RETS PRO REVIEWS GPLVAULT – Looking for a great deal and free advice?

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RETS PRO REVIEWS – GPLVAULT

*Disclaimer:
*First of all we are HUGE fans of GNU/GPL and we do not recommend this as a way to circumvent other developers that need your financial support!

Most developers like to put their hands on as many plugins and themes as we can in order to try them out before we commit to spending money on them so this was a no brainer purchase decision for us and we are so glad we joined them as a paying member.

We decided to buy a annual license with GPLVAULT so that we would be able to test hundreds of GNU/GPL plugins and themes as well as other GPL software that may be needed for an upcoming projects where we needed something special like a gravity forms addon or some themeforest or codecanyon theme or plugin that might fit the bill.

Wow! is this even legal?
YES! – For several years now we have also included several GPL plugins and themes in our own download area,  so heck yeah it’s LEGAL and LEGIT!

Remember though that if you DO find something that you plan on using over and over again in your own sites/projects then please consider buying the version from the developers so that you can help support them as well.

Go Check Them Out for yourself and see if you agree that is the BEST no-brainer purchase for the year!

Cheers –

WordPress Real Estate Plugin – Coming in April – New 4.0.5

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Now that the new version is going through its final testing we are excited to mention some of the newest features coming in this new version.

  1. RETS Module – Added a NEW Multi-RETS Option to handle Duplicate Removal.

    Select preferred RETS-ID  – Next –  Select RETS-Field(typically address)  –  SET[]checkbox   [Run Now Button]
    [text box here shows your cron path to execute]

    So that way anyone with neighboring RETS providers i.e. Miami/Ft.Lauderdale where the same listings are in both mls they can now have an easy option to match anything i.e “address” and select their preferred RETS-id to keep and delete all others. Our RETS Module has a couple of other NEW items we are keeping under wraps until we get them done but they are regarding how to deal with Sold Data in a way that I know every developer out there will want to take advantage of. (another RETS PRO exclusive).

  2. We have some great changes coming with our Search Form builder that will take a video to cover all of it.
    1. Fixed search form to now “instant-load” so that only the html is loaded and none of the values are called until on-click of that box.
    2. Also added custom message box that you can also include html etc for your own custom 404-not-found message/template.
    3.  Added in new option to join multiple fields into single pipe|value|values|  will = single Caption name (needed when doing multi-rets).
    4. Added a new option to Set Custom Submit Button settings – Great for setting default sortby options as well as now being able to Select RETS-id as well so that if you wanted to select the jquery tabs for displaying Active/Sold or Residential/Land or RETS#1/RETS#2 then you will ALSO be able to SET the SUBMIT BUTTON settings to select which RETS-ID as well as other button options.  BOOM! #1 Search form builder out there!
  3. Maps Module has some new features – Set a default Property Type and min-price – Cleaned up interface as well.
  4. GeoCoder modules with new google Api links and Api key checker as well as Cleaned up the interface.
  5. Fixed broken Print Friendly template path.
  6. Fixed broken RSS in shortcode templates
  7. Added and fixed New Pagination {tag} – add pagination any place you want now within shortcode templates.
  8. Fixed php 7.1x compatibility issues.
  9. Fixed subdirectory installation path issues that were due toMikes lazy code written by .
  10. New – Added  {logged_in}{/logged_in} check tags so that you can now wrap them around anything in our templates to hide unless logged in and we also have them as conditionals so that you can SHOW something else unless logged in – CTA – Unlimited!
  11. New – listing fields editor option that allows you to select ANY field(s) to be hidden unless user logged in – CTA/VOW – Unlimited!
  12. New – Added new Show Current Count for Search Page
  13. New – Added  UI panel for Registration options that also include Social registration options via your api-keys.
  14. New – Forced Registration UI panel with a limited set of options but is now part of our core plugin.

So all of that is where we are and what we are testing – anything missing?  um ..yeah!  – Favorite listings and Saved Search alerts!
That’s all coming and I’ll be following up with a new promo video of what all we’ve reworked and new features as well.

Realtyna Alternatives | WordPress Real Estate Plugin

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Realtyna Alternatives

*SEE NEW UPDATE BELOW

Several times a month we get calls asking us what are the key differences between our RETS PRO WordPress Real Estate Plugin and the Realtyna solution.

