We’ve had a couple clients lately who have told us that a web firm they were considering hiring told them that our IDX is “incompatible” with the website they are proposing to create.

Let’s make 1 thing clear.  An IDX is a property search.  There are many ways to implement it, but there is no such thing as an “incompatible” IDX.   So why are web firms saying this, then?  Well, 2 reasons.

1. Some of our national IDX competitors offer affiliate programs.  Meaning, if your web firm gets you to switch to “Globo IDX,” they receive a chunk of your monthly IDX fees.  It’s the same as you steering a client to a particular appraiser or mortgage broker because you’re getting a kickback (except in your case, you have to disclose it!)
2. A web firm might be fantastic at visual design or information architecture, but often they are operating with a “plug & play” content management system, such as WordPress, Joomla, etc.  These are great systems, and allow a “non-programmer” to configure a pretty nifty website.  However, they sometimes lack the ability to do much “out of the box” customization.  And so, not only do they want the affiliate revenue (see above), but they would just prefer a “push-button” IDX that they don’t have to tinker with.

Here’s the problem.  Real estate is, at its heart, a very local thing. No national IDX firm will offer the sort of Charlotte-specific data metrics we do.  They aren’t going to take the time to figure out that Dilworth is both in Area 5 and Area 6, or that “Ballantyne” isn’t a neighborhood, but a large area of South Charlotte.

We usually don’t use this blog to pimp our products, and we obviously have a vested interest here, but right is right, and some of these web firms are just not being honest.  Bottom line, any time someone tries to steer you to a particular product, ask if there is an affiliate relationship.  And if your new web guy can’t/won’t integrate a product they aren’t familiar with, ask us.  We’ll be glad to help.