--- title: "ARMLS IDX: check consent, display, and website handoff" description: "Plan an ARMLS IDX website brief with broker consent, vendor questions, attribution checks, permitted listing display, refresh evidence, and inquiry tests" canonical: "https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/armls-idx-agent-website-acceptance-checks" --- ## Site navigation - [Scale With Search](https://scalewithsearch.com/) - Services - Services - [AI systems](https://scalewithsearch.com/ai-systems) - [Site build](https://scalewithsearch.com/work#site-build) - [Whole website fix](https://scalewithsearch.com/work#whole-website-fix) - [Content library with SEO](https://scalewithsearch.com/work#content-library) - [Working session](https://scalewithsearch.com/audit) - Start here - [Send your brief](https://scalewithsearch.com/work#send-your-brief) - [Example scope](https://scalewithsearch.com/work#review-the-example-scope) - [Prices and terms](https://scalewithsearch.com/work#prices-and-terms) - Industries - Real estate - [Real estate agents and teams](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/real-estate) - [Platforms, ownership, and IDX](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/real-estate/real-estate-website-platforms-ownership-idx) - [Search, content, and AI](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/real-estate/real-estate-search-content-ai) - [Inquiries, campaigns, and handoffs](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/real-estate/real-estate-website-inquiries-campaigns-handoffs) - [Buyer, seller, and local pages](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/real-estate/real-estate-buyer-seller-local-resources) - [Rules, privacy, and trust](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/real-estate/real-estate-website-rules-privacy-trust) - Browse by business - [Trades and home services](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/#group-trades) - [Health, wellness, and animal care](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/#group-practices) - [Law, finance, and IT](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/#group-professional) - [Marketing and SEO agencies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/#group-agencies) - [Shops and manufacturers](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/#group-manufacturing) - [Restaurants, shops, studios, and nonprofits](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/#group-local-services) - Chiropractic practices - [Chiropractic and wellness practices](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/chiropractic-and-wellness-practices) - [Chiropractic and physical therapy clinics](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/chiropractic-and-physical-therapy-clinics) - [All industries](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/) - Resources - Free tools - [AI readiness check](https://scalewithsearch.com/check) - [Free tools](https://scalewithsearch.com/tools/) - [Free Starter Kit](https://scalewithsearch.com/kit/business-memory-starter-kit.zip) - Guides - [AI-native library](https://scalewithsearch.com/ai-native) - [Industry intelligence](https://scalewithsearch.com/intelligence) - [Office job guides](https://scalewithsearch.com/guides/) - [Business memory](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/business-memory-for-ai-agents-guide) - [Agent governance](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/ai-agent-governance-guide-small-business) - [Migration and ownership](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/leaving-vendor-ai-memory-guide) - Articles - [All articles](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/) - [What changed](https://scalewithsearch.com/changes/) - About - Evidence - [Proof](https://scalewithsearch.com/proof) - Scale With Search - [About](https://scalewithsearch.com/about) - [How it works](https://scalewithsearch.com/how-it-works) # ARMLS IDX: check consent, display, and website handoff Start an ARMLS IDX website brief with your broker's approval and the provider's confirmed implementation. Then check the public pages against ARMLS display requirements and trace a property question to its intended recipient. ARMLS rules permit affiliated sales licensees to display IDX information on their own websites under their Participant's consent and control. State law and regulation also apply. [ARMLS rules §23.3.2, updated 2026.05.28; checked 2026.10.23](https://armls.com/docs/armls-idx-policy.pdf). Use this checklist to define the work with your broker and provider. Keep unresolved permissions out of the accepted website scope. ## Confirm the route before choosing a design Write down the website address, brokerage, provider, and required property-search functions. Ask the broker to confirm the approved participation arrangement. Require the provider to identify the connection and any outstanding agreements. ARMLS publishes a third-party IDX vendor list and says