So let me point out the obvious key Realtyna Alternative differences that set us apart:

  1. Most import key difference (License Branding Limitations) –
    (We) offer 3 options – Basic License bound to single domain @ 999 that includes ALL add-on modules. Basic+Plus License bound to single domain but unlimited MU and subdomains @ 1999 or our Developers License bound only to the IP address @ 2999
    (They) “Per-Site/domain-License” with a license key that must be validated.
    **UPDATE – They have “changed” their license policy on 04-26-2017 …so you’ll need to call them to verify what they have in place now – but either way we have confirmed that they still do not offer any “non-license-keyed” versions as of this update made here on 4-28-2017.
  2. (We) also offer Additional site license keys that can be purchased at $499 each.  All our add-on modules can be used on unlimited sites. (We) Also allow a Basic License owner the ability to upgrade to an Unlimited Use Developers License at any time and we will deduct the originally purchased base price from the upgrade cost so no penalty for starting with our basic and then upgrading later if you decide to upgrade.
    (They) call them to ask them how much they charge for more than one site license.
    **UPDATE – They have “changed” their license policy on 04-26-2017 …so you’ll need to call them to verify what they have in place now.
  3. (We) are a SEO first company aimed at providing Professional Developers/Programmers looking for a “Limitless Expandable Software Solution” with more SEO goodies than any other software out there.
    (They) well….If You’re a SEO guru then call them and then call us and decide for yourself who’s solution has the most SEO options.
  4. (We) have the ability to do Commercial applications such as running hundreds of websites off a single db, joining multiple db’s into a large master db, and also hot-linking listing images from a media server as opposed to being forced to only downloading them which requires a dedicated server or VPS.
    (They) if you want anything mentioned above then you’d better call them first to confirm with them that they can deliver your requirements.
  5. (We) have been actively developing RETS data since 2003 – Our RETS script works with 100% of all RETS providers right out of the box – period!
    (They) ? Call them.

I hope this outlines the basic “key differences” of our Realtyna alternative. If you would still like more information about our WordPress Real Estate Plugin, just give us a call and we’ll be happy to give you all the information you need to get you on the right path with your project.

– Cheers –

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**UPDATE – February – 2018
=========================

We have just reviewed the latest version of Realtyna PRO version that has a fully functioning MLS addon as well as their own WordPress theme called WPL28 and here’s the general opinion on what makes us different in one word – “Options“.

If you are looking for something that gives you TONS of customization options then all we have to say about that is to Contact Them and let them give you a Full 100% Complete Sales Pitch with Live Screen Share etc….. then be sure to ask to have these main items answered and let them show you how you would go about implementing any of this yourself – (yourself) – being the key-word here.

Customization –

  1. How do you do any CUSTOM changes to any of the plugin templates – say I wanted to change or add something, where and how is that done?
  2. If I make any custom template changes/edits to the plugins (listings templates) will they be overwritten on updates?
  3. How difficult would it be to create my own custom designed layouts for my Advanced Search Forms for my site?
  4. Does your Search Forms have options to allow them to auto-populate data from database AND or autosuggest as I type?
  5. How do I add-in any (statistical-data) by combining RETS fields into my pages or post? ……and without using a 3rd party to do it.
  6. How easy is it to create polygon drawn area maps to include with my featured listings?
  7. How easy is it to fully integrate the plugins RETS data into other themes while using that themes own html/css? in other words “seamless integration”
  8. Just how much can you do with their ShortCode builder to insert Custom Templates/Features/Statistics into Page/Post/Widget?

SEO –

  1. How easy is it to modify plugin Listings-Templates to include schema.org structured data wrappers around each individual RETS field(s) for Best SEO Practices? – In other words, if you can’t easily open up a template that contains listing data and custom modify this then you’re SEO handicapped.
  2. How would I go about custom editing templates to include Additional Dynamically Generated SEO Content Within Listing Details – yeah this is also HUGE for those of us who actually DO SEO for a living and is one of the main things WE built into our system years ago.
  3. How much control do I have over the downloaded listing images? can I set min/max size and SEO compression quality? Can I opt to also hotlink them from a separate media server location?
  4. Are the included plugin listing templates AMP ready/compatible?
  5. How does the plugin handle Yoast SEO canonical urls on the Listing Details pages?

RETS data mapping –

  1. Is this something that can I can handle myself or do I always need to rely on someone else to make changes/updates?
  2. Is it Possible to Combine (2) or more Different RETS providers into the Same Database? and if so how are images handled when the first RETS requires media url format and the other requires Download Only? – For Example, California RETS (CARETS) doesn’t allow for Downloaded Images but CLAW does.
  3. How are fields that say Pool: Y/N but produce 0/1 data outputs handled? – no one wants to see Pool: “0 or 1” on the details page
  4. How are number formats and Price formats handled per field and how easy is it to override with changes?
  5. How are listings Lat/Long GEO-Coded if they are not already provided by the Data Provider? if only by Google then will I have to wait up to 10-days to complete 25k listings?

