Do you want to create an IDX real estate site using WordPress? A real estate website requires specific features not normally available on ready-made websites, but don't worry, we've got you covered. In this article, we are going to show you how to easily create an IDX real estate website using WordPress.
What is IDX?
IDX or Internet Data Exchange is a software standard used by real estate agents, brokers and their teams to display frequently updated lists from MLS (Multiple List Services).
Why is IDX important for real estate websites?
Real estate websites use IDX to present property listings with up-to-date information directly from MLS. IDX allows you to showcase a wide range of properties, so that you can generate more leads for your business.
How to make a website IDX real estate?
Typically, you will need to hire a developer to build an IDX real estate site that will cost you thousands of dollars.
But it is not ideal if you are just starting out.
Fortunately, there is an easier solution you can use to make a website IDX real estate by yourself (without any coding knowledge).
We will walk you through each step, one by one. But before you do that, you will need the following to get started.
- A domain name (This will be the address of your website that your users will type in their browser to visit your website i.e. blogpascher.com)
- A web hosting account (This is where your website files will be stored)
- Un website template real estate
- An IDX WordPress plugin
Ready ? Let's start.
Step 1. Get started with your real estate website
First of all, you need to choose the right platform for your website. WordPress is the world's most popular website builder used by tens of thousands of real estate websites.
When we refer to WordPress, we refer to WordPress.org (software), not to WordPress.com (hosting service). Often beginners confuse these two because of the name. See our article on WordPress.com vs WordPress.org for a side-by-side comparison.
We recommend that you use Self-hosted WordPress.org because it gives you access to all the WordPress features.
To get started with WordPress, you will need to register a domain name and get an account with WordPress hosting .
Normally a domain name costs $ 14,99 / year and site hosting costs $ 7,99 / month.
Note: Bluehost is an officially recommended WordPress hosting provider, and we also use Bluehost for many of our own websites.
Once you've signed up for hosting, you'll receive an email with a link to your hosting dashboard.
Bluehost will automatically install WordPress for you, and you can connect to your WordPress site directly from the hosting dashboard.
Once logged in, you will see the WordPress admin area. This is where you'll manage your website, change settings, and add new content.
Step 2. Choose a real estate WordPress theme
The best thing about WordPress is that it gives you access to thousands of pre-made templates also known as WordPress themes. However, a real estate website has different needs than a regular business website.
Fortunately, there are tons of beautiful WordPress themes that you can use to make a real estate website. See our selection of experts in best real estate WordPress themes .
Some advice on choosing a theme for your real estate site.
- Strive to choose simplicity in the design.
- Keep in mind that themed demos use a lot of images that are not pre-installed. You will need to replace them with your own.
- Make sure the theme works on all screen sizes and devices.
- Find the IDX / MLS integration and themes compatible with your IDX plugin.
- Check out theme reviews and performance.
For more details, see our guide on how to choose the perfect WordPress theme for your website.
After you've chosen a real estate theme for your website, you can go ahead and install it. For detailed instructions, see our beginner's guide to way to install a WordPress theme .
Step 3. Choose an IDX WordPress plugin
There are a lot of WordPress IDX plugins on the market. You will need to carefully choose the plugin that works with your MLS provider.
We recommend using the plugin dsIDXpress . For more details, see our step-by-step guide to way to install a WordPress plugin .
Upon activation, the plugin will add a new menu item titled "IDX" to your WordPress admin bar. Click on it to go to the plugin settings page.
You will need to enter your activation key. You can find this information on the plugin's website or the email it sent you when registering the plugin.
After activation, the plugin offers several ways to add MLS content to your website. If you use the demo version of the plugin, you get access to mock MLS listings. Paid users will be able to select their MLS provider on the plugin's website.
Once you've added your MLS provider, you can get started and add MLS content. The easiest way to do this is to use IDX widgets.
Meeting on Appearance »Widgets page, and you will see several IDX widgets that you can add to your website. This includes IDX lists, IDX zone, IDX search, and IDX unique list widgets.
You can also add MLS content to your WordPress posts or pages. Just create a new post or page, and you'll notice the IDX listings button in the visual editor.
Another way to generate content from your MLS listings is by visiting the IDX pages and clicking on the "Add new" button.
IDX pages work like normal WordPress pages, except that they will display your MLS listings. To choose what you want to display on the page, you can use the IDX Data Filters section at the bottom of the page.
Don't worry if your ads don't look good at first. Just focus on adding the lists you want to show at the start.
Once you are done setting up your MLS content, you may need your theme's support team to help you integrate it tightly using custom CSS.
Step 4. Promote your real estate website
Your WordPress real estate theme and IDX plugin give you plenty of options to create search engine targeted content.
For example, if you want to target a specific neighborhood, city, or housing community, you can create specific pages for their lists.
In addition to viewing the listings, you can further optimize this page by adding useful information about that particular area.
Next, you will need to learn some basic WordPress SEO skills. We have a SEO WordPress guide Complete with step by step instructions for beginners that will walk you through it.
Step 5. Capture prospects from your real estate website
Did you know that almost 75% of visitors who see your website will never see it again? It's not your fault, it's just that the internet is huge and more and more websites are being created every day to increase the competition.
Instead of letting these potential buyers go, you have to get their information.
It's here that OptinMonster intervenes. It is one of the best lead generation software in the world and helps you convert casual visitors into leads and customers.
WPForms is another useful tool you need in your arsenal. It is a plugin of Contact form WordPress and will allow you to easily add contact forms for each ad on your site.
