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The mother of invention: Greg’s IDX

By: Greg Swann, BloodhoundBlog.com
Posted: Friday, November 16th, 2007, 8:52 pm MST
Category: General Information

Our IDX bill came due today. A boatload of money for the next twelve months, even though the system is going to break itself in eight months, when the new sheriff comes to town.

So: I said kill it. The leads we get from it have stunk, and the free ARMLS solution is adequate for now.

I hate every choice that’s available to us. About fifteen months ago, I wrote a spec for a map-based search system that would appeal to me. Since then, the art has improved, with Estately.com being my current favorite.

Here’s the real deal, though: I should build a decent IDX system for Phoenix. Not me personally. I don’t have the database chops. But I should put together a start-up to build an IDX system that really delivers, instead of the stultifyingly crappy options we have now.

In the Web 2.0 world, we are all pioneers, and I am accidentally wired into a community of like minds who can help me get what I want. Plus which, like my own personal Jesus, Steve Jobs, I know what I love, I know what I hate, and I know why I hate things that don’t work.

And, face it, there is money to be made selling tools to Realtors. I am parsimonious enough in my own practice to be a good steward with a customer’s money, but I know I can deliver a better product for the money. I can build something that can go anywhere FlexMLS goes, and probably anywhere RETS goes.

Who salutes? This wants funding, and that I ain’t got. If you’re interested in putting your money where my mouth is, speak up.

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