I realize regional differences abound but just curious. Ideally I'd like answers from people with customized IDX where the searches are "pre-parsed" instead of being searches of the whole city or state.

For example I really like this guy's approach for a neighborhood niche website (click "search for Properties" then follow a link to see how his results display:

parkcitiesproperties dot com

I ran across a company that has done this, especially in the Florida condominium arena, and offers add-on solutions using IDX. Check out their website: Resi Their graphics are pretty impressive too.

Since IDX systems vary by MLS, you'll probably need to confirm that they have experience with your particular IDX or can work with it.

We do that, but custom IDX solutions aren't cheap.

www.alisoviejo--realestate.com
www.ladera-ranch--real-estate.com

Look at the dark bar across the top. With one click, you can get to that cities listings within a certain price range. But if you want, you can back out and search any city and any price.

We also do VERY neighborhood niche sites... like
www.orleanswebsite.com (it's for The Orleans community in Aliso Viejo) There's nothing on this site but Orleans listings and info.

I don't think parkcitiesproperties.com is an IDX site but just a bunch of this guy's listings.

Hard to see the results because his photo and the graphics take up so much of the framed pictures.

Our MLS furnishes each participating REALTOR a free IDX site customized to their name and contact information.

Here's what mine looks like:
http://snipurl.com/bguf

100$yr Billings, MT (IDX)
200$ yr (VOW -once we get it)

That's the beauty of his solution: it looks like his listings. They are in fact IDX listings, I've discussed the setup at length with the guy as he's one of the principals at my office. He has his own listings but he only has a 4-person team and while he's good ... he ain't that good!

I'm afraid you don't understand VOW yet. It's nothing more than an IDX website with a requirement that the visitor sign up or agree to terms before being able to access the full level of detail you provide. It's not something you "get" as a website operator; it's something you become by virtue of who you allow to see the listings.

If you can do IDX then you can do VOW. It doesn't cost you anything unless your webmaster wants to chnarge you. It can be as simple as requiring an email address from the site visitor before you show them the listings, or something more complex like showing most of the listing info to anonymous visitors but asking them to register and receive a password before being able to see the listing price for example.

See bradymoore.com as an example. You have to enter your contact information before seeing the IDX listings. That makes that site a VOW by definition. If he let anyone see the listings without any signup then he'd just be a normal IDX site.

See?

Ok thanks for the info Jflynn. With the website I have now through Link U Realty www.billingsonlinehomes.com (unfinished) I can make people sign in, before they click on the search button. From what I was told by are grouchy mls lady is that VOW will let you withhold the listing agents name and let you see who has been searching the mls from "some"(?) feature in VOW.

Venting here>> I have become pretty confused and turned-off about the benefit of having a website @30 a month from Link U. From what Brian says- driving traffic to mini-sites is by far better than having just one site. Using the 800# will by far gernerate more leads for me than that billboard in the desert. I have the website to put fsbo's on it- but now Im thinking of just listing them at 750$-1% so I have a reason to sign a listing agreement.

Also again we are anticipating the power marketing center sites too be done in a couple of weeks so I probably will just pay the 50$ a month and go with that. Do you want a website?...lol

Happy goings.
DM

OK, I was only looking at his "Featured Listings" and didn't do the property search thing.

Our board furnishes each agent an IDX solution similiar to this at no charge; this is the generic version:
http://public.kaarmls.com/

This is my free (included in MLS fees) IDX site:
http://public.kaarmls.com/default.asp?AgentID=9393&spn=0&al=9393&ol=

We pay $200/year for the IDX in Las Vegas.

http://www.nvrealtysolutions.com
http://www.agentrefund.com

wow ours is cheap.

one time $25
thats it.

but then im also using idxpro on my other sites.

mine is 400 a year, but it also serves a website. it's called activeagent.

If one is familiar with working with XML feeds, and other sorts of data fees, is it feasible to setup your own connection to the MLS without having to pay some company to develop a page for you?

-J

you'd have to get permission from MLS to do it legally i'd think