inclusion is not an endorsement. Use it to identify options, then assess each against your requirements. [ARMLS product directory, checked 2026.10.23](https://armls.com/products). Its IDX explainer directs subscribers considering an unlisted vendor to consult their broker. Resolve that question before commissioning the integration. [ARMLS vendor-selection explanation, checked 2026.10.23](https://armls.com/what-is-idx). Ask for a demonstration using the proposed setup. A vendor's sample site should start the questions. Require the actual account, page, and handoff requirements to be documented before accepting delivery. ## Separate brokerage identity from listing attribution The rules require your Participant's brokerage name on the front page and subsequent pages without scrolling, regardless of screen size. They separately require prominent listing-firm identification and supplied email or phone. IDX listings must identify ARMLS as their source. [ARMLS rules §§23.2.12, 23.3.3, and 23.3.7, checked 2026.10.23](https://armls.com/docs/armls-idx-policy.pdf). Section 23.2.13 exempts minimal displays of two hundred characters or less from this listing-firm/contact requirement. They must link directly to a display containing all required disclosures. [ARMLS minimal-display exception, checked 2026.10.23](https://armls.com/docs/armls-idx-policy.pdf). Give the provider the approved brokerage wording and the relevant rule references. Ask how its templates implement each requirement. Inspect the property detail page and the search results as separate layouts. Check the phone view before accepting the template. Record any attribution hidden behind a collapsed section, clipped by a card, or difficult to read. Ask the broker and provider to assess the specific display against the applicable rule. Keep your team identity and the brokerage identity clear in the approved design. Use the [team and brokerage brand checklist](/articles/team-brand-versus-brokerage-brand-hierarchy) for the wider website presentation. ## Define the permitted listing content ARMLS prohibits IDX display of Coming Soon, expired, and cancelled listings. Its rules also exclude confidential fields and seller or occupant contact details. [ARMLS rules §§23.3.1, 23.3.5, and 23.3.6, checked 2026.10.23](https://armls.com/docs/armls-idx-policy.pdf). Ask the provider to identify the fields and statuses used by the proposed display. Require an approved test environment or demonstration method for excluded content. Keep confidential information out of public testing and ordinary repair tickets. For a seller restriction, have the broker identify the controlling instruction. Record the expected public result without copying private seller material into the website brief. Require the provider to demonstrate the agreed behavior. Use a check sheet for related surfaces: | Surface | Question to resolve | | --- | --- | | Search result | Does the card show only the permitted content? | | Property page | Do status, attribution, and approved details agree? | | Saved search or gallery | Does it respect the same display requirements? | | Old property address | What happens when the listing no longer qualifies? | | Contact action | Does the visitor's question retain the correct property context? | Use the [coming-soon display brief](/articles/coming-soon-listings-idx-website-display) when planning content outside the public IDX inventory. Keep the approved content route explicit. ## Request refresh evidence ARMLS requires downloaded data and the IDX displays automatically fed by it to refresh at least every twelve hours. That requirement establishes a maximum interval in the cited rule. It does not establish instant updates. [ARMLS rule §23.2.5, checked 2026.10.23](https://armls.com/docs/armls-idx-policy.pdf). Have the provider show the refresh configuration and maintenance owner. For an authorized change, record the source update, import evidence, and public-page observation. Ask the provider to explain a mismatch before closing the check. Keep a failed import and stale page display separately identifiable in the repair notes. Name who receives the failure notice and who investigates it. Require a repeat observation after repair. ## Test the inquiry and retain the handoff Name the recipient before testing a property question. Agree on a marked submission with contact details you control. Save the property page, message, submission time, visible result, and matching received record. Check that the recipient can identify the property and reply using the submitted details. Confirm the actual receiving system with the responsible person. Keep a missing notification separate from a missing inquiry record. Retain the approved provider arrangement, page checklist, test results, and maintenance instructions. Record who can edit website content and who must handle feed changes. Use the [website ownership checklist](/articles/own-your-site) to define the exit package. Review the [real estate website planning guide](/for/real-estate) for the wider project. Bring your current website, approved ARMLS arrangement, and unresolved page requirements to [Scale With Search's written scope form](/work). Request the specific display, refresh, and inquiry checks needed for handoff. - [Team brand versus brokerage brand: clarify your website hierarchy](/articles/team-brand-versus-brokerage-brand-hierarchy) - [Coming soon listings: can they appear on your IDX website?](/articles/coming-soon-listings-idx-website-display) ## Related: Real estate - [Team brand versus brokerage brand: clarify your website hierarchy](/articles/team-brand-versus-brokerage-brand-hierarchy) - [Coming soon listings: can they appear on your IDX website?](/articles/coming-soon-listings-idx-website-display) - [Own your real estate website: domain, hosting, editing, and leads](/articles/own-your-site) ---- ```text .|########||. .|########||. .|########||. |##||. .||##|. |##||. .||##|. |##||. .||##|. |#|. .|#|. |#|. .|#|. |#|. .|#|. |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#. .#| .#. .#| .#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |# ...... #| |# ...... #| |# ...... #| .# ||#########| #| .# ||#########| #| .# ||#########| #| .#. |######||######|. .#. .#. |######||######|. .#. .#. |######||######|. .#. #. .##|###|##|#|######| .# #. .##|###|##|#|######| .# #. .##|###|##|#|######| .# || |##|#||||||||||||#||#| || || |##|#||||||||||||#||#| || || |##|#||||||||||||#||#| || # |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. # |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. # |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || # .#||||||||||||||||||||||||#| # # .#||||||||||||||||||||||||#| # # .#||||||||||||||||||||||||#| # || ....|||#||||||##|#|||#|#||##||||....|. || || ....|||#||||||##|#|||#|#||##||||....|. || || ....|||#||||||##|#|||#|#||##||||....|. || #. . ....|# ....#||| ||| .#||| ....#. .# #. . ....|# ....#||| ||| .#||| ....#. .# #. . ....|# ....#||| ||| .#||| ....#. .# # . ||||#| .#####|| . .#| .#||| ||||# #. # . ||||#| .#####|| . .#| .#||| ||||# #. # . ||||#| .#####|| . .#| .#||| ||||# #. .| ||||| #. |#|||||. || #. |#||. .||||| || .| ||||| #. |#|||||. || #. |#||. .||||| || .| ||||| #. |#|||||. || #. |#||. .||||| || || |.... #. ....|#. |. ...|. ....|| || || |.... #. ....|#. |. ...|. ....|| || || |.... #. ....|#. |. ...|. ....|| || #. .||||||##||||||##||####|||||||#||||||#| .# #. .||||||##||||||##||####|||||||#||||||#| .# #. .||||||##||||||##||####|||||||#||||||#| .# # .||####|###########################|. # # .||####|###########################|. # # .||####|###########################|. # # .#||||||.#.|| # |. ..# #| #|||||#| # # .#||||||.#.|| # |. ..# #| #|||||#| # # .#||||||.#.|| # |. ..# #| #|||||#| # # .#|||||| .. |# ## |#| ...#|#|||#| # # .#|||||| .. |# ## |#| ...#|#|||#| # # .#|||||| .. |# ## |#| ...#|#|||#| # # .#|||#|# .# .#| #| ##|.#..#|||||#| # # .#|||#|# .# .#| #| ##|.#..#|||||#| # # .#|||#|# .# .#| #| ##|.#..#|||||#| # # .#||||||############|######|||||#| # # .#||||||############|######|||||#| # # .#||||||############|######|||||#| # # |...||#||||||#||||#|#||||||#|||||#||| |.| # # |...||#||||||#||||#|#||||||#|||||#||| |.| # # |...||#||||||#||||#|#||||||#|||||#||| |.| # #. .. ||||# .|||##|. |#| .|| || .|||#. #| # .# #. .. ||||# .|||##|. |#| .|| || .|||#. #| # .# #. .. ||||# .|||##|. |#| .|| || .|||#. #| # .# || | ...|| ...##| | #| .|. |. ##### .. .| || || | ...|| ...##| | #| .|. |. ##### .. .| || || | ...|| ...##| | #| .|. |. ##### .. .| || || ||||| || ||||#| . |. |. |#. ||||| |#| || || || ||||| || ||||#| . |. |. |#. ||||| |#| || || || ||||| || ||||#| . |. |. |#. ||||| |#| || || .# |.....#|....|#.||||.|||##.|#|....||.#||.#. #. .# |.....#|....|#.||||.|||##.|#|....||.#||.#. #. .# |.....#|....|#.||||.|||##.|#|....||.#||.#. #. #.|||||||#############################| ||| .# #.|||||||#############################| ||| .# #.|||||||#############################| ||| .# || ##||#||#||||||#||#||#||#||##. || || ##||#||#||||||#||#||#||#||##. || || ##||#||#||||||#||#||#||#||##. || # .#|||||||||#||#|||||||||||#| # # .#|||||||||#||#|||||||||||#| # # .#|||||||||#||#|||||||||||#| # || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || .# |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. .# |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. .# |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. || |#||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||#| || #. .######|#|#########| .# #. .######|#|#########| .# #. .######|#|#########| .# .#. |#####||||#####| .#. .#. |#####||||#####| .#. .#. |#####||||#####| .#. |# ||########|| #. |# ||########|| #. |# ||########|| #. |# ...... #| |# ...... #| |# ...... #| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#. |#. .#. |#. .#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. |##||. .||##| |##||. .||##| |##||. .||##| .||########||. .||########||. .||########||. 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