Internet Data Exchange (IDX)

Internet Data Exchange (IDX) allows Participants of the South Central Wisconsin to display active MLS listings on their websites. Under IDX, SCWMLS Participants exchange consent to display each other's listings on their respective internet websites.

The following Statement of Multiple Listing Policy became effective upon approval by the NAR Board of Directors on May 22, 2000:

At its meeting of September 26, 2000, the Board of Directors of the SCWMLS approved the Rules for Internet Data Exchange. Participants of the SCWMLS were authorized to begin implementing Internet Data Exchange on October 16, 2000.

For questions on IDX, contact Patty Stuard at the SCWMLS.

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IDX Q & A

Q. What is Internet Data Exhange?
A. Internet Data Exchange ("IDX") is the next stage in the evolution of the multiple listing service as the primary means of enhancing cooperation between REALTORS® to facilitate the purchase and sale of real property. IDX gives SCWMLS Participants the tool they need to display each other's listings on their respective internet web sites. Under IDX, SCWMLS Participants exchange consent to display each other's listings on the internet.

Q. How is IDX accomplished?
A. Other SCWMLS Participants' listings can be displayed either by downloading SCWMLS data from an FTP site for publication on your web site or by framing the SCWMLS web site www.wisconsinhomes.com.

Q. Do I have to allow other SCWMLS Participants to display my listings on their web sites?
A. No, you are free to withhold authority for such display -- either on a blanket or on a listing-by-listing basis. Withholding such authority means that the listing(s) will not appear on other SCWMLS Participants' web sites nor will they be displayed on realtor.com and wisconsinhomes.com.

Q. What happens if I won't allow other Participants to display my listings on their web sites?
A. If you prohibit the display of your listings by other SCWMLS Participants, you may not display their listings on your web site under the rules for IDX. Other Participants may give you permission to display their listings but that permission would have to be sought and obtained separately from each SCWMLS Participant.

Q.If I want to authorize other SCWMLS Participants to display my listings under IDX, how do I do it?
A. Simply answer "Y" or "X" to the Internet question on the property profile sheet ("Y" indicates authorization for internet display with the property address; "X" indicates authorization for internet display without the property address).

Q. Can the SCWMLS refuse to accept my listings if I do not permit other Participants to display my listings on their web sites?
A. No, the SCWMLS cannot require Participants to consent to display their listings on the internet, including display on other Participants' web sites, as a condition of participation in the multiple listing service.

Q. Does IDX conflict with license law or the Code of Ethics?
A. No, IDX is consistent with the license law and the Code of Ethics. Participants' consent (required by the Code) is assumed unless affirmatively withheld by the listing Participant. Owner consent is obtained by the listing broker.

Q. Can I authorize some, but not all, SCWMLS Participants to display my listings on their web sites?
A. If you consent to the display of your listings by other SCWMLS Participants under IDX, then any other SCWMLS Participant may display your listings. If you prefer to authorize some, but not all, SCWMLS Participants to display your listings, this can be accomplished -- but not through IDX. Separate consents would have to be granted to each SCWMLS Participant authorized to display your listings.

Q.Does the SCWMLS presently charge a fee for downloading the listing information to SCWMLS Participants?
A. No.

Q. Does IDX mean that confidential information will now be available to the public?
A. No, the SCWMLS IDX rules prohibit display of information intended exclusively for other real estate professionals and not for consumers. The display shall not contain more (but may contain less) information than is contained in the SCWMLS public format used at www.wisconsinhomes.com.

Q. Do I have to display the entire SCWMLS IDX database?
A. No, you may display all or a portion of the SCWMLS IDX database provided that the display does not contain more (but may contain less) information than is contained in the SCWMLS format used at www.wisconsinhomes.com. You may choose to display only listings in a particular price range, geographical area or property type. In such instances, there is a disclosure recommended for use by the SCWMLS.

Q. Must the listing firm be identified when I display other SCWMLS Participant's listings?
A. Any search result identifying another Participant's listing in a "brief" or "thumbnail" form shall bear the SCWMLS-approved icon immediately adjacent to the property information to identify the listing as one provided courtesy of an SCWMLS Participant. An explanation that those properties marked with the icon refer to listings provided courtesy of an SCWMLS Participant must appear on each page where such listings are displayed. The icon and explanation shall be in type at least as large as the type used to describe the property.
A search result producing a "detailed" display of another Participant's listing shall bear the listing company's name immediately following the property information. The name shall be in type at least as large and of the same darkness as the type used to describe the property.

Q. Can the listing information be modified when it is displayed on other Participants' web sites?
A. The data of another SCWMLS Participant may not be modified or manipulated. The appearance of the listing information may be modified from the format used in wisconsinhomes.com.

Q. Why should I let my listings be displayed on my competitors' web sites?
A. Letting other SCWMLS Participants display your listings on the internet is a business decision each Participant must make, taking into account their duty to promote the best interests of their clients, the obligation to cooperate with other brokers, and the opportunity to use the internet to better serve their customers and clients.

