IDXPro Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is IDX and who can use it?
2. Do I need a web site to offer IDXPro?
3. What is IDXPro MLS Search Solution?
4. Can I take IDXPro for a Test Drive?
5. Do I have options with regards to the look and feel of my IDXPro search page?
6. How soon after I sign up can IDXPro be up and running on my site?
7. Can we use IDXPro for an entire real estate office? What would the advantages be?
8. Must I be a member of my local MLS to have IDX?
9. What about compliance with MLS regulations?
10. Which local MLS systems does IDXPro cover? What if mine isn’t covered?
11. Do I have to let other agents display my listings on their sites?
12. Word-of-mouth has always been my most effective lead generation tool: Will having IDXPro enhance my reputation and grow my business?
13. I have a fair number of seller clients: Can IDXPro help me attract and provide value-added services to Home Sellers?
14. Can’t I get the same tools directly from my MLS?
15. Will IDXPro auto-populate my site’s listing page with my MLS Listings?
16. What is HouseTrack™ and how does it work?
17. What is LeadTracker™ and how does it work?
18. Many of my web site visitors are looking for similar homes: How can I make it easier to find their dream home?
19. Do visitors have to register to search, or can they do it anonymously?
20. OK: I’m sold! How do I get started?

1: What is IDX and who can use it?

IDX stands for Internet Data Exchange. IDX enables real estate professionals to display property listings from Multiple Listing Service (MLS) online. IDX access eligibility is dependent on local MLS rules. Some MLS boards allow both brokers and agents to have IDX solutions while others allow access only to brokers. Our customer service team can tell you whether IDX is available for your area. Contact us for more information.

2: Do I need a web site to offer IDX?

Yes, a web site is needed to offer IDX. If you don’t have a web site already, or are considering creating a new one that is easier to use and gives you more control, take a Free Test Drive of the powerful iHOUSE Elite website solution that we offer to agents and brokers at very affordable prices. Click here to learn more.

3: What is IDXPro MLS Search Solution?

IDXPro is the IDX solution offered by iHOUSEweb as a stand-alone product that can be quickly and easily added-on to any professional web site, including iHOUSE sites. A user-friendly, plug-and-play MLS search engine solution, IDXPro provides more marketing and lead generation power than any other solution, delivering more qualified leads and increasing your productivity.

Back to Top

4: Can I take IDXPro for a Test Drive?

Yes – You can test drive IDXPro MLS Search with listings from your MLS area. A test drive will allow you to try all of the features included with IDXPro. However, each customer must be individually approved by their own local MLS before we can activate the service on a website.

5: Do I have options with regards to the look and feel of my IDXPro search page?

Absolutely! With the new IDXPro 3.0, you’ll have several design options AND colors to choose from so you can match the layout of your search page to the design you already have in place on your website. You can access all your search page design options in the admin menu of your IDXPro account, even on a FREE test drive.

6: How soon after I sign up can IDXPro be up and running on my site?

You can have IDXPro up and running as soon as any forms required by your local MLS are completed and approved.

7: Can we use IDXPro for an entire real estate office? What would the advantages be?

Absolutely! IDXPro offers flexible Office solutions so you can always find the right tool for your business, no matter how big or small! An IDXPro Office package includes a main office (or broker) IDX Search page with LeadTracker, plus an additional 5 agent-branded IDX search pages. Have an office with more than 5 agents? Contact us for more information on finding the right MLS Search solution for you!

8: Must I be a member of my local MLS to have IDX?

You do need to be a member of your local MLS to use IDXPro. MLS systems nationwide require that IDX-based programs only be made available to members. You may, however, join multiple MLS systems if your target market is covered by different MLS systems. Your MLS may or may not charge their members fees to access the IDX through third-party tools like ours. Our customer service team can tell you whether your MLS charges additional fees for this service. Contact us at 1-866-645-7702 or email us for more information.

9: What about compliance with MLS regulations?

You need not worry at all about compliance because we take care of it for you! We have strong relationships with over 350 MLS services, more than any other IDX provider. We guarantee 100% compliance with all MLS/IDX rules and regulations.

10: Which local MLS systems does IDXPro cover? What if mine isn’t covered?

We are currently working with more than 350 MLS Boards. If your local MLS system isn’t currently covered, we’ll work directly with that MLS to get you started if at all possible. Click here to find out if we already offer IDXPro to your area.

11: Do I have to let other agents display my listings on their sites?

