Quick Start Guide

Quick Start Guide

Have a trial account? See our Trial Guide >

1. Basic Setup

Account Configuration

The best way to get your iHomefinder account configured is to let us do it for you, free of charge!

When your account is created, the default settings follow best practices for success, but as part of our complimentary Setup Services our team will do the following for you:

  • IDX installation
  • Add your logo and photo to your site and email branding
  • Customize your site button color
  • Create up to 10 Markets to highlight communities you serve
  • Modify your search center point and zoom level (Premium & Premium +CRM plans only)
  • Configure text & email follow-up campaigns (CRM plans only)
  • And much more!

MLS/IDX Approval

After you signed up for a paid account, you received an email from our IDX Approvals team. This email details the steps you need to take, if any, to get your account approved for data access with your MLS® System.

This process varies for each MLS® System. In some locations, agents will need to contact their MLS® System or get broker approval, while in others our IDX Approvals team can take care of the entire process. The email you receive following signup will guide you through the process for your MLS® System.

tip: It generally takes 2-3 business days for an MLS to grant IDX approval. If you start this process right away, you’ll reduce delays launching your site.

Website Integration

Skip this step if you have a website plan

iHomefinder IDX works on all websites, no iframes or subdomains needed. The process to add our service to your site depends on your website platform – choose yours below to see how.

Select your site type for platform-specific instructions

TIP: The base URL you provide (the base URL is the unchanging part of your website’s address – for example, https://www.YourDomain.com) is used for authentication and for inter-page links, as well as links in listing alerts and other communications. If the URL provided does not exactly match the URL where the page script is added (including http or https), your IDX will not display.

Add Widgets/Shortcodes

iHomefinder makes it easy to enhance your homepage and custom pages with listing content and lead capture forms.

To get started, we recommend launching your site with the following on your homepage:

  • Quick Search
  • Featured Listings Slider
  • Sell My Home widget

Here’s how to add them:

WordPress

Use the shortcode selector in your WordPress dashboard to configure your shortcode, then add it to a page. Here’s how.

Wix

Select any iHomefinder element, and go to Settings > Add-Ons. From there, choose the widget you wish to add, as well as the page you’d like it added to. Some widgets can be further customized within Settings.

Wix widget screenshot

Squarespace And Other Websites

You will find the Widget Builder (shown below) in your iHomefinder Control Panel. Go to Setup > Website > Widgets

Learn more about the types of widget available.

Widget Builder screenshot

Select your desired widget type from the dropdown, select the required subfields that populate per widget type selected. Configure any optional fields if you wish to.

When you have completed configuring the widget, copy the Embed Code that presents and paste it into the body of your website page where you would like the widget to appear.

Start Your Setup Services

Setup Services welcome screen

To get started with Setup Services, fill out the form located in your Control Panel:

Setup services are usually completed within 4 business days.

Advanced Customization

Out of the box, your search and property details are already looking great – but if you have something special in mind, you can customize iHomefinder in so many ways.

Use your Control Panel to customize the display:

Designers and developers with something special in mind: You can modify the CSS directly to create a custom looks:

  • Non-WordPress sites – add CSS in the Control Panel
  • WordPress sites, access this from WordPress Dashboard >Optima Express > Configuration
#2. NEXT STEPS