What is an IDX vendor?

An IDX vendor is a company that specializes in software that adds IDX data to a website. They will handle all the design, programming, and ongoing support and generally have an established relationship with your MLS, making it easy and affordable to get setup with IDX on your site.

IDX vendors offer ways to integrate IDX in every shape and size, from basic property search forms to fully interactive search solutions. Some vendors specialize in custom-built IDX solutions or full websites with IDX features built in, but most vendors offer pre-made stand-alone products that can integrate with an existing website.

IDX Setup using a Vendor

A good IDX vendor will help you through the entire process of adding IDX to your website. They’ll oversee everything from getting the listing data from your MLS to tweaking how the search looks and performs on your website. Here’s how the process generally works with an IDX vendor.

  1. See what IDX data your MLS offers- Before you purchase a solution from an IDX vendor, find out what kind of listing data your MLS can provide. Some MLSs will only provide IDX in certain formats or may charge a setup or annual fee for access to their data. Be sure your MLS can provide the IDX data in a format your vendor is familiar with, and be aware of any additional fees.
    Use an established IDX vendor to skip this step. They will already have this information handy and can tell you exactly what kind IDX data your MLS provides as well as any additional costs involved in setting up IDX for your area. Diverse Solutions offers details on IDX feed availability, including data format and any additional MLS data fees in our MLS IDX coverage section.
  2. Compare IDX products and purchase – Each IDX vendor offers something a bit different and offer products tailored for specific goals. Some IDX solutions are designed to boost your traffic, others focus on conversions, and still others are designed for specific browsers or platforms. Diverse Solutions offers a full suite of IDX products, including an IDX plugin for WordPress, a lead capture-focused mapping IDX search, and even a Mobile IDX for use on mobile browsers. Use our comparison charts to find the IDX search that’s right for your site, then purchase to get started.
  3. Setup data feed and get approval – Once you’ve purchased an IDX solution, your vendor will need to both acquire the IDX data from your MLS and get the approval to start displaying the IDX listings on your site. This usually involves getting paperwork signed off by your MLS, your IDX vendor, and the member (and/or the broker). In most cases, the IDX vendor will already have an established IDX feed setup with your MLS, and the paperwork is simply a matter of MLS protocol. Either way, your IDX vendor should provide the necessary MLS forms and explain what you need to complete and send to your MLS. Details of the setup process for each of the MLS feeds offered by Diverse Solutions are available in our IDX coverage section.
  4. Add IDX to your site – As soon as your MLS approves your use of their IDX data, your IDX vendor will provide instructions detailing how to start integrating the IDX data into your real estate website. Usually this entails copying a line of code to our website or installing a piece of software. Diverse Solutions IDX offers videos, forums, tutorials, as well as email and phone IDX support to make adding IDX to your website a fast and easy process.
  5. Customize your IDX – Every IDX solution should offer you some degree of customization. This could be simply editing the name, email, and phone number displayed on IDX listings, or it could be much more advanced. Take advantage of the customization options included to get optimal traffic, the best lead conversion, and seamless site integration with your IDX.

Once your IDX has been approved, setup, and fully integrated in your website, regularly monitor your IDX user traffic, including conversion rates, visitor engagement, and other factors to be sure your IDX is paying off. Diverse Solutions regularly updates our IDX search products with new features and enhancements to make your IDX work even better. Attend our webinars, watch our videos, or give us to call to make sure you are getting the most out of your IDX search.