Ever found the perfect home for sale, then tried in vain to reach the real estate salesperson listed on the sign?  Next time, the sign in front of the house might instruct you to turn your radio to 1610 AM.  The "talking house" will ask you to step out of your car and listen for about three minutes.  "It's a real neat way to get out a lot of information," said John W. Koeck, a Realtor with Freedom Properties, 410 Old Main St.  "And the people love it.  It just cuts down on their aggravation so much." 

Koeck and a few Realtors in Manatee County recently began using "Talking House" technology, although the concept has been around the country for a long time. 
Lynda Fontaine, GRI Realtor at Re/Max Gulfstream, 3007 Manatee Ave. W., also started using the device recently, a spokeswoman in her office.  Armed with the belief that it takes money to make money, Koeck said he thought the devices would make buying and selling homes easier for everyone.  He bought 10 of the low-powered transmitters for $2,800. 

The transmitters are approved by the Federal Communications Commission and similar - but less powerful - to the radio transmitters used along interstate construction areas.  At no extra cost to the seller or buyer, a transmitter is placed inside a house for sale.  An 8-foot-long wire is stretched along the wall of the house and serves as an antenna to send a radio broadcast signal about 300 feet. 

James and Dianna Wood listed their home, 1114 Bayshore Drive, Terra Ceia, for sale two weeks ago.  They said they believe the "talking" device will help sell their home faster.  They already have received several offers.  Koeck has seen several cars at the same time in front of a home listening in to the message. 

He said he believes in the device so much, that he decided to get even more mileage out of it by having an electrical engineer install a unit in his car.  A sign on his "talking car" asks motorists to tune to 1610 AM to learn more about it.  Koeck has been flagged down three times by people inquiring about the system and got one listing as a result. 

Recently, he closed on two "Talking Houses" properties and received three listings from people who asked for the device.  Koeck said the broker in his office was so impressed with the system that 13 more transmitters were purchased for use by other Realtors in his office and Koeck bought two more.

Neil Krebs is an active user of the "Talking House" program