Squarespace IDX Plugin: How It Works and What to Look For

• Buying Buddy
• August 12, 2024
• IDX and Websites
• Squarespace IDX, Squarespace IDX Plugin
• 0 Comments

A Squarespace IDX plugin is software that shows MLS listings and property search on a Squarespace website. IDX stands for Internet Data Exchange, the MLS policy that lets brokers display other brokers’ listings on websites and apps they control.

Putting IDX on Squarespace comes down to three things: a Squarespace plan that accepts custom code, an approved feed from your MLS, and a provider whose widgets work inside your pages. This guide covers each one. The step-by-step setup is in the support guides linked below.

What is a Squarespace IDX plugin?

Under NAR’s IDX policy, MLS participants can authorize limited display of their listings by other participants on websites, mobile apps and audio devices under the participant’s control. The display has to be presented as the participant’s own, which includes clearly identifying the brokerage firm. Your MLS reviews each request for an IDX feed, and every display must follow MLS rules and state law.

The plugin is the piece that turns that feed into search forms, listing displays and property pages on your site.

Which Squarespace plans support custom code

Squarespace has two tools for adding third-party code. Code injection adds code to the header or footer of every page, and a code block adds custom code, such as a third-party widget, to a single page. Squarespace allows code injection, and JavaScript in code blocks, on its Core, Plus and Advanced plans (code injection is also included on some legacy plans), so check your plan before you start.

Squarespace support does not help with custom code, so questions about IDX widgets go to your IDX provider.

How the widgets fit into your Squarespace pages

Buying Buddy uses both Squarespace tools. Its JavaScript plugin goes into the site-wide header through code injection, once, and each widget sits in its own code block on the page where you want it. A small set of utility pages holds the search results, property details and market report widgets that the rest of your site links to. The widgets do not run in iframes, and the content is on your own domain, with a page address for every property.

For the exact steps, follow the Squarespace install guide, or watch the installation video.

One setting matters on older sites. Some Squarespace 7.0 templates use Ajax loading, which loads shared elements such as the header and footer once so later pages open faster. Squarespace notes that Ajax can conflict with embedded custom code, and version 7.1 does not use it. If widgets disappear as you move between pages on a 7.0 site, the install guide recommends turning Ajax off, which you can do in Site styles.

How your MLS feed is approved

Your MLS reviews each IDX feed request, including how you and your IDX vendor will use the data. Until a feed is in place, a new Buying Buddy account shows a demonstration MLS of fictional listings, which your live MLS feed replaces once your IDX license is added.

What you can build with IDX on Squarespace

With Buying Buddy, your Squarespace pages can include:

• Search pages with a search bar or a custom search form, including radius search and a use-my-current-location option.
• Map search, shown split-screen or full-screen, with polygon area search on desktop and mobile.
• Listing landing pages and hotsheets, displayed as a gallery, carousel, list or map. Active, coming soon, pending, sold and rental listings can be shown.
• A Market Report widget with a dynamic report for any neighborhood or area.
• Contact and lead capture forms, with ready-made presets.
• A My Account portal where visitors save and rank properties, save searches and create listing alerts.

Leads from your website arrive in the built-in CRM, which tracks the properties each lead views, saves and rates. The full set is on the IDX widgets page.

Questions to ask before you choose a provider

• Are the listings on your own pages? An iframe embeds a separate document inside your page. Ask whether search results and property pages are part of your Squarespace site, on your domain, or loaded from somewhere else.
• Can you build landing pages? Look for the ability to place filtered listings on any page, rather than only on a fixed search page.
• Does it work with Squarespace’s code tools? Ask how it installs, and whether the provider documents a Squarespace setup.
• Who handles MLS approval? Ask what the provider does and what you need to do yourself.
• Where do leads go? Registrations and inquiries should reach a CRM where you can follow up, not only an email inbox.
• Can you test it first? A free trial lets you see the widgets on your own site before you commit.

If you are still deciding on a platform, read Is Squarespace Good for Real Estate Websites? for the wider picture.

Frequently asked questions

Next steps

Confirm that your Squarespace plan includes code injection, then try IDX on your own site. See how Buying Buddy works with Squarespace and start a 30-day free trial.