New MLS property search application

[kengreenwood]

I'd appreciate what the DNForum members think of the new application I just finished building for searching real estate properties listed on the MLS.

I felt that the existing searches offered by the likes of realtor.com et al were extremely cumbersome and lacking functionality.

Anyone who's ever searched for a home should know what I'm talking about

Appreciate any feedback on the functionality / design ...

http://www.oneworldmedia.com/mls/

[tonyfloyd]

very nice!...

[jhansen]

Very impressive!

I'm sorry that I really don't have much to add, but I really love the functionality of it.

The only thing I can really come up with are two small points, very small though:

1) On the single property page (once you've done your search, then clicked a property) I would like to be able to zoom the currently selected picture (possibly a shadowbox effect, i.e. - http://www.mjijackson.com/shadowbox/ ). This isn't really a big concern, just about the only thing I could think to add!

2) Again on the single property page, the scroll box that holds the variety of pictures for the property appears to have a fixed length (approx 1.75x the size of the scroll bar?). I'm sure this is something you're aware of, but it just appears awkward when the property has, say, 5 pictures, like T2318536. Lots of white space when you scroll.)

3) Sorry, I know I said I had 2, but I just noticed a 3rd one as I typed the above msg...None of the text is selectable on the single property pages. I understand that this is probably not something you can change at this point (everything appears to run in a swf app?), but it was simply cumbersome to switch tabs back and forth to type out "T2318536", rather than copy and paste it. Again, this is a small issue, just something that I came across.


I hope I didn't discourage you much, my fiancee and I are currently looking for a home, so we've been to Realtor.com hundreds of times by now (and their new Beta interface is TERRIBLE!), and I know how frustrating it can be to search. I love the thumbnail grid/gallery that comes up, it's nice to dream you can afford a home...right up until you mouseover it and see that it costs 100x what you make in a year's worth of work.

Great job! It really does look good (and works well too!)

-Justin

[kengreenwood]

Thanks for the feedback Justin -

I'll take a look at adding a zoom for the big pictures... and yes, I'm aware of the issue with the secondary images - I can probably make that panel dynamically sized in width rather than hard code it to 10 images. And I made the MLS ID and Long Description selectable ... although it's tough to see that you've selected it with the dark background...

And I'm not discouraged by the comments! I welcome them... I am a stickler for design detail so I agree with you.

Also agree that it's depressing when you see the 25 million dollar homes up there!

thanks again

--- made the update so that the horizontal additional image box is dynamically set in width... scrollbar doesn't appear unless it's warranted.

--- update - I added the larger picture upon click of the large main picture. Not as graceful and slick as the shadowbox but was a lot easier.

[namewaiter]

very slick!

[Johnn]

Is it flexible to work with other MLS systems also?

Thanks,

[kengreenwood]

It will work with any MLS system - the entire application pulls its' data from a single MySQL table... all I need to do is import the data correctly into that table. I've already created the automatic daily feed for the IDX format... so if a realtor is using another MLS system that allows similar extracts (flat file, comma delimited kind of format), then I could map it very easily.

[tonyfloyd]

ken...sent u PM earlier...did u get?

[Johnn]

I am working on some real estate sites and just use Iframe for now. PA uses Flexmls so I am going to buy the interface and try to see if it works.

[trader]

Originally Posted by Johnn

I am working on some real estate sites and just use Iframe for now. PA uses Flexmls so I am going to buy the interface and try to see if it works.

As mentioned in my PM's, I would live to use it for all 50 states since I have MLS sites for all the states.

But the issue is how can I access IDX in all the states and what is the IDX cost and other requirements such as do you need to also be a Realtor/Member of an MLS within each state, etc. A nationwide IDX would be nice?

[Johnn]

They are not using the same system. There are about a dozen of them out there:
FNIS, PlanetRealtor, Rapattoni, TriangleMLS, ARMLS, Sandicor, MarketLinx, InterRealty, FlexMLS , Variman, FNIS and more.
You need to contact the local Realtor Board to see which one they are using.

[kengreenwood]

I sent PM's to a few of you with further details on this .. I'd very much appreciate your input.

[Carter]

Very impressive!

[kengreenwood]

Update - I have added the listing count to the city scroll. Gonna style it will CSS now so that it fits in with the rest of the app.... All the cities are pulled dynamically from the distinct cities within the MLS listing database.

[kengreenwood]

Ok - I am just about finished with the site... and I have to say that I'm quite impressed with the way it looks and even more so - the functionality.

Get this - I made it so EVERYTHING on the site - ALL of the text (on every view) is maintainable by the site owner by simply clicking 4 buttons on the keyboard simultaneously (kind of like a password). That causes an admin form to appear which has text input areas that can be modified on the fly...even the portfolio page is pulling it's listings from a database field which is just a comma delimited list of MLS ID's that can also be edited from the admin form.

Here's a screen shot of the admin form that appears when the shortcut keys are pressed correctly.

My goal was to provide realtors with a website/search engine that they can maintain themselves... they can avoid ongoing development costs.

http://www.cindyoatess.com/admin_form.jpg

here's the link to the full blown website which I will launch for my client shortly....

http://www.cindyoatess.com/index_tmp.htm

Let me know what you all think...

[trader]

Very nice work Ken.

Anyway to do this this (using my own server and without ongoing maintanance) for multiple-states where I have RE sites? If so what would the cost be and are there yearly fees and work, or just 1-time costs?

[stewie]

nice job

[tonyfloyd]

Originally Posted by trader

Very nice work Ken.

Anyway to do this this (using my own server and without ongoing maintanance) for multiple-states where I have RE sites? If so what would the cost be and are there yearly fees and work, or just 1-time costs?

would like to know as well.....

[kengreenwood]

Originally Posted by trader

Very nice work Ken.

Anyway to do this this (using my own server and without ongoing maintanance) for multiple-states where I have RE sites? If so what would the cost be and are there yearly fees and work, or just 1-time costs?

The avoidance of ongoing maintanance was my my main goal and I think I achieved that for the most part and yes, you can run this on your own server if you have PHP/MySQL support (which most servers have). And it doesn't matter whether you want one state or every single listing in the MLS. It will work just the same... performance was acceptable with over 100,000 listings in Florida alone. As it stands, the only assistance you would need from me to get this up and running on your own web server would be very brief - and it would consist of the following:

1. Getting the .swf file customized to your look and feel. That is pretty simply done via a css file that is used for dealing with colors and fonts... i'm trying to figure out a way to have it so that i can remove myself completely from this process but right now, i have to change the css and then re-compile the .swf. Not a big deal but a bit of a nuisance.

2. Setting up the script that deals with the MLS file and the import of it in to the MySQL table. Right now, my script automatically pulls down an IDX zip file from the account of my client and unzips it and loads it (daily) in to the MySQL database table. So, if you currently have access to an IDX file, you are good to go so to speak with this application... all I would need to do is change the path to the download file...doesn't matter where you live or what listings you want to pull in. Now, if you are a realtor with access to some other sort of file (non-IDX), I would need to do some research and development to get that file into the proper format.

I'm going to keep working on this - assisted by all of your valuable input - to make this as EASY as possible to maintain and with as LITTLE ongoing maintance as possible.

The pricing would more than likely be made up of 2 options -

1. A flat fee to get the application and to maintain it yourself....
2. A monthly or yearly subscription to have access to the application and I'll host it.

I'm going to do some heavy thinking on what the actual price should be and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.

[kengreenwood]

I cleaned up the look/feel of the site... I am quite happy with it now.

http://www.oneworldmedia.com/mls/