Project Overview
A custom home builder approached us to develop a Zillow New Construction XML feed directly from their WordPress website.
The website was built with WordPress and the Avada theme, while the core real estate data was managed through WP Toolset custom post types, custom fields, and taxonomies.
The primary objective was to create a structured XML feed containing communities, floor plans, and available properties, while matching as many of Zillow’s required parameters as possible.
Client: J Thomas Homes
Website: jthomashomes.com
Feed Type: Zillow New Construction XML Feed
Platform: WordPress
Data Management: WP Toolset
Theme: Avada
Builder ID: 7681
The Challenge
The project presented several data-mapping challenges because the information required for the Zillow feed was stored across different parts of the WordPress website.
Most of the property information was stored using WP Toolset custom fields and taxonomies, including the structured information required for communities, floor plans, and properties.
However, the property’s photo galleries were managed separately through the Avada theme’s gallery functionality.
This meant that a successful solution needed to combine information from multiple WordPress data sources into a single Zillow-compatible XML structure.
The client specifically highlighted that the photo galleries were essential because the images also needed to be submitted to Zillow.
The existing website also had WP All Export Pro installed and being used for another business. An existing implementation had successfully handled the integration of photo galleries, providing a useful reference for the required approach.
Project Requirements
The client requested a feed capable of representing:
- New construction communities
- Single-family floor plans
- Townhome floor plans
- Available properties
- Property and floor-plan information
- Images from Avada photo galleries
- Data stored in WP Toolset custom fields
- Data stored in WP Toolset taxonomies
- Zillow-specific parameters and identifiers
- Lead-routing information
The goal was to match as many of Zillow’s available parameters as possible while maintaining the existing WordPress setup.
Community Selection
During development, the client specified that only five communities should initially be included in the XML feed:
- Ogden Towns
- Nibley Meadows
- Presidents Park
- Springville Towns
- West Fields
This allowed the feed to be focused on the specific communities required for the initial Zillow submission.
Zillow Builder Identification
Another important requirement was obtaining the correct Zillow identifier.
The client initially indicated that they were waiting for the account information from Zillow. Zillow subsequently provided the unique Builder ID 7681, which was then used for the feed configuration.
Using the correct builder identifier is important when submitting a builder’s inventory to a third-party real estate portal because it connects the feed data with the appropriate builder account.
Data Integration Approach
The key technical challenge was bringing together data stored through different WordPress systems.
The implementation needed to work with:
WP Toolset
- Custom post types
- Custom fields
- Taxonomies
- Community information
- Floor-plan information
- Property information
Avada
- Photo galleries
- Property images
The resulting feed needed to transform this WordPress data into the XML structure expected by Zillow.
Rather than requiring the client to restructure their existing website, the feed was designed around the data already maintained within WordPress.
This approach reduced the need for duplicate data entry and allowed the website to remain the primary source of property information.
Photo Gallery Integration
One of the more complex parts of the project was handling images.
The majority of the XML information could be obtained from WP Toolset, but the images were maintained through Avada’s photo gallery system.
Therefore, the feed generation process needed to retrieve the appropriate gallery images and associate them with the corresponding communities, floor plans, or properties.
The existing WP All Export Pro implementation on the website demonstrated that the gallery data could be integrated successfully, which provided a useful reference when developing the new feed.
Lead Routing
The Zillow feed also required lead-routing information.
The client was asked to provide an email address where Zillow leads should be delivered. They indicated that if only one email address was supported, leads should be routed to their primary email, while if two addresses were supported, a second address could also be included.
This ensured that the feed was not limited to property data alone but also incorporated the contact information required for lead handling.
Result
After the feed was prepared, the client submitted the XML to Zillow for review.
On June 3, 2025, the client confirmed that the feed had been submitted to Zillow and that Zillow’s support team was reviewing it to ensure everything was correct.
The project demonstrated how a WordPress-based real estate website can be connected to a major property portal even when the required information is distributed across:
- Custom post types
- Custom fields
- Taxonomies
- Theme-managed galleries
- Existing WordPress export configurations
Key Takeaways
1. WordPress can serve as the central data source
A real estate website does not necessarily need a separate database or property management platform to generate a portal feed. Structured WordPress data can be transformed into a portal-specific XML format.
2. Custom fields require careful mapping
Real estate websites frequently store information in custom fields and taxonomies. Each field must be mapped appropriately to the destination portal’s XML requirements.
3. Images can add another layer of complexity
When images are managed separately from the primary property data, the feed-generation process needs to combine both sources correctly.
4. Existing integrations can provide valuable references
The existing WP All Export Pro configuration provided useful insight into how the website’s Avada galleries were being handled, helping inform the new feed implementation.
5. Portal-specific requirements matter
A successful XML feed is not simply an export of WordPress content. It needs to follow the destination portal’s expected structure, identifiers, fields, and submission requirements.
Conclusion
This project involved developing a Zillow New Construction XML feed for a WordPress-based home builder website, combining structured WP Toolset data with Avada-managed photo galleries.
The final solution was prepared around the client’s existing WordPress architecture and included the required communities, builder identification, property information, images, and lead-routing details.
The completed XML was then submitted to Zillow for review, providing the client with a portal-ready feed for their new construction inventory.
Need a custom XML feed for Zillow, Realtor portals, real estate marketplaces, or another property platform?
We can develop custom WordPress XML/RSS feeds that map your existing custom fields, taxonomies, property data, and images into the format required by your target portal.