Q: Can sales agents have IDX web sites?
A. Sales agents affiliated or employed by Participants may not republish SCWMLS data on the internet, provided however, a Participant may allow a sales agent licensed with the Participant to "frame" the Participant's internet site from the sales agent's internet site if, and only if:

  1. The Participant is contributing its listings for internet publication by other SCWMLS Participants.
  2. The Participant's internet site is in compliance with SCWMLS Rules and policies.
  3. The sales agent's internet site includes the Participant's identity on every page (a Participant may allow a sales agent to "co-brand" the internet site).
  4. The sales agent has signed an agreement with Participant that includes the sales agent's commitment to abide by the SCWMLS Rules and policies to the same extent as the Participant, which agreement shall be provided to the SCWMLS on request.
  5. The MLS data displayed on a sales agent's internet site must be identical to the MLS data displayed on the Participant's internet site.

Q. Can I frame an existing web site rather than downloading internet data from SCWMLS?
A. Only SCWMLS Participants and their agents who are primarily engaged in and licensed to provide real estate brokerage services to buyers and sellers may frame the SCWMLS public access site at www.wisconsinhomes.com or its "non-advertising" modified site at www.wisconsinhomes.com/index2.php with the following provisions and in keeping with any policies that the SCWMLS may adopt from time to time.

  1. The Participant is contributing its listings for internet publication by other SCWMLS Participants.
  2. The method of framing does not violate either state licensing laws/regulations or the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.

The non-advertising modified site at www.wisconsinhomes.com/index2.php is void of advertising and allows for easier framing of the search and listing detail pages within www.wisconsinhomes.com.

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IDX Rules

ADVERTISING OF ANOTHER PARTICIPANT'S LISTING
No Participant of the SCWMLS shall, without first obtaining the listing Participant's permission, advertise a property listed by another Participant in any manner, including but not limited to display, reader board, newspaper, flyer or other publication, except that a Participant may republish another Participant's listings on the internet in a manner consistent with the SCWMLS Rules and policies so long as the listing is approved for internet publication by the owner and Participant.

REPUBLICATION OF SCWMLS DATABASE BY PARTICIPANTS ON INTERNET PERMITTED

A SCWMLS Participant who is primarily engaged in and licensed to provide real estate brokerage services to buyers and sellers may republish all or a portion of the SCWMLS database on the internet in accordance with the following provisions and in keeping with any policies that the SCWMLS may adopt from time to time.

  1. The Participant is contributing its listings for internet publication by other SCWMLS Participants.
  2. An internet republication of another Participant's listing shall not contain more (but may contain less) information than is contained in the SCWMLS dataset used for www.wisconsinhomes.com. If SCWMLS data is secured from RETS, the dataset allowed to be used is also the same as that used for www.wisconsinhomes.com , with the exception that all data fields can be used for listings in which the Participant is the listing office. The dataset allowed to be used for listings sold by the Participant, but listed by another Participant, is limited to the dataset used for www.wisconsinhomes.com with the addition of sold date and sold price.
  3. The information on the Participant's web site shall be updated at least weekly. The site shall provide a disclosure of last update of information.
  4. The Participant may not modify or manipulate the data of another Participant's listing. Nothing shall be added or appended to MLS Remarks.
  5. Any search result identifying another Participant's listing in a "brief" or "thumbnail" form shall bear the SCWMLS-approved icon immediately adjacent to the property information to identify the listing as one provided courtesy of an SCWMLS Participant. An explanation that those properties marked with the icon refer to listings provided courtesy of an SCWMLS participant must appear on each page where such listings are displayed. The icon and explanation shall be in type at least as large as the type used to describe the property.
  6. A search result producing a "detailed" display of another Participant's listing shall bear the listing company's name immediately following the property information. The name shall be in type at least as large and of the same darkness as the type used to describe the property.
  7. Any result identifying another Participant's listing shall include a statement ("disclaimer") disclaiming liability for inaccuracies in the data. The disclaimer shall be in a form approved by the SCWMLS.
  8. All listings of all SCWMLS Participants shall be eligible for internet publication unless the property owner has opted out of internet publication. In such instances, the listing Participant shall indicate "N" on the property profile sheet for the question "Internet".
  9. Any internet site used by a Participant for publication of SCWMLS data shall be controlled by the Participant and advertised only as that Participant's internet site.
  10. A Participant republishing the listings of other SCWMLS Participants shall take reasonable steps to avoid "scraping" of the Participant's site (and the SCWMLS data thereon) in order to display the data on another, unapproved internet site. A Participant shall indicate on its web site that the information being provided is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
  11. Changes to a Participant's internet site necessary to cure a violation of the SCWMLS rules must be accomplished within 10 calendar days of notice from the SCWMLS of the violation. The SCWMLS reserves the right to revoke this privilege and discontinue the data transfer (download) without further notice if the Participant fails to comply with this requirement. Additionally, the SCWMLS may levy fines for such violations.
  12. Email responses and Printouts, containing MLS data, generated from an IDX site are subject to the same rules as the listing display on that site.
  13. Office and agent rosters provided are for the purpose of linking listings to offices/agents. Participants are not authorized to publish office and/or agent rosters obtained with the MLS dataset on the Participant's Internet site.

