Re: Incorporating MLS listings into site

I do not know if this is an available program in Canada because this one is
mandated by NAR, but I would imagine they will have it soon if they don't
!!! Savy agents want this stuff now for their sites..:)

I know that MLS structures are different depending on where you are in the
country (I also worked 2nd level for the MLS in the Greater Detroit Metro
area, but it was before IDX days) so I suggest starting with having the
agent contact the MLS company, get the paperwork, etc. that he needs and
then he will pass that on to you.  I also would expect each MLS company to
have at least one person on staff who works with the programmers and
companies who provide the IDX programming to agents so you would at least
have someone to ask questions of besides the agent. Most agents are usually
clueless about technical things, but there are more and more that are
technically advanced and do their own webwork, etc.

To be clear, IDX is not a company, it is a program that is mandated by
National Association of Realtors for all participating member offices.  I
see the posting here by the one gentleman from a company with IDX in his
name, but he is not with the MLS where the data originates. Always go to the
source is my suggestion and work out from there.  ;)  One company that is
nation wide in this line of work is www.AdvancedAccess.com  They handle a
lot of different solutions for realtors for a fee, and are popular. They do
both IDX work and Smart Framing as well as are the hosting company, etc.

good luck!!
phyllis  ;)
www.photomagnets4u.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Susan Friesen" <susanfriesen(at)telus.net>
To: "HWG Techniques list" <hwg-techniques(at)mail.hwg.org>
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2003 2:05 PM
Subject: RE: Incorporating MLS listings into site


> Wow, this is great info you've shared with us Phyllis! Do you know if this
> same procedure/options are available to the Canadian MLS listings as well?
>
> Just to be clear, do we contact our local MLS office for set up, or go
> through IDX?
>
> Also, not that I'm paranoid, but I don't want to give the impression I
grab
> listing info illegally for my client - I meant I have a link pointing to
the
> actual MLS web site for listings in our area :)
>
> Sue
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-hwg-techniques(at)hwg.org
> [mailto:owner-hwg-techniques(at)hwg.org]On Behalf Of WebWizzard
> Sent: Friday, July 11, 2003 1:37 PM
> To: custom; HWG Techniques list
> Subject: Re: Incorporating MLS listings into site
>
>
> Good Afternoon,
>
> I am currently a 2nd level support technican working for the local MLS
> company of San Diego County, SD, CA, www.sandicor.com.
>
> The program you are referring to is definitely IDX, Internet Data
Exchange.
> It is an official program that was mandated to be in place for every
single
> MLS company that belongs to NAR (national association of realtors,
> www.realtor.com) across the United States by Jan 1, 2002.  Many of the
> smaller MLS companies haven't bothered doing it, but most of them have.
>
> There are two different programs currently in place.  One is where you get
> access to the entire MLS's database in an ftp access.  You do a once daily
> download, and then incorporate that data into whatever format you wish to
> design for your client.  This ftp access give the Web designers the most
> flexibility for individuality, and it is what most of the big offices and
> players use.
>
> The second option is called Smart Framing.  The MLS company designs an
> interface that allows anyone to do seaches of the MLS data base in a real
> time situation. The kicker is that you can only "frame" this into your own
> website. You have some color choices, and font sizes, etc. but basically,
> the format is the same for anyone who frames the site. This is the easiest
> and most up-to-date information a realtor can offer to his potential
> clients, but the agent has the least control over how it looks.
>
> IDX has been around for over 2-1/2 years, and Sandicor has offered the ftp
> access for a long time, but mostly the Big Brokers took advantage of it as
> they are the ones who had the websites first. Now that every single agent
> wants to and usually has their own website, they all want to offer this
live
> search for their clients.  The IDX program is currently free for our
users,
> but theSmart Framing option has a small cost due to our having to run the
> website/webpages behind the scenes, and provide the bandwidth, etc.
>
> I hope this explains IDX to everyone.  I can say that I am fairly certain
if
> you are linking to the mls listings or to other agents listing on your
> agent's webpage without permission, you are very much in violation and
stand
> the chance of this agent losing his active status and connection to the
MLS.
> It is a major violation of being inactived and charged a fine of $500 for
> any of our agents who give their agent ID and password to anyone else,
even
> another realtor. And we catch them and fine them regularly, believe it or
> not. The data that is accumulated and mainted by MLS companies is sacred
and
> very private, and is highly protected.
>
> One other thing.  You must make sure you have an approved disclaimer on
any
> site using IDX or Smart Framing that states these listings are not
> necessarily the property of the agent whose site you are visiting.  It is
> very illegal to claim a listing to be yours when it isn't. And trust me,
> real estate agents are extremely protective of their listings and their
> contacts and they "police" all of the MLS listings looking for violations
to
> turn into the Rules Department.
>
> Have a great day !!
> phyllis  :)
> www.photomagnets4u.com
>

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