Summary –

After you get a full backend tour of their product and answers to questions above – Give US a Call (888) 540-9666 – so that we can then show you a side-by-side product comparison so that you can make your own “informed” decision as to what product suits your needs for your own Website Project.

 

Cheers –

Top Five Real Estate Plugins?

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Top Five Best WordPress Real Estate Plugins?

One of the top WordPress Real Estate plugins, RETSPRO, has stepped into the spotlight recently with its 4x release. If you haven’t heard of it yet, here’s an overview. RETSPRO Is a premium WordPress realestate plugin offering all of the features of a top-dog plugin with the bonus feature of no monthly fees and proprietary ownership. This software is a MUST HAVE for any aspiring realtor or large broker. RETSPRO is the only multi-RETS solution that allows you to have multiple RETS providers linked together in one database. Customize your searchable fields and property types. Define your properties with custom titles and field tags. Use any of the other available WordPress plugins to create big moving galleries, community fly overs with your drone footage or set featured listing to push a big sale. The vanilla plugin offers you advance search, listing details, RETS feed mapping tools, and field editing tools, mobile ready theme. Basically everything you will need to get a MLS / RETS database connected to your website, as displayed appropriately.

RETSPRO is one of the only WordPress Real Estate Plugins that gives you full control of your real estate website.

This WordPress real estate plugin can be used as a plug and play mechanism with any already mapped RETS database. You can manually upload images or hotlink images from the cloud, dynamically, so you don’t have to host them yourself. Cutting down the load time of your website significantly compared to RETSPRO alternatives. If you’re looking for an alternative to IDX Brokers or Real Tyna, RETSPRO is a great solution to consider. Packages range from basic plugin with a la carte modules to fully custom sites made to compete with Real Estate Web Masters. The software is compatible with the majority of WordPress themes, yet is focused around the Enfold theme. The developers of RETSPRO were a brick and mortar SEO team before making the decision to cater to the Real Estate web market. So, the plugin has been fully loaded with the necessary SEO requirements to make you rank. This plugin also offers developer packages for those who want to offer their web skills to Real Estate agents.

WordPress Real Estate Plugin | Multi RETS Data Merge | Multi Office

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Multi RETS Data Merge | Multi Office

This is a RE/MAX Multi RETS Data Merge, Multi Office site that we are currently building out with our WordPress Real Estate Plugin. Beautiful, large scale photos are just one of the highlights of the site. The RE/MAX  Sea to Sky franchise is out of the Vancouver, Canada area with 3 office locations including one in the stunning ski resort area of Whistler, BC. The broker has a vibrant and long standing blog that we will incorporate into her main site / landing page and then break the site down into three distinctive sites per office location, along with distinctive Agent Rosters, Featured Listings, Area Information, and other pertinent details. The main site will also include the capability of searching for property throughout all three markets with a single data base merge.

This is being built on the WordPress MU frame so that the broker can offer all of her agents their own distinct websites using the integrated RETS data via subdomains or the agent template site can be copied onto an agent’s own independent domain. Our WordPress Real Estate Plugin allows data to be pushed to any site via the broker’s RETS credentials. This is a great marketing tool for brokers and agents. All of this is available using our Developer License with Broker Build Out. 

WordPress Real Estate Plugin | Multi RETS Data Merge

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Multi RETS Data Merge | 5 Major Markets


This project has been a real test for our WordPress Real Estate Plugin and our Multi Rets Data Merge capabilities. We’re calling it “the Mother of All Data Feed Projects.” Several month’s ago, this client approached us with a request for a site build-out that merged 5 major market RETS feeds across Texas into a single database. In addition, they wanted to incorporate some slick statistical information for communities, neighborhoods, areas of interest and more. They also wanted to incorporate sold data, which is only available from a couple of the RETS providers. They are a unique brokerage who obviously handles transactions statewide. They have agents statewide working from virtual offices so they needed WordPress MU capabilities as well along with Agent Site Templates so their agents can have their own sites with all of the aforementioned features. And to top it all off, they were looking for an alternative to a Real Estate Webmasters site they had seen (plus the merged data feed and other extras) for a price they could actually afford.

