Guide to XML Feed Building and Maintenance for Estate Agents in Spain

Find out more about what XML feeds are, how they work and how to build them. All information from Property Portal Marketing.

What is an XML feed?

An XML feed is a piece of code that connects two websites together - in this case, connecting your real estate website to a portal - that allows information to be exchanged between the two automatically. It is much quicker than updating lots of different portals manually.

How do they work?

Once a property is uploaded, edited or removed from your website, the same data would be automatically transferred to the portal website. Depending on which property portal you are on, feeds generally update with new data every 12-24 hours.

How do you build one?

There are three main ways to build an XML feed. These are:

- Getting remote access to your database, which is the most popular and reliable method

- Obtaining a source feed to build an XML feed in the format you need

- To do a scrape of the site to collect the information you need to build the feed. Not all websites allow this method

If you only want select properties on the portals, you will also need a tick system or to supply a manual list to your provider weekly. If not, portals will go with the newest listings first.

Can an XML feed go wrong?

Yes - they need monitoring to ensure they are working. Incorrect mapping, prices not updating, unrecognised images are some of the problems that can crop up. However, most of the time they run without issue.

What is the cost of building one?

Costs vary considerably. With Property Portal Marketing, it costs an initial €50 set up fee, plus a fixed €25 monthly, for a six month minimum terms, covering up to three XML feeds. That includes any potential maintenance issues.

What format should the XML feed be in?

Although every portal has a slightly different format that they accept, most major ones will accept the Kyero V3 format which is relatively simple to build. Rightmove and Zoopla have slightly different formats, accepting the Real-Time Data Feed. When feeds update, the V3 format updates overnight, whilst the Real-Time Data Feed updates when the builder of the feed has scheduled it to (with Property Portal Marketing, this is four times a day).

For more information, find out more about Property Portal Marketing and the services they offer, CLICK HERE: PROPERTY PORTAL MARKETING SPAIN