Better to Have No IDX Search or a Really Bad Search Experience?

January 18, 2010
By: Drew Meyers
Author's Website: http://virtualresults.net

There are some great IDX providers and some not so great ones; some expensive and some cheap (or free). At one of the sessions at RE BarCamp NY last week, the following question came up:

Is having no IDX search on an agent or broker website better than having a really bad search experience?

What do you think?

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Natalie @ RanchoMesa

I stumbled onto this. Great post!

tipper truck hire

An Internet Data Exchange (IDX) is a real estate property search site which allows the public to conduct searches of approved Multiple Listing Service properties in a certain area.So It is better then A BAD search Experience.

curtisvancarter

Drew
Just curious which IDX providers you felt were good? Thanks for your reply in advance. Curtis

drewmeyers

I'd suggest you talk to some agents who are using the various IDX providers and get their thoughts. I'm not an agent and have never actually used any of them.

SacramentoBill

If you want to attract and retain buyers, you'll need an IDX...so bad is better than none.

But, obviously we have the choice between good and bad and can search for a good IDX solution. I would be interested in the experiences of others and there conclusions on which IDX provides both the best user experience, and more importantly, the best result...engaged buyers.

Ross Peterson

The trouble is that in some parts of the country there are limited options for good, clean & custom IDX solutions unless you want to pay all of the extra fees yourself. Here in Montana, sharing the cost among several other agents or agencies makes the most sense even though you're stuck with an iframe solution that, in the end, looks like everyone else's.

Karen Goodman

I think that every real estate site needs an IDX search, even if it is a bad one. Sometimes those of us who live in the social media space forget that for many consumers, our bad IDX might be the only one that they've ever seen. Just because we think it could be better doesn't mean they aren't completely happy with what they are getting.

If you don't know something better is out there, you don't know what you are missing.

Laurent

The experience is as important as the content. If you're going to do something, do it well otherwise don't bother.

geordieromer

As re.net geeks we all have opinions about what a bad IDX experience is like. I think it is better to have a bad IDX than none at all. Some of our clients will actually like and or use a bad IDX, especially if it is something they are familiar with. With no IDX, it means the client is going elsewhere. Obviously, the preferred option is to have a good IDX.

drewmeyers

I agree with you. Playing devil's advocate...the counter argument is it looks poorly on your personal brand if your search interface is sub-par, or downright atrocious. Some consumers may think it's so bad that they'd never use you as their agent.