We’re not going to lie, it’s been a bear. A long haul…several months to be exact, a bit stressful, some high emotions, and a ridiculous amount of coffee. In order for this site to run smoothly and efficiently, it had to be built on our 4x version…which was still under development so the project took much longer than it would have if our 4x version had already been complete. It has now been about 5 months since we received their RETS credentials from all of the markets and we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. 4x is almost out of beta. Data feeds are merged. Statistical data can be displayed using polygon map draw tools and our customized shortcode. Programmers are tweaking the customized map search and we are looking forward to a final punch list soon. We’re anxious to see the final project and looking forward to showing off some of the exciting new, custom features.

NAR is now concerned about “an even playing field for all real estate content online?”

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I find this incredibly interesting, and more than a little obtuse on their part. After basically turning the industry over to companies like Zillow who monopolize the search results and demand a ransom in the form of paid advertising for REALTORS to actually buy back their own listings AND who now want to get in the business of actually facilitating real estate offers…now NAR – National Association of Realtors is concerned about maintaining “an even playing field for all real estate content online?” The reason Zillow is able to monopolize search results is because REALTOR associations and IDX providers sell the data to Zillow for huge amounts of money. A normal, every day REALTOR..even a pretty technologically savvy REALTOR…will have a hard time going up against Zillow in standard search results. Of course SEO challenges are the reason RETS PRO built our WordPress real estate plugin and the reason we continue to constantly make changes and improvements, but if the REALTOR Associations had been concerned about “even playing fields,” they wouldn’t have afforded companies like Zillow the opportunity and ability to play by an entirely different set of rules than everybody else.

BRAND NEW 4X beta released!

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After nearly (6) straight months of rewriting and testing we think we have something special to show you!
NOTE** = This beta version is currently only available to our developers license owners =
What are the key differences between 3x and 4x?
Here’s a quick list of “main points”:
  • Brand New admin UI – future proofing ourselves for the next 4+ years.
  • Brand New Multi-RETS Solution – Now you can import/export all of your RETS and can even join multiple RETS into single data base now – while still maintaining their own custom image settings/paths – and YES you can still hot-link images as well!
  • Brand New Search Form Builder – We took a bootstrap 12 column grid-stack and made you a custom drag/drop/size option to make building custom responsive “Advanced Search Forms” a snap using Select2 w/bootstrap3 forms that now includes autosuggest text boxes and ajax loaded selects and multi-selects.
  • Brand New Auto Suggest builder – Now you can easily configure your own custom Auto Suggest box on your home page (watch our new video – pending).
  • Brand New Stats Options for the Short Code Builder for creating Area stats that can even be applied to the polygon drawn areas  (watch our new video – pending).
  • Brand New Listing Alerts Beta – Will be released with first stable 4x version (about a week away – watch our new video – pending).

What to expect with the beta release?

  1. Not much in the way of documentation >YET<  as this is the very first “beta release” – but – those of you who want to check out our https://youtube.com/retspro channel will be able to get up to speed fairly quick.  –   We are currently working on a New [in-line tool (?) tips] that are going to popup every place needed in the UI to either provide “basic info” or “embedded samples” or “direct links either to a FAQ or to the video” for technical items that require more details.
  2. Possible cosmetic CSS/HTML or “possible” minor bugs that we are already flushing out.  Any bugs currently within this release are going to be minor, nothing is currently preventing us from using the plugin to build out our projects so we felt its time to share.

PLEASE NOTE**
If you are currently using 3x then – Do Not Overwrite it with this 4x Version!

How to test and what needs to be tested?:

We would like all of our developers who are “real” developer/programmers to download and install the plugin according to the Install/Setup video below.

  1. First is the new Multi-RETS – check out new tab-1 settings and options to pre-set the mapping box (i’ll post video here later)
  2. Check out new image options are now in tab-2 for downloading or hot linking (i’ll post video here later)
  3. Check out new tab-3 option – ONLY OPEN 1st RESI property class – then spend the time to do 100% of your your fields you want and set the rest to trash etc and get everything to successfully SAVE. – THEN – open another property class and you will discover that all the trash fields are already gone and all the matched fields that were already mapped are now mapped for you in the new property class as well.
  4. NEXT – we need you to try out the new Search Form Builder – We know we have a few ideas left to apply to that but we would LOVE some good feedback on it as well so we can wrap up any request prior to next weeks first release.
  5. For those of you who have already have a great deal of experience with our 3x will not ever want to go back to it after this – so go ahead and test everything out and you will find that the overall time to setup and do a project has just been cut by more than half with this new version –
  6. Also – New stats shortcode in this version and NEW auto suggest builder and New Listing alerts is currently being beta tested and should be ready for next weeks first stable 4x release.

