REW’s New IDX Map Search is Coming

Hi,
Will these features (polygons, radius search, etc) be able to be added to REW IDX for current REW website and IDX customers.

The economics of the new REW solution should allow Realtors to place sophisticated IDX search capability on wider range of sites. I really like the idea of being able to drop an IDX into niche blog.

The current IDX solutions leave a lot of room for improvement from a usability and performance stand point. I am dieing for one that focuses on user experience rather than how many features they can add. Would also love to see an IDX solution that is WordPress based.

Adam-
I know for a fact that there are no fewer than 3 companies working on Wordpress-based IDX plugins. Expect to hear more about them soon.

Laurent brings up a good point, although I don't totally agree with it. In my region there are definitely times when a client wants to focus on a certain neighborhood or geographical area only. The only way they can do it now is to find and enter all of the MLS zones that will cover the region they're looking at. The end result is a search the encompasses much more than they're looking for -- consequently the end up weeding through a bunch of properties they're not interested in.

This new approach allows the user to drag a quick shape over the area they're interested in (without having to screw around with those archaic Realtor zones) and they get just the results they're looking for.

I think it's a brilliant idea -- IF it's simple to use and intuitive. I also think that companies like Diverse Solutions and other shouldn't be resting on their laurels. I had DS for a year, and I was underwhelmed with what I got for paying $100 a month. I hope this IDX makes a big statement in this sector. Shake it up!

Laurent is dead on. Most initial users will not find the drawing tool that valuable. By the time a buyer is to the point of having narrowed down a search for that tool to be useful, they are probably already working with an agent.

The only impact it will have is pushing companies like DS to improve. Nothing ever stands still in this biz, so its not really a game changer.

That's nice from a geeky and technical point of view but unfortunately searching for properties on a map is about the most annoying way to conduct a real estate search. For most home buyer, a map is just not a good way to search for a house.

Whenever I see a post like this about innovations in IDX vendors I get depressed. Living in Missouri, I've got two problems. One, most of the vendors don't service the St. Louis region (and many other markets in the country). Even worse, the Missouri Real Estate Commission has a ridiculous rule that agents are required to go with the IDX vendor that their broker uses, or go with a non-map based simplistic one (Immobel) that is available for free with our membership.

Since Keller Williams uses Wolfnet (which is definitely the best in my region), I'm hoping that innovations with other companies will push Wolfnet to keep up. Unless the state changes the rules, the only way I could change vendors would be to change brokerages or go out on my own. Neither is likely to happen.

Wow Karen - I've heard Eric Stegemann moan about the St Louis MLS, but I had no idea about this IDX restriction.