Fully Integrated IDX Solution for Automation

Integrated IDX Solution

Real Pro Systems offers full integration with an IDX provider, IDX Broker. This video gives an overview of the advantages:

Real Pro Systems - IDX integration from Joe Lininger on Vimeo.

We're excited to share some new features that help in search engine optimization for your Real Pro site. The listings on your MLS, when the detail page is viewed, can look like they are actually on your website and count towards search engine optimization.

The effect of using "sub level domains" is that IDX pages are "indexed" and rank well and thousands of pages can count towards your domain name.

Our full integration offers automation and affects your website in three ways:

1.) Gives you a nice map-based search page for your MLS (please ask us to check and make sure your MLS is covered). You can also ask us to default the search to a “Basic,” “Advanced” and other search styles. We’ll set this up for you to frame in your website (or not, your choice).  Here’s an example of the search page.

You will have an account with IDX Broker where you can control settings such as an MLS search where the buyer can get a lead capture form after viewing the third listing; and track a registrant’s search activity. IDX Broker’s database will automatically synchronize with your RPS database and leads will be put into your “Email Home Search” drip email campaign.

2.) The leads on your buyer stealth site (or “Dream Home Finder” form in our Silver System) will automatically be setting their own email home search or “listing alert,” providing automation so you won’t have to set the recurring search for them.

3.) Your “Featured Properties” will download automatically from your MLS by “agent ID” once a day, pulling the photos and virtual tour link. You may add additional photos or text (or even embedded, hosted videos) in the property description. Sales status changes need to be updated manually, as with many other IDX providers. Your properties will be on your website, contributing to search engine optimization (versus framed, as some website providers do).

 Note that leads are synchronized into one database with Real Pro Systems, so you don't have a separate IDX database. They drop into our pre-written email campaigns automatically as well.

You can try it out on this demo site:
http://demo1.realprosystems.idxco.com/idx/3684/mapSearch.php
And try out the buyer’s stealth site to see how listings are delivered on branded email stationery we create for you, that matches the drip email campaign:
http://www.rpshomesearch.com/

A features list is available on this page.

Cost
One-time $199 set up fee and a $39.99/monthly fee, per agent. Let me know if you’re interested and I can verify coverage of your MLS, also listed on IDXBroker’s website. There are also multi-user accounts if you have a team of listing agents, and you can add additional MLSs as well. Check with your MLS on any charges that they may apply.

Real Pro Systems manages processing the order and set up for you.

It's Optional
Real Pro Systems doesn't require you to have an IDX account, just that you are able to set a recurring search for your buyer leads coming from the Buyer's stealth site or the "Dream Home FInder" on our Silver websites. For an MLS search, you would just copy and paste the website address into our Back Office for your MLS, broker's search page, or even Realtor.com, in lieu of an IDX search page.

MLS Search Page Examples Provided by Real Pro Systems
MLS search with our fully integrated IDX solution - IDX Broker
 

Full Integration of an IDX System

Having a seamlessly integrated IDX system or solution featuring IDX Broker enables all Real Pro Gold and Silver clients the opportunity to add a fully integrated map-based IDX home search as part of their main website. Real Pro Gold clients can have the IDX fully integrated with their email home search stealth sites as well.

The integration offered by Real Pro Systems goes far beyond simply enabling property searches for website visitors. For example, you'll never have to upload your listings into your Real Pro Systems websites again! This integration automatically loads your listings from the MLS onto the Real Pro Gold3 website's featured properties page. It also sets up email home searches automatically from the stealth sites and kicks off automated email campaigns. What's more, your leads are consolidated within your Real Pro lead manager because the integration synchronizes leads between the IDX and Gold/Silver automatically.

With your listing information continually updated on your Real Pro Systems website, your listings become true website content. Having the listing information integrated into your site and not "framed" from another solution, increases the visibility of this crucial content to search engines. And since your property pages are automatically optimized, anyone searching on your listing address is extremely likely to be drawn to your website!

Definition of IDX From Wikipedia

An Internet Data Exchange (IDX) is a real estate property search site which allows the public to conduct searches of approved Multiple Listing Service properties in a certain area.

Site users generally gain the benefit of anonymous property searching and review. IDX sites usually provide less detailed information than the full Realtor Multiple Listing Service, limiting the data to that which is deemed publicly accessible. The benefit to realtors is that users of their IDX web site can search freely, establish some confidence, and qualify themselves before contacting the realtor.

There are companies that provide ways to search all MLS listings for those whose MLS's don't allow consumers access or who want a map-based search or other features not available with their own MLS. This is called Internet Data Exchange (IDX), or "Broker Reciprocity." IDX solutions will strip away the listing agent's contact information and many offer lead capture and saved search functionality.

Certain rules apply to the real estate companies' ability to display each detail about a property. These "display rules" are set by the Multiple Listing Service organization, which generally forms its policy around the recommendations of the National Association of Realtors.

IDX policy is nearing its replacement by a new Internet Listing Display policy being formed by the National Association of Realtors.

A common and standard data exchange protocol for IDX information is the Real Estate Transaction Specification or RETS.

Internet Listing Display (ILD) is a set of rules put forth by the National Association of Realtors that regulate how homes and properties can be displayed on Web sites. The ILD policy consolidates and replaces both the Virtual Office Website (VOW) and Internet Data Exchange (IDX) policies to create one set of rules.

The ILD policy is a work in progress created as a result of investigation from the U.S. Department of Justice into anti-competitive practices by traditional real estate brokers. The ILD policy is intended to prevent traditional brokers from solely excluding their property listings from selected discount broker Web sites, since they must "opt out" from display on all other brokers' sites ^[1]

RETS was created to overcome the difficulties presented by the existence of a large number of organizations desiring to share and distribute real estate information with others. RETS addressed this need by providing a common standard for the exchange of real estate data. Many MLS data exchange service providers use the RETS protocol.

Here's an example:

See also 

• Real Estate Transaction Specification (RETS)
• Virtual Office Website (VOW)
• Internet Listing Display (ILD)
• Multiple Listing Service (MLS)

Agent-provided MLS search pages or "IDX links"
Framed MLS search - RMLS
Framed IDX search - Wolfnet