IDX gives MLS Participants the right to display limited property information
from the MLS database on their Internet websites. The Berkshire IDX Solution
was launched on May 1, 2002
How can you utilize the MLS data on your own website?
Every Broker has the ability to enhance their public website
with a compilation of listing information and offer clients and customers the
ability to review listing data on their own. As a listing broker, you are assured
that your name and phone number, as well as accurate listing information is
consistently displayed and updated on all web displays. Every broker also has
the ability to opt out of this reciprocal advertising agreement.
Internet Data Exchange is accomplished via a smart-frame solution, which is
a free, secure website designed to protect the accuracy of the MLS information
and uniformity of updates and display. A website frame is a combination of
two or more web pages that have been designed to work together.
Every office that chooses to participate in the IDX
system can ‘smart
frame’ MLS data on their office website. Additionally, each participating
broker can authorize any individual agents to use the IDX data on separate
sales associate websites, provided all agree to adhere to the rules and regulations
of the service, IDX and the Board of Realtors. If an agent is interested
in taking advantage of this option, they should speak to the Broker in their
office and obtain their signature on the Associates Authorization form. A
copy of this form is located on BerkshireRealtors.com or can be obtained
by contacting any of the Association Staff.
Technical Information
You must first complete and submit an Authorization Form
to the Board Office before using this smart frame solution. After you have
agreed to the rules and regulations, you are authorized to frame the ProMatch
IDX search.
If you would like to view a smart frame solution in
action, please view the Berkshire
Board’s display. The creation of this page took
approximately 1 hour and is a very basic example of this system in action.
Once your website is set up with a frames set, you will need
to use the following link in the body of your page for the MLS data search.
IDX Background:
The National Association of Realtors® has issued a mandate that all Multiple
Listing Services adopt an IDX policy. This policy requires that each MLS must
enable their Participants to display on their public website, aggregated MLS
listing information through either downloading and placing the data on Participants’ websites
or by framing such information from the MLS or association website.
There are several very successful MLS IDX programs
in the country that were the inspiration for this new policy. After one
year of launch, most MLS’s
are reporting 100% listing office participation.
By adopting internet policy that is fair to all members, it places all on
a level playing field for web content and is a proactive approach to ensuring
protections are in place to avoid ethics issues or lawsuits
How will this affect you?
You will have the ability to enhance your public website
with a compilation of listing information and provide your clients and customers
the ability to review listing data on their own.
As a listing broker, you are assured that your name and phone number, as well
as accurate listing information is consistently displayed and updated on all
web displays. As a listing broker, you also have the ability to opt out of
this reciprocal advertising agreement.
Have Questions or Need More Information?
Please contact the staff at the Board
Office for more information.
Berkshire County Board of Realtors® -
99 West Street, Suite 200 Pittsfield, MA 01201-5845 413-442-8049 Sandra
J. Carroll, Chief Executive Officer - Sue
O'Brien, Member Services Administrator- Stacy Buhl, Office Clerk
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