Q & A: Do I Need An IDX Feed?

IDX is an umbrella term used to cover policies, standards, and software pertaining to the display of listing information on websites. Most importantly for agents and brokers, IDX is what enables members of a multiple listing service (MLS) to integrate real estate listings from the MLS database into their own websites.

Despite some stringent rules regarding IDX, it certainly offers many advantages for agents. It’s actually a win-win for everyone who uses it: real estate professionals and consumers. Agents and brokers can share the most pertinent, appealing listings in their markets on their websites to attractive prospective buyers. Buyers get the lowdown on the most recent listings to hit the market and confidence that the information is correct.

Today, consumers expect to see property listings on agents’ real estate websites, so agents who don’t incorporate listings into their website via IDX end up at a disadvantage when compared to agents who do display listings.

Just remember that having listings on your site is not unique content and potential buyers have a dozen sites they can use to search the market, so if you have a website with IDX integration make sure that you are not depending on that to lock someone in. Your expertise, personality, and unique attraction should be the main goal of your website. 

If you are new to the business than you do not have to invest in IDX right away, if someone is on your site they are there to discover you as the agent. Seasoned agents should always establish the integration.