In a word: No. However, most real estate professionals find it advantageous to permit others to include their listings because it increases exposure overall for that listing. Moreover, broker participation in IDX is always voluntary, reciprocal, and mutual. If you prohibit other agent and brokers from displaying your listings, you will need their express and individual permission to display any of their listings on your web site. You are also at risk of losing prospective home-buying clients should you choose to limit your listings in this way, as they will search other sites offering more listings.

Since you are not obligated in any way to allow other agents to display your listings, you will always have the option of contacting your local MLS board to withhold permission on either a “blanket” or listing-by-listing basis.

You should also check with your local MLS board to find out whether or not it is their policy to transfer your listings to REALTOR.com and other aggregators should you choose not to allow others to display your listings. The decision to do so or not is the responsibility of each local MLS board.

Back to Top

12: Word-of-mouth has always been my most effective lead generation tool: Will having IDXPro enhance my reputation and grow my business?

The answer is definitely yes, to both questions. The Internet is here to stay, and providing clients with the ability to quickly and easily search online listings and receive regular email updates is essential to doing business today, even for the most successful real estate agents. IDXPro enables both buyers and sellers to gain a better understanding of current market conditions and explore relevant property listings.

Moreover, with IDXPro every email, form, and listing will be effectively branded with your name and contact information, reinforcing your professional image and commitment to providing personal service, routing all inquiries to your office, and ensuring that everybody who visits your site knows your name.

13: I have a fair number of seller clients: Can IDXPro help me attract and provide value-added services to Home Sellers?

Indeed it can. Just like homebuyers, sellers expect their agents to be able to make the most of the Internet, by actively promoting their property online and offering useful tools like auto-generation of Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) Reports. IDXPro allows sellers to keep abreast of the market and easily explore comparative listings so they can decide when it’s the right time to sell, and what to expect when they do.

14: Can’t I get the same tools directly from my MLS?

Few MLS systems provide even the most basic email update programs, management tools, or other lead-capturing tools. While members of some MLS systems may be able to get a raw data feed directly from the MLS, the feed is not that useful if you don’t have a program that can publish the data. Other MLS systems may allow simple “frameable” search programs but offer limited or no options for “branding” the listings that appear with your contact information. Without personalization, you are at risk of having your web site visitors bypass you and contact the listing agent or broker directly. With IDXPro, on the other hand, you can be sure your prospective clients know your name, and that all inquiries come directly to you.

15: Will IDXPro auto-populate my site’s listing page with my MLS listings?

Yes. If you have an iHOUSE Elite website, your property listings can be auto-populated directly to your site’s listing page. If your web site is not an iHOUSE Elite website, not a problem. We will provide you with a link to your own listings page, which IDXPro automatically updates everyday.

16: What is HouseTrack™ and how does it work?

HouseTrack is an advanced, fully-automated email update program that helps you capture leads and notifies your registered users of new and updated listings that match the search criteria they’ve entered on your web site. Your registered visitors can choose to receive these emails daily or weekly and you have the option to be emailed a copy of each notification, or simply to receive daily or weekly reports on the HouseTrack activity on your IDXPro search page. Stay in the know with your potential clients with the help of HouseTrack notification emails!

17: What is LeadTracker™ and how does it work?

LeadTracker is an efficient system for identifying and tracking the leads you’re generating by using IDXPro, 24/7. Complete with an enhanced Client Activity Report detailing who is searching for WHAT, WHEN and HOW OFTEN! LeadTracker integrates your contact manager with HouseTrack, capturing all the details of the homebuyers searching on your site, and alerting you via email so you can follow-up appropriately. It’s never been easier to track those very active searching homebuyers so you can target and spend your time on the hottest leads.

18: Many of my web site visitors are looking for similar homes: How can I make it easier to find their dream home?

You can input and save the most-frequently requested search criteria directly on your site—whatever combination of features & price points that really move in your market. We provide you with a customized link for your web site. All your prospective clients have to do is click on this link to trigger this pre-defined search to see the latest listings that fit the bill.

19: Do visitors have to register to search, or can they do it anonymously?

That’s entirely up to you: you control access to and usage of the IDXPro MLS search on your web site.

20: OK: I’m sold! How do I get started?

Click here to add the proven lead-capturing power of IDXPro to your web site. Promptly after the required forms are completed and approved by your local MLS, you can get started: no complicated software downloads are needed to offer an unlimited number of users this valuable service.

Back to Top