Easier To Use Location Searching
October 30, 2020 MLS Updates FlexMLS Staff
Tried and true, it’s still all about location. Because location is one of the most important factors in a home search, we’re bringing an updated location search experience to Flexmls Web, the Flexmls For Real Estate Professionals App (Android) and the Flexmls Mobile website (m.flexmls.com). Now all of your location fields are conveniently located in a group at the top of the Filters page when you search for properties.
When Will It Change?
This update is available now for the Flexmls For Real Estate Professionals App (Android) and the Flexmls Mobile website (m.flexmls.com).
This update will be available on November 12, 2020 for Flexmls Web.
What Has Changed on Mobile Web & Android?
Previously, the Location search bar was displayed at the top of the Filters page, and you could use it to search on any location field. To see the individual location fields included in the Quick Search template, you needed to scroll through the rest of the filters on the page. If you added a location field to the filters, it would appear at the bottom of the list.
![Location 1](/uploaded/imager/uploads/147869/location-1_d8259a60ca531ce6fc4c3279c86f8073.png)
With this change, the Location Search bar is still available, but all of the location fields included in the Quick Search template are also grouped in a Location section at the top of the Filter page. If you add a location field, it will appear in the Location group at the top of the page rather than at the bottom of the filter list.
![Location 2](/uploaded/imager/uploads/147882/Location-2_d8259a60ca531ce6fc4c3279c86f8073.png)
What Will Change On Flexmls Web?
Each MLS has a set of designated location fields. By default, City, State, County, and Zip Code are included. An MLS can choose to include other fields such as Subdivision, Area, School District, and Neighborhood.
In most MLSs, the Location Search Bar in Quick Search can be used to search on Street Address and MLS number, and location fields can be added as separate search criteria. Only map overlays are available via the Browse function on the Location Search Bar. Some MLSs are set up so that location fields can be searched only via the Location Search Bar; they cannot be added as separate search criteria. In addition, location field lists are available for selection via the Browse function.
On November 12th, members in all MLSs will see a new Location field group at the top of the search criteria pane in Quick Search. The group will include the Location Search Bar, location fields from the Quick Search template, and any location fields added by the user as separate search criteria.
![Location 3](/uploaded/imager/uploads/147903/location-3_d8259a60ca531ce6fc4c3279c86f8073.png)
If your MLS was previously set up so that location fields could not be added as individual search criteria, location searching will no longer be restricted to the Location Search Bar. Any location fields included in the Quick Search template or added as search criteria will appear in the Location group.
If your MLS uses related scrolls for any fields, the field relationships will also be available via Quick Search.
Why Are We Making These Changes?
This change is part of a project to improve location searching in the Flexmls Platform.