What are the benefits of General Search?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Overview: General Search
• How to Use the Features Field
• General Map Search
• How to Search City of Chicago Neighborhoods
• How to Search School Districts
• How to Search Elementary, Middle, and High School Boundaries
• Search While Viewing the Map
• General Search on Mobile
• Summary

Overview: General Search

General Search is designed with your workflow in mind—delivering the functionality you rely on in a refreshed, intuitive experience. Optimized for both desktop and mobile, it helps you find listings quickly, confidently, and with less effort.

General Search brings everything you need into one place:

• A modern, easy-to-use layout that adapts whether you're at your desk or on the go

• A Features field that helps you pinpoint property details without navigating complex menus

• An interactive map that allows you to apply filters like Chicago neighborhoods, school districts, and school boundaries—while viewing results in real time

• A responsive mobile design that ensures every tool works just as powerfully in your hand as it does on your screen

Every element has been thoughtfully crafted to reduce friction, support productivity, and give you more time to focus on what matters: serving your clients.

→  To access General Search from a laptop or desktop computer, hover over Search at the top of your MLS and choose General Search from the drop-down.

→ To access General Search from a mobile device, click Search from the homepage.

How to Use the Features Field

By default, the Features field should appear automatically when you use General Search. If the field is missing, you can add it by clicking Add/Remove Fields at the bottom of your search and searching "Features". Click the + next to "Features" and Save Changes.

This allows you to quickly filter for specifics like "Fenced Yard" or "Above Ground Pool,” freeing up your time and energy for what truly matters—connecting with clients.

If you added the Features field and would like to save it as a default so you won't need to add it each time you search, click Defaults > Save Current as My Default.

General Map Search

The interactive map is designed to make your search more intuitive and location-aware:

• Apply filters such as Chicago neighborhoods, school districts, and school boundaries

• See listings plotted in real time—no toggling between screens

• Work efficiently and confidently with a dual view of results and geography

→  There are two ways to access the General Search map from a laptop or desktop computer:

1. Hover over Search at the top of the MLS and choose General Search from the drop-down. From the search page, click "click here to draw or select boundaries". 

2. Hover over Search at the top of the MLS and choose Map Search from the drop-down to go directly to the map.

→  To access the General Search map from a mobile device, simply click on the Search icon from the connectMLS homepage, then click “click here to draw or select boundaries” from the search page.

How to Search City of Chicago Neighborhoods

From the General Search map, click the layers icon, then check the box for City of Chicago Neighborhoods.

This will outline all of the Chicago neighborhood boundaries. By clicking on one of the boundaries, you can check the box for that neighborhood to add it to your search.

How to Search School Districts

From the General Search map, click the layers icon, then check the box for School District.

This will outline all of the school district boundaries on the map. By clicking on one of the boundaries, you can click "Add to Filters" to add that district's boundary to your search.

How to Search Elementary, Middle, and High School Boundaries

From the General Search map, click the layers icon, then check the box for any school boundary option:

This will outline the school boundaries on the map. By clicking on one of the boundaries, you can click "Add to Filters" to add that school's boundary to your search.

Search While Viewing the Map

Want to narrow your focus even further? While using the General Search map, you can adjust your filters while viewing the map as seen below:

You can also use the Search While Moving Map checkbox to update your results as you explore:

Click Show List (top-right) to see filtered listings alongside the map:

Use the toggle buttons (top-left) to hide or adjust your filters, map, or results for a cleaner view:

General Search on Mobile

General Search is now the default for mobile users, so you don’t have to choose between search interfaces—it’s built for your convenience.

This consistent design across desktop and mobile ensures you have the same powerful features wherever you’re working.

→ To access General Search from a mobile device, click Search from the homepage.

→  To access the General Search map from a mobile device, simply click on the Search icon from the connectMLS homepage, then click “click here to draw or select boundaries” from the search page.

Summary

General Search was designed to empower agents—whether you’re at your desk or on the move. By weaving together a modern layout, interactive mapping, streamlined filtering, and mobile-first design, it delivers:

• Faster, clearer access to listings

• Fewer clicks and less toggling between screens

• A more intuitive, productive search experience tailored to your pace

If you prefer the classic report layout, you can still access it by switching the report type at the top of the listing to Full-Agent (Classic). This gives you the flexibility to work in the view you’re most comfortable with while taking advantage of General Search’s mobile-friendly design.

Still need help?
Contact MRED Support at 630-955-2755 (call or text), or email help.desk@mredllc.com — we’re happy to help!

For hands-on learning and on-demand resources, visit our Training site for classes and tutorials.