The following notes on WordPress Themes, Builders and Plugins are designed to assist with compatibility issues.
Also review Troubleshooting WordPress Plugin Issues.
NOTE: Additional comments and notes for specific WordPress Themes and Builders are documented in the Installation Instructions for WordPress.
If you do believe you have discovered a conflict then we will be keen to understand the issue and investigate so that we can eliminate problems. Tools such as WP_DEBUG (https://wordpress.org/support/article/debugging-in-wordpress/) will generate messages and notices that can help with debugging and we would like to see these with your report of problems.
WordPress Themes / Builders
Elementor Page Builder
What's Happening?
When viewing pages on mobile devices, large unwanted gaps appear either above or below Buying Buddy widgets.
Why Is This Happening?
Elementor's default Flexbox container layout can create excessive white space around widgets on mobile viewports. This is particularly noticeable with Buying Buddy widgets due to how Elementor handles container spacing and layout in its mobile view settings.
How To Fix It
- Edit the page in Elementor where the widget is displaying with extra spacing.
- Select the Container that holds the Buying Buddy widget.
- Change the Container Layout:
- In the Container settings (left sidebar), locate "Container Layout"
- Change from "Flexbox" to "Grid"
- Configure Grid Settings:
- Set Columns to 1
- Set Rows to 1
- This creates a simple 1x1 grid layout
- Use Responsive Mode if needed:
- Click the "Responsive Mode" icon to switch to Mobile view
- Verify the grid settings are applied correctly
- Adjust padding/margin if any spacing issues remain
- Preview on mobile to confirm the gap is removed.
- Update/Publish the page.
Visual Reference: The Container settings should show:
- Container Layout: Grid
- Columns: 1
- Rows: 1
This simple grid structure eliminates the spacing issues caused by Flexbox layout on mobile devices.
Avada Theme
This theme has built-in lazy load that should be disabled
- Navigate to Performance Settings
- Locate "Lazy Load" option
- Disable this feature
Javo Home THEME
The JAVO Home Theme 2.06 appears to include a "defer" method that is applied to all JavaScript libraries. This causes the Buying Buddy plugin to fail in some areas. We were unable to fully investigate the issue for resolution, and in the end the client changed the Theme.
UberMenu Plugin
(Jan 2019) The "UberMenu" plugin (wpmegamenu.com) loads Google Maps API, and this should be disabled in settings for this plugin to (1) prevent code errors from the Maps API loading multiple times, and (2) allow the MBB Plugin to manage Google Maps functions.
Hosting Services
WP ENGINE
What's Happening?
Widgets do not show the correct results or listings.
Why Is This Happening?
WP Engine has a built-in caching system that is caching old versions of the widgets and pages.
How To Fix It
Request exclusion of your designated "results" page (or any page where you use the Results Widget) from the WP Engine Cache. To do this, LOGIN to your WP Engine Portal. Then contact WP Engine support (e.g. using the chat button) to request these pages are excluded from the Cache.
Once they confirm this is done, in the WP Engine Portal - for your site, go to the "Caching" section, and "Clear All Caches".
GoDaddy Managed WordPress Hosting
Do not use this hosting service with Buying Buddy.
What's Happening?
Buying Buddy widgets will not work.
Why Is This Happening?
GoDaddy say: "The caching system that is built into Managed WordPress hosting prevents the Buying Buddy plugin from loading as required."
The issue is expressed in the Browser Console (F12) - see the "Console" tab for JavaScript errors. You will see error message such as "MBB is not defined"
How To Fix It
Move your site to a different hosting provider, or use a GoDaddy CPANEL hosting plan, which doesn't have caching built in.
WordPress Plugins
Cookie Management Plugins
For example: CookieAdmin, CookieYes, Complianz, Cookie Notice & Compliance, Cookie Law Info, GDPR Cookie Compliance, WP Cookie Notice, Real Cookie Banner, Borlabs Cookie, Cookiebot, iubenda Cookie Solution, etc.
What's Happening?
- Search criteria and other information are not passed from search forms or links to results views.
- This leads to incorrect search results and other similar behaviors.
- User signup status is not correctly tracked.
- Information about lead activity is missing.
- Property details may not load correctly.
- User preferences and saved searches are not maintained.
Why Is This Happening?
Buying Buddy requires third-party cookies for core functions including user tracking, lead management, search functionality, and maintaining user sessions. Cookie management plugins block these essential cookies by default, preventing Buying Buddy from functioning correctly.
How To Fix It
- Disable / remove all cookie management plugins.
- Do not use these plugins with Buying Buddy.
- If GDPR compliance (generally required in European countries) is required for your region, consult with a legal professional about alternative compliance methods that don't interfere with essential website functionality.
Caching Plugins
For example: WP Cache, WP Rocket, WP Super Cache, etc.
What's Happening?
When content is not being updated, this generally means the old content is being cached.
Why Is This Happening?
Website caching systems (including WordPress plugins) store a copy of your pages to improve loading speed.
How To Fix It
- Do not allow caching plugins/systems to cache the Buying Buddy plugin,
- Do not allow your property display pages (not search results) to be cached.
See Troubleshooting Caching Issues for a guide to fixing caching issues.
Optimization Plugins
For example: Autoptimize, WP Rocket, NitroPack, WP Optimize, W3 Total Cache, EWWW Image Optimizer, WP Fastest Cache, WP Super Cache, Litespeed Cache, ShortPixel
What's Happening?
Optimization plugins can stop Buying Buddy from working.
Why Is This Happening?
Optimization plugins re-organize sections of code in an attempt to streamline page loading. However, Buying Buddy plugin needs to load as prescribed or it will not work
How To Fix It
Exclude Buying Buddy files from all optimization plugins. See the example solutions described below.
WP Rocket
1. Exclude Buying Buddy Script
What's Happening?
Many functions / buttons etc of the Buying Buddy widgets will not work.
Why Is This Happening?
The WP Rocket plugin changes the way the Buying Buddy plugin loads which breaks it.
How To Fix It
You must exclude the Buying Buddy script from the "Load JavaScript Deferred" as follows:
- Go to WP Rocket settings
- Add the following into the field for "Excluded JavaScript Files" and save:
https://d2w6u17ngtanmy.cloudfront.net/scripts/my-buying-buddy.5.0.js.gz
See the WP Rocket support article for full details.
2. Turn OFF the Lazy Load settings
What's Happening?
Widgets will display with properties showing the "no photo" image.
Why Is This Happening?
The WP Rocket Lazy Load plugin is rewriting the paths to the images and this breaks images.
How To Fix It
Disable Lazy Load.
WP Optimize
What's Happening?
Widgets will display with properties showing the "no photo" image.
Why Is This Happening?
The WP Optimize Lazy Load plugin is rewriting the paths to the images and this breaks images.
How To Fix It
Disable Lazy Load.
Rank Math
This plugin has many known conflicts. In particular it will override the property-specific META tags that Buying Buddy creates, causing incorrect META data information for SEO and social sharing.
Smartcrawl Pro
What's Happening?
Many functions / buttons etc of the Buying Buddy widgets will not work.
Why Is This Happening?
This plugin appears to corrupt JavaScript and rewrite strings (e.g. "search") as full blocks of <a> tags and HTML
How To Fix It
Disable / remove this plugin
OMGF (Self hosted Google fonts)
What's Happening?
Widgets will not load correctly - or even at all
Why Is This Happening?
OMGF takes control of any fonts being loaded and this breaks Buying Buddy.
How To Fix It
Disable / remove this plugin
Managing Plugin Conflicts
If issues persist, we have found that the following method can help:
- Install the "WP Plugin Manager" WordPress plugin
- Use the plugin to disable conflicting plugins on specific pages