What does IDX stand for? (Internet Data Exchange)
IDX, also known as Broker Reciprocity, is ultimately a policy that allows brokers (and agents) to display one another’s listings on their respective websites. An IDX Solution combines this policy with the necessary technology to make it all happen. With the power of IDX, REALTORS® can display their own listings as well as any listing within their MLS, creating a mutually beneficial system.
What is IDX in real estate – the history of IDX.
The roots of broker reciprocity reach back as far as the 1800s, but it wasn’t until the year 2000 that the floodgates were unleashed and IDX Broker Reciprocity was born – REALTORS® could finally show listings on their websites, rather than rely on Realtor.com – the only way to search listings online at the time. IDXCentral helped pave the way forward by developing our own original IDX Solution. This established the beginning of our 25+ year history of building real estate websites with IDX. We have evolved with technology over the years and now, offer the best in WordPress real estate websites with IDX.
Why is IDX so important for my real estate website?
In our experience, 80% or more of your site visitors will be buyers looking for listings. If your site doesn’t have an advanced IDX, those visitors will move on to the next site that does. IDX encourages visitors to return to your site as they check in for the latest listings. Offering the best in IDX technology and features will cater to your buyers and sellers needs. It will also help you stand out in a competitive real estate market.
One of the most recent advancements today is a IDX premium map search that offers the best user experience. Read on about some of the latest advancements Premium Map Search: The Game-Changing IDX for Your Real Estate Website.
IDX can ensure your leads think of you first when they are ready to contact a REALTOR®; with New Listing Notifications and automated market reports (MarketBoost), you’re able to keep your name and brand at the forefront of your lead’s property hunt. Akin to having your own personal assistant, IDX will automatically send an email with the latest listings that match the leads favored search criteria. This ensures your leads will stay informed and always have your contact information within quick reach.
Use IDX to showcase YOUR listings by using the Featured Listing tool, giving extra exposure to your client’s listings. Use it as a great marketing tool that can give you a leg up when competing to land a new listing. If you don’t have any listings to use, that’s fine too! You can always use the IDX to display real estate around your area, drawing in buyers and sellers alike.
Ultimately, to succeed in real estate you have to stay competitive! It’s more important than ever to have a mobile responsive website that caters to the vast mobile market. As an agent, having a site you own is in your best interest.Establish your brand, expand your business, and preserve the effort invested in your website for years to come! We offer both semi-custom and fully custom websites for real estate professionals and/or their office, complete with IDX integration.
Other features of a great IDX:
- All leads are YOUR leads. IDX leads go directly to you. When you refer your buyers to a company site, you could be losing business.
- SEO friendly & indexable listings: all listings are indexed under your URL, giving you valuable SEO benefits
- Mobile IDX Search: phone & tablet users will be able to use the IDX with ease
- Interactive Mapping: an easy to use visual tool that allows people to search a specific area via map points
- New Listing Notifications: automatic emails are sent to your leads as new listings enter the IDX
- Lead Capture Forms: allows your leads to sign up with you, can be set to varying levels of intensity
- WordPress Compatible: great for any WordPress site, including our Real Estate WordPress sites
How do I go about getting the best IDX for my site?
In our 25+ years of experience, including developing our own IDX Solution, we’ve learned that no single IDX Solution can meet every client’s needs. Start by asking yourself some simple questions:
- What type of properties do you typically deal with?
- Is there any special criteria your clients need to search by?
- Is the solution for yourself only, a small team or an entire office of agents?
- Do you want control of the search criteria your visitors use to find properties?
- Do you want to customize the design and layout of the IDX data?
- Do you want an IDX with a built in CRM?
These are just a few of the questions that will help us recommend the best solution for you – and as experts at IDX integration and longstanding members of the industry, we have a deep understanding of what goes into creating a powerful IDX. We’ve been at the forefront of IDX since the start, and have since partnered with two of the largest IDX providers around; we provide IDX to REALTORS® from Baja Mexico, the U.S and Canada.
We’ve witnessed the shift in technology in the real estate industry, propelled by IDX. As technology continues to progress, we’ll continue to grow and adapt alongside it, and you should too! View our Premium IDX Solution and Platinum IDX demo to see the solutions we offer, and our tightly integrated IDX layouts included with every IDX integration.
Why Partner with IDXCentral?
IDX integration can be a complicated and sometimes tricky process, especially for non-developers. But even experienced developers can struggle with IDX integration, regardless of which IDX Solution you choose, there could be something that doesn’t look or work the way you were expecting. These types of issues require some modifications to the code, and that’s where our expertise at IDX integration comes in. We can save you (or your developer) time by knowing how to fix those issues, and we can offer creative ways to make your IDX even better.
Having served over 5,000 real estate agents and brokers, we know how to help you navigate the murky waters of the IDX Broker Reciprocity world. Our sales team will work with you to understand your real estate goals and IDX needs, recommending the best solution for you. Once you’ve made a choice, our support team will be there to assist with your IDX should you need any help. Contact us to get started today!
Call 888-577-8027 to talk to us about an IDX.