to display the listing Broker or Agent name. Because of this we attempt to place this information at the very bottom of the page in an inconspicuous location.

How often do you update the data?
While we are generally only required by the various MLS's to refresh the data once a week, we try as hard as we can to get a new set of data every 24 hours. Because of the automated email service we provide, it is important to maintain the quickest turn around time possible. In some rare cases photos are delayed for more than 24 hours only because they are not immediately available to us.

I don't have a website but I want to get started. Can you help me?
No problem. Simply complete this Realtor Form and we'll get you started. A custom designed real estate website will give you and the end user (the home buyers) a richer, fuller experience. Not to mention, your site will stand out from the crowd of templated websites.