Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to most of your questions are below and displayed by category.
General IDX Questions
IDX is an acronym for Internet Data Exchange. IDX is the policy instituted by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) to govern how MLS member participants can display active MLS listing information on their websites. In simple terms, IDX is the means of extracting the data from a Multiple Listing Service and delivering it to a website for public consumption. IDX is sometimes called Broker Reciprocity or IDD.
Also known as Broker Reciprocity, the term “IDX” refers to the software, rules and regulations which allow MLS data to show on your site. This data feed typically encompasses the listing data for properties entered into the MLS system, while IDX rules may determine where, what, and how it is displayed. If your MLS provides access to this data feed, you may use it to promote all eligible listings on your website, not just your featured listings.
IDX Broker is engineered to collect, organize and maintain your local MLS listings, allowing you to seamlessly display all MLS properties on your real estate site.
Participation in IDX depends on the rules established by your local board and/or Multiple Listing Service. Since your board/MLS is independently governed, these rules might be different than rules of another boards and MLS’s. Normally all Broker members (Participants) may participate in IDX/Broker Reciprocity. Agents (Subscribers) may, or may not, participate in Broker Reciprocity program depending on the rules. Sometimes individual agents can display IDX data directly on their personal websites with permission of their Broker, sometimes they cannot. Our staff can help you determine if this is the case, we just need to know the name of your local board/MLS.
You are probably already participating since your listings are being displayed on other websites. The next step is to add IDX to your website to start capturing leads much like your competitors have been doing. We can work with you or your website developer to get IDX delivered to your website. If you really want to get a jump on the competition, consider signing up for our “Small Office IDX” service. This multi-user account can help boost the number of leads managed by your Agents and help you generate a greater sales volume as a result.
Most offices or brokers have a company website and provide their agents with their own profile page. Sometimes they also provide other features like MLS search and sold listing showcases. Since the broker’s cut of your commission is substantial, these are services they should provide as an additional means for you to get and convert leads.
However, it should be noted that in most cases, leads that come through the broker’s website, which include any coming from your page, belong to the broker. Also, in most cases the page you’re provided starts with the broker’s web address (i.e. www.yourbroker.com/yourname or yourname.yourbroker.com).
The most successful real estate agents have their own brand that, while complimentary to their broker’s brand, distinguishes them from other agents in the market. These brands include a branded personal website (www.yourname.com), branded e-mail addresses ([email protected]), and brand identity (logo, stationery, advertising, and mailers).
Lastly, it is not uncommon for agents to change brokers a few times over the course of their careers. When considering a change in brokerage, you can rest assured that any clients and leads captured through your own website with NSIGNIA® IDX will follow you should you decide to change brokers.
Unless you have a full-time assistant who is also skilled in WordPress development, it is not recommended you build your own site. While construction of a site on your own is likely to be the least expensive option, we recommend sticking to what you do best: selling real estate. Leave the web development to the people who design and build websites for a living – us.
Also, it’s worth noting that new features are constantly being added as technology advances. As an authorized reseller for IDX Broker, NSIGNIA® is kept current on all new features and will recommend upgrades when we believe they will benefit you or your business.
While we are generally only required by the various MLS’s to refresh the data every 12 hours, we strive to get new data sets hourly. Because of the automated email service we provide, it is important to maintain the quickest turnaround time possible.
Think of it as free advertising. The more exposure for your listings the better! The more places your listings show up, the faster they are likely to sell. The bottom line is that no one gets paid until the property closes. The Internet has taken a once closed MLS system and opened it up for consumers to make faster and better informed buying/selling decisions. IDX opened the door for free advertising on tens of thousands of websites.
When you display these listings on your site, you give consumers one more reason to keep coming back to your site. Your site, and thus you, become a tremendous resource for home buyers in your area. Additionally, home buyers today are looking for specific information and adding IDX to your website can help answer some of the questions about what homes are available in the MLS.
No. The IDX data fields available for display to the public are approved by the board/MLS and do not contain confidential information.
Most of the time some information that identifies the listing firm is required. This is usually some combination of the listing agent name and/or phone, or the listing office and/or phone. Every board/MLS requires a different combination. The “rule of thumb” is that we are required to display the listing Broker or Agent name. Because of this we attempt to place this information at the very bottom of the page in an inconspicuous location.
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Plans & Pricing
Lite offers the essential features and functionality for home search. Platinum includes many more advanced features and customization options.
Platinum gives visitors the “portal-style” search experience of well-known home search sites with Home Atlas. Platinum also include Market Reports, Sold Data (MLS dependent), Map Search Widgets, Polygon Search, and Social Logins.
Yes! You can change your account level (Lite to Platinum or vice-versa) by visiting the Upgrade Center in your IDX Broker dashboard. Call us at (216) 243-2600 and we can walk you through the process.
Our Agent plan is for 1 agent, Team plan for 2, and Office is for blocks of agents. Adding additional agents to an account allows you to showcase their listings based off their agent ID number, add agent bio pages and lead routing. Additionally, agents are given access to an agent-level dashboard to allow them to manage their own bio and leads.
Unless you agreed to a 12-month subscription as part of a promotion, subscriptions are month-to-month. Review the terms and conditions, outlined on the design agreement from when you received the discount, for fees that may apply if you cancel before the 12th subscription payment.
In either case, you can cancel at any time. Simply contact support at least 3 full business days before your monthly renewal to cancel. We will provide you with a link to fill out our cancelation form.
Yes. You will need to subscribe to Managed WordPress from NSIGNIA® or the create a WordPress account with the provider of your choice within 14 calendar days. Fees may apply to transfer your website to a Managed WordPress account not created through NSIGNIA®. See your dedicated NSIGNIA® Consultant for details.
If you do not a) reinstate your NSIGNIA® IDX account, b) subscribe to Managed WordPress from NSIGNIA®, or c) create a WordPress account with another provider, the following apply: