Browsing Mode: Smart vs. Strict
Your BrokerBot can pull information from the web when answering questions — things like listing details, school ratings, HOA rules, or news articles. Browsing Mode controls which parts of the web it's allowed to look at.
You'll find this setting under Web Crawler Settings → Browsing Mode. There are two options.
Strict Mode
Only allowed domains can be accessed.
In Strict mode, BrokerBot can only visit the sites on your allowed domains list. Anything else — even if it shows up in a search result — is blocked before the page is ever opened.
Use Strict when you want:
Tight compliance control — only approved brokerage sites, your MLS, and pre-vetted vendors.
Predictable answers — BrokerBot won't wander off onto random blogs, Reddit threads, or competitor sites.
Brand safety — no chance of quoting a source you don't trust.
The trade-off: if the answer lives on a site that isn't on your list, BrokerBot will tell the user it couldn't find it rather than guess. You'll see each default domain labeled "X/Y enabled" to show what's currently in scope.
Smart Mode
Full web with preferred sources prioritized.
In Smart mode, BrokerBot can browse the entire public web, but it treats the domains on your list as preferred sources. Those sites are ranked higher when BrokerBot chooses where to read from, so your trusted sources get used first — but if the answer truly isn't there, BrokerBot can still look elsewhere.
Use Smart when you want:
Broader coverage — market data, news, niche neighborhood info, school ratings, etc.
Flexibility — your agents ask a wide range of questions and shouldn't hit dead ends.
"Trust these first, but don't stop there" behavior.
The trade-off: answers can come from sites you haven't explicitly vetted. Default domains here are labeled "X/Y prioritized" to make clear they're a ranking hint, not a hard gate.
Which should I pick?
If you care most about… | Pick |
Compliance, legal review, brand-controlled answers | Strict |
Answer quality and coverage across any topic | Smart |
Never surfacing a competitor or untrusted blog | Strict |
Questions like "what are the best schools near X" working out of the box | Smart |
You can switch between modes at any time, and your allowed-domains list carries over — in Strict mode it becomes the allowlist, in Smart mode it becomes the list of preferred sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does BrokerBot share my chats or knowledge base with the internet?
No. The web crawler is strictly one-directional — it only pulls information from the web. BrokerBot never publishes, shares, or exposes your chats, knowledge base, or any other data to the internet. Your data stays completely private regardless of which browsing mode you use.
Q: Can other people on the internet see what BrokerBot searches for?
No. Web searches are performed server-side and are not visible to the public. The queries BrokerBot runs are treated the same as any private search — no one outside your team can see them.
Q: If I switch to Smart mode, does that make my knowledge base less secure?
No. Smart mode only changes which websites BrokerBot can read from. It has no effect on the security or privacy of your knowledge base, chats, training data, or any other content stored in BrokerBot.
Q: Can I block specific websites in Smart mode?
Yes. Smart mode includes an explicit blocklist. If there are specific sites you don't want BrokerBot pulling from, you can add them to the block list in your Web Crawler Settings. BrokerBot will skip those domains entirely.
Q: Do I need to add domains to my allowed list for Smart mode to work?
No, but it helps. In Smart mode, BrokerBot can browse the entire web without a domain list. However, any domains you add are treated as "preferred sources" and ranked higher in results — so adding your brokerage site, MLS, and trusted vendors ensures those are prioritized.