More than talk radio is available on AM stations.
Melinda Rowan, a real estate agent for Olde South Realty, is using the air waves to maximize her income with Talking House.
The house for sale "talks" through a radio transmitter inside the house. Talking House signs are placed on the property telling prospective buyers which AM frequency lists the real estate.
Instead of simply describing the qualities of the house, Rowan lets the house sell itself.
"The way I do mine is when you pull up and tune to the radio station, it's 'Welcome to 522 Audubon; let me tell you about some of my wonderful features,' " she said. "I am trying to show pictures ... without them having to leave their vehicle."
The system, which costs $350 per receiver, is superior to the traditional sign that lists the agent's phone number because it alerts buyers when the house doesn't fit their needs, and it helps the agent assess potential buyers, she said.
Within three days of using Talking House, Rowan said, she had a contract agreement.
Three weeks into it, she signed a second agreement. This happened after six dry months, she said.
The only information not included in the recorded five-minute message at Rowan's houses is the price, she said.
"That is to get phone calls," she said. "We want them to listen to it and then call us."
Rowan said she doesn't know of anybody that lists the price. Money is not discussed so that the Realtor can suggest other options that might fit the buyer's needs, she said.
If homeowners are interested in selling the house themselves, they can rent Talking House from an agent. Rowan said she charges $2 a day.
"It's worth the money," she said. "You have to spend money to make money."
Bert Ellis, the owner of Olde South Realty and two other companies in Aiken and Augusta, said his company in Aiken, Exit Olde South Realty, has used Talking House for more than a year. One of his agents in Aiken made $20,000 more in 2007 than 2006 after using the system, he said.
"You can never say it was the sole reason," he said. "But that was a contributing factor."
What's next? Ellis said he attends trade shows to see the newest technology available. Visual aids are already on the market, such as the eLapTopTour, which gives Wi-Fi users the ability to view a home without leaving their car. While this is not used by his companies yet, Ellis said they are always looking into technology that will set them apart from other Realtors.
Reach Crystal Garcia at crystal.garcia@northaugustoday.com.
