Introduction

The MLS connection on the Lofty IDX websites is one of the most important reasons to be on Lofty! Here are some common questions to help you understand how things work.

Summary

• How do I initiate my MLS application if I have already set up a site?

• My MLS has more filters for finding properties on my website and setting up property alerts than I see on Lofty. Is that to be expected?
• Can I connect multiple MLSs to one Lofty IDX site? 
• What is VOW and how is it treated on my Lofty website?
• How can I check the status of the MLS applications for myself or users on my account?
• My MLS has a data-sharing agreement with another MLS. Can I integrate that other MLS?
• What should I do if a homeowner asks to remove their listing photos from my site?

How do I initiate my MLS application if I have already set up a site?

There are 2 areas to get started with your MLS application. 
1. Listings Page

2. CMS Tool> Listings> MLS Integration

My MLS has more filters for finding properties on my website and setting up property alerts than I see on Lofty. Is that to be expected?

Yes. Because Lofty works with such a large variety of MLSs, we are unable to map all of the fields by default since they are all so different. However, we completely understand the value of adding additional filters that might be key to your business. Send a list to our Support Team (support@lofty.com) so that we can help get them added. 

Please send screenshots directly from your MLS of the fields that you would like to have available on your Lofty website and property alerts. Once we have the list and screenshots for the requested fields, it should not take more than a few business days to add them to the site.

Can I connect multiple MLSs to one Lofty IDX site? 

Yes, you can, as long as there are no issues with MLS compliance that would keep this from happening. The technology supports it and has no set limit. Note that by putting two MLSs on one website you may need to build a custom navigation for better searching on your website as the search bar will search all MLSs that are connected to your site.

If you would like to add another MLS to your website, navigate to CMS > Listings > MLS Integration > + Add New MLS:

If I have multiple MLSs connected to one Lofty IDX site, how does it treat duplicates?

The system will attempt to locate duplicates and remove one of them for a better homebuyer site experience. It will do this based on the address and will also try to identify slight differences in formatting (which can vary by MLS), such as "Street" vs. "St" or "Road" vs. "Rd." Please note that this is not a perfect solution, but it is one of the only ways to automate this. Some duplicates will still appear on your website.

What is VOW, and how is it treated on my Lofty website?

VOW stands for Virtual Office Website. Some MLS data is only available via a VOW feed (different from an IDX feed). A VOW feed typically includes additional data and, therefore, requires specific rules to be followed to access the listing data via VOW. To maintain compliance with MLSs and certain VOW feeds, Lofty has been asked to lock down active listing data in addition to sold listing data. This just means that a site visitor has to create an account first, and then they can see the VOW data without issue.

How can I check the status of the MLS applications for myself or users on my account?

Navigate to the Listing dashboard on the CMS editor by going to Website > Listings. The MLSs can be sorted by All, Awaiting Signature, MLS Processing, Lofty Processing, Incomplete Application, and Active, as well as by specific Agent, MLS, and application start time.

My MLS has a data-sharing agreement with another MLS. Can I integrate that other MLS?

Yes, if your MLS has a data-sharing agreement with another MLS, we will automatically integrate that MLS into your IDX website. You will receive an email notification when this is complete.

What should I do if a homeowner asks to remove their listing photos from my site?

The listing photos on your site come from the MLS, along with the listing data. If a homeowner asks for the removal of certain images, please let them know that they contact their listing agent or the MLS directly to remove the photos from the MLS IDX feed. If this does not resolve the issue, Lofty can remove the images from our sites, but cannot guarantee complete removal. 

How can I exclude MLS listings from other states or brokerages from appearing on my website?

This configuration should exclude the listings outside of the specified selection. The configuration becomes available only after an MLS application has been submitted. By clicking the 'Edit' button, you can filter listings by "Office" and "State".

If no filters are applied, the "Total Listings" number will display the total number of listings within the MLS(s), including those from MLSs that are still in the application process.

When filters are applied, the "Total Listings" number will reflect the count of listings based on the selected criteria.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding this topic or any others, please reach out to our Support Team via email at <support@lofty.com>, by phone at 1 (855) 981-7557, or by chat with us through your Lofty CRM. 

Related terms: Add MLS, MLS application