New 4x version coming soon!

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New 4x version coming soon!

If you already have a Developers License with us GREAT! – then your investment is now going to be worth 3k! (was only $199 in 2007)

As we get ready to release the New 4x Beta, I’d like to go ahead and let everyone know about some important New License changes coming with this release.

As many of you may already know that when we started with our first commercial 2x version in 2007 it was encrypted and contained a license key.  When we released the 3x version in 2011, we removed all encryption and all license key requirements completely from all of our products.

Now that we are getting ready to release the New 4x version we have decided to create (2) ways to buy it:

  1. Developers License $2999 (non-branded – non-encrypted & bundled with current and future modules/products included).
  2. Basic-Version $499 (Branded – Encrypted and includes (2) domain licenses – core plugin and RETS module only)

We will begin selling the 4x Developers Licensed bundled version now starting at $2,999  – and the developers license price will go higher by end of 2017.

In addition to changes to the 4x versions developers license, we’ll also start offering a new branded, (2) single-site-licensed, base-version (plugin and the RETS module for only for $499). That will allow small firms to get up and running with up to (2) licensed domains included w/purchase so that the developer can set up at least 1-dev-test site and up to 1 more site. But please note – this version will be domain locked, core obfuscated/encrypted and branded via html markup code.
Note*  You will be able to purchase additional site licenses keys, as needed, for only 299 each.
Note** No other modules are included with the 499 purchase.

Module Sales –

All add-on Module purchases are going to work with all of your installations without any type of license keys required for them to function – So pay once for any Module of your choice an use it on as many projects as you want to – period.

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Anyone who wishes to just stick with the current 3x version should know that we will continue to only provide fixes over the next 2 years as needed but there will not be any new features added once the 4x version is released.

Anyone wanting to upgrade from the 3x to the new 4x version will only need to deactivate current 3x FTP in and drop in 4x version – activate – enter key (if one is needed) – and done. That’s all that will be needed. So, no need to worry about backwards compatibility as all of that will be already built into the new 4x since we are using the same db tables and only adding in a few new ones.

This is our FINAL NOTICE – Once we make the 4x release all pricing will be changing – Anyone who is considering purchasing the Developers license should do so before the price more than doubles – We can easily claim that the 4x version will easily be the winner of the 2017 Best WordPress Real Estate Plugin! So if you’re into saving money then now is the last chance to get our Developers Licence at the current price of only $1299.

IDX Broker Alternatives WordPress Real Estate Plugin

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IDX Broker Alternatives

IDX Broker alternatives for their WordPress Real Estate Plugin has plenty of competition, and has many comparable options to our own RETS PRO solution.
I’ll try my best to make a simple key comparison list of what we consider to be pros and cons versus our own WordPress Real Estate Plugin .

Main Obvious PROS:

  1. Price – Upfront cost is typically a few hundred dollars to get everything all setup and running.
  2. Setup – They’re going to be about 50% faster to get your site up and running the way you want it.
  3. Options – They’re going to have a few more options than we currently have – primarily CRM…but at additional cost.
  4. They manage the data and the changes to the RETS feed.
  5. Having someone hold your hand – that’s what your never ending monthly fees will cover for you.

But now for the CONS:

  1. Price – though cheaper up front, you will have spent way more with them after 1+Years than you would have with “our solution” and if you have more than (1) website then its NOT worth it to go with them.
  2. SEO – although they claim this and that – their data is NOT on your website and neither is the url + you can NOT do proper micro-data on your own key fields using schema.org. (what is micro-data Schema.org? never heard of it? ever heard of Real Estate Webmasters? They use micro data and so do we!) You also can’t create dynamic content using IDXB – SO – if SEO is important to you as it is to us then this alone would prevent us from using their solution. We have more SEO features/options than any other solution-period!
  3. Owning your data and having it reside in YOUR website without any monthly fees – not an option with them.
  4. Complete customization – If having someone tell you “NO” we can’t do that or “NO” that’s not an option means anything at all to you then just stop right now!  Aside from the  SEO limitations, the #1 complaint we hear is the limitations on maximizing your own creativity.

I could go on and on but I think its only important for me to point out the main differences. Trust me on this part, if you called me and told me you were doing only one website for a customer and you just wanted to get-in and get-out and get paid to put up a realtor site. Then I would highly recommend them over any other solution – BUT – if you told me that SEO and doing custom website options with the possibility of doing more than (1) website then I’d have to recommend our solution.

Looking for other IDX BROKER Alternatives? Join us in the forums for some lively debates with other developers that have previous experience with them.