IDX Survey

 

In the recently published "2009 Survey of Home Buyers and Sellers" the National Association of REALTORS® had this to say about Buyers use of the Internet in their search for homes:

“More than 80 percent of home buyers found photos and detailed information about the property very useful when searching for a home. Virtual tours followed with 63 percent
of buyers finding them very useful. The least useful features include information about upcoming open houses or about recently sold properties.”

“First-time and repeat buyers largely agreed on the websites that provided them with the greatest value in their home search. Sixty percent of home buyers used multiple
listing services (MLSs) websites, the most frequently used online resource. Different age groups use MLS websites with varying frequencies ranging from 64 percent of buyers 25 to 44 years old to 50 percent of buyers 65 or older. Buyers also frequently use real estate company websites. First-time buyers are however somewhat less likely to use REALTOR.com® than repeat buyers. Other websites with property listings were visited by almost one-third of buyers, although first-time buyers frequented these sites notably more than repeat buyers."

This has made me curious as to the value of real estate agent having MLS property search on their individual websites or blogs.

The survey is clear that the buyers found property search offered by Multiple Listing Services to be the most useful to them, but it was unclear whether this search was done on an MLSs own site or if it was done by visiting an agent site that was hosting the MLS search via IDX or framing.

If you are an agent, would you tell us a little about your IDX solution? If you are a consumer, please tell us about your preferences.

If you choose to leave me your email address, I will send you the survey results when I have completed my research.