WRITTEN AGREEMENT REQUIRED FOR PARTICIPANTS TO DOWNLOAD SCWMLS DATABASE
Participants shall not electronically transfer information (download) from the SCWMLS internet database to the Participant's own database for any purpose, including republishing on the internet, without signing the SCWMLS Downloading Agreement (click here for the form in PDF format).

SALES AGENTS MAY "FRAME" PARTICIPANT'S SITES
Sales agents licensed with Participants may not republish SCWMLS data on the internet, provided however, a Participant may allow a sales agent licensed with the Participant to "frame" the Participant's internet site from the sales agent's internet site if, and only if:

  1. The Participant is contributing its listings for internet publication by other SCWMLS Participants.
  2. The Participant's internet site is in compliance with SCWMLS Rules and policies.
  3. The sales agent's internet site includes the Participant's identity on every page (a Participant may allow a sales agent to "co-brand" the internet site).
  4. The sales agent has signed an agreement with Participant that includes the sales agent's commitment to abide by the SCWMLS Rules and policies to the same extent as the Participant, which agreement shall be provided to the SCWMLS on request.
  5. The MLS data displayed on a sales agent's internet site must be identical to the MLS data displayed on the Participant's internet site.

PARTICIPANTS MAY FRAME SCWMLS PUBLIC ACCESS SITE
Only an SCWMLS Participant, or sales agent licensed with an SCWMLS Participant, who is primarily engaged in and licensed to provide real estate brokerage services to buyers and sellers may frame the SCWMLS public access site at *www.wisconsinhomes.com with the following provisions and in keeping with any policies that the SCWMLS may adopt from time to time.

  1. The Participant is contributing it's listing for internet publication by other SCWMLS Participants.
  2. The method of framing does not violate either state licensing laws/regulations or the REALTOR Code for Ethics.


    3. *A modified site at www.wisconsinhomes.com/index2.php is void of advertising and allows for easier framing.

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SCWMLS IDX Requirements, Disclosures & Disclaimers

*Note: The requirements below apply to all views, reports and emails generated from the Participants website.

UPDATE FREQUENCY
MLS listing information on Participant's web sites must be updated at least one time weekly. Disclosure of the date of last update must be prominently displayed. Some examples are:

  1. Listing data last updated: xx/xx/xx
  2. This listing data is current as of xx/xx/xx. For the most current information, contact ___.
  3. This listing data is updated weekly on (day). Some properties which appear for sale on this website may subsequently have sold and may no longer be available.

LISTING OFFICE CREDIT / EXPLANATION OF DATA SOURCE
All data included in the data file does not need to be displayed, however, when a listing is displayed in detail, the listing office name must be included. The listing office name must be in a font that is at least as large and as of the same darkness as the font used to describe the property. When a listing is displayed in brief, the MLS icon must appear immediately adjacent to the property information. The following explanation of the MLS icon must appear on each page the icon is displayed:
"The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Internet Data Display program of the South Central WI MLS. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than (insert web site Participant's name) are marked with the "MLS" icon and/or include the name of the listing broker."

DISPLAY OF LESS THAN ALL OF THE SCWMLS IDX DATABASE
If a Participant opts to exclude listings of other Participants, the following statement must be included on each screen displaying SCWMLS listings:
(Participant's Name) does not display the entire SCWMLS Internet Data Display program database on this web site. The listings of some real estate brokerage firms have been excluded. If a Participant opts to exclude data based on other criteria such as geographic area or specific types of properties, it is recommended that the following statement be included on each screen displaying MLS listings: (Participant's Name) participates in the SCWMLS Internet Data Display program allowing us to display other broker's listings on our site. However, (Participant's Name) displays only (listings in a particular geographic area or price range; specific class(es) of properties -- single family residential or condominium, etc).

ACCURACY DISCLAIMER
On each screen (summary and detail view) that displays another Participant's listing, the following disclaimer must be included:
"This information, provided by seller, listing broker, and other parties, may not have been verified."

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
On each screen (summary and detail view) that displays another Participant's listing, copyright language as follows must be included:
"Copyright (or ©) xxxx South Central Wisconsin MLS Corporation. All rights reserved (where xxxx is the current year)."

NON-MANIPULATION OF DATA
The data of another SCWMLS Participant may not be modified or manipulated. If the agent remarks section is displayed, nothing shall be added or appended to these remarks.

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IDX CONSULTANTS/PROVIDERS

The following providers of IDX solutions are currently providing services to one or more of our members in a fashion consistent with our IDX guidelines. In addition, they have expressed an interest in providing an IDX solution to other members.

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