I am sure you have used website searches that use the select box "Control Function" for communities and cities (view photo). Call me crazy, but that really annoys me.

Scrolling Control Box Search (i.e. Hold down the CTRL key to select multiple areas)

Have you ever used that "Control Key Box", had selected about 15-20 things only to hit the wrong key or make a mistake with the mouse and your 5 minutes of carefully selecting cities gone? It's happened to me and I find it a major annoyance.

I absolutely can't stand that Control Box, so I came up with a scroller with checkboxes, modeled off of another web industry.

Scrolling CheckBox Search

Now, try this Twin Cities MLS IDX search with the checkboxes (photo to the right).

The checkboxes stay checked as you scroll. Granted you can have larger scroller like this from the Real Estate Webmasters: Saint Paul IDX but if you are looking to save real estate and have a new search scroller to replace the dreaded control key, I think this is the ticket.

Try it out, see what you think. I'm just glad I don't have to hold down the control key anymore.