Z is a minefield of inaccurate information. I get calls for properties that sold months ago. Not my listings since I do update Z but the buyers are frustrated. I give them my website and they are happy to have an accurate search engine.

Consumers want idx, so if you don't have it, they won't stay on your site. A site without idx is not a real estate website. 

I think an IDX site on my web site is a lot better than sending clients to Zillow or Trulia.  Also, our IDX sites are a lot more accurate than either of them.

You are assuming Zillow has all the listings, which they do NOT. My mls, which is one of the largest in the country has no contract with Zillow and does not send them listings. One of the largest local/regional independent companies stopped sending listing data to Zillow over a year ago now.

People come to your website to search and you need IDX for that. Why would you want to take them off your site and send them to a portal like Zillow where they can contact another agent?

Zillow exists but does not want to expand to our great nation just a short distance from Zillow's headquarters in Seattle.  IDX is only one way to display listings.

RealtyZap . we all know Zillow does not have correct listing information - as much as any MLS has.

Plus, it's all about being LOCAL, correct? Zillow is NOT local!

I think an educated client will use your site over Zillow anyday. If you have a custom site and can get all the IDX to pull in under your domain you can out rank Zillow.

I don't have a great IDX.  I have the one the board provides, which is a simple search.  A full featured one would be nice, but I just don't see someone going to my site versus realtor or zillow for property searches.

Now if Zillow, Realtor, most IDX sites and all the othe sites would stop showing contingent homes as "Active", that would make my life so much easier!

I want IDX on my website.  But I am not giving it as much front-and-center prominence as before... because yes, the consumers are on Realtor dot com, Zillow, and Trulia.

Zillow is pretty erevilant in my market and I agree with all the coments above/below mine RealtyZap . 

The IDX will be more accurate since it is data from the MLS that in my market changes every 15 minutes.

Yes you need IDX ... You can out rank Zillow but it's hard or you need to ppc to compete. The other way to choose a lead gen web site but that's a whole other topic. 

Yes, it is.

Yes personal idx is necessary. You can fight Zillow, Redfin, Trulia, movoto, and realtor.com by creating sub pages of longtail specific phrases.  The developers at these companies are not local.  They don't know "tennis court properties" are a searched term in your market.  Or golf course villa. Ect. 

Although Zillow is filled with inaccurate data, it still seems to be where consumers go for real estate information. You can't talk to anyone about real estate without them mentioning Zillow and their Zestimates. I find it very unfortunate that people have been so duped by it all, and hopefully people will learn there are better sources of information.

I haven't checked lately but know I outrank on several longtail keywords in my area.

This is another reason why we selectively syndicate our listings

Greg Cremia has this one covered.

A site without IDX is like a day without sunshine?! 

I sometimes wonder if it is necessary. My selelrs called me wwhen they did not see information on zillow.

 I would say yes.

Yes. No. Sometimes

I think realtors.com outrank Z, Homes, CL etc...

Yes I have out ranked zillow on my local target market.