An innovation in digital radio technology is simplifying the oftentimes-arduous process of home shopping. Rather than jotting down numbers of agents listed on a "home for sale" sign, area shoppers who drive by a home with a "Talking House" sign can simply tune in their radio to a designated AM frequency for a detailed report on the home — all without leaving their car.

Local Keller Williams Realty Broker-Associate Stanley Combs, Ph. D. recently debuted Talking House technology in the Camarillo area. Homes with a Talking House sign have a radio transmitter about the size of a small VCR inside the garage. The transmitter, which recently underwent its most significant redesign, can broadcast a personalized message five minutes in length to a distance of up to 300 feet from the home.

"The Talking House Transmitter is a powerful and effective real estate tool because it simplifies the process for all parties involved — the agent, the seller, and the buyer," Combs said, "For listing agents and their sellers, a house that talks is much more memorable and stands out amid the clutter of homes on the market. The radio report qualifies buyers by providing them with enough information about the house for them to decide if they'd like to tour the home. In addition, hearing a description of the home's best hidden interior feature may change the mind of a shopper who didn't find the exterior particularly appealing."

Additionally, a Talking House provides a window into a home that may not otherwise grab a buyer's attention. Some buyers shopping Talking Houses find that the right home is actually one they may have ignored in the past. Sellers are happy because their homes are more memorable, and sell much faster. House hunters like the fact that they can get the information they need in a very convenient manner.

For most house hunters, the search for their dream home begins by taking a drive through the neighborhoods they like According to a study by Real Estate Business magazine, more than 65 percent of home shoppers begin the home buying process in this manner.

House hunters appreciate the added convenience of knowing immediately if a house will meet their specifications. They can learn everything they need to know from the comfort of their car, without having to search for a flyer that is not readily accessible or only contains a minute bit of information .

The FCC-approved Transmitter, which simply plugs into a standard wall outlet, can broadcast round-the-clock to any car that tunes in. Because the Transmitter uses a computer chip, the message heard over the radio is crisp and static-free. No special license is required and it will not interfere with television or any other radio reception. The transmitters use any frequency between 560 and 1700 on the AM dial, and thus, two homes side-by-side could use a Transmitter without interfering with each other's broadcast.

The Talking House Listings & Leads program has been selected by the National Association of Realtors as a Realtor Benefits Program partner to bring value and a competitive advantage to its members, giving them a valuable tool to increase their effectiveness and profitability.

The Realtor Benefits Program is designed to help Realtors keep dues low, provide everyday solutions for their business, and expand their professional knowledge through more than 50 publications and educational offerings. The NAR's 25 strategic partners, like Talking House, are industry leaders committed to providing members practical offerings to meet their daily needs.

For information on the location of Talking Houses in the area, call Combs at 794 3363 or 383-2948.

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From the outside homebuyers driving near this house in Camarillo might not think to see what is within its wall but for listings with this sign in front, below, they can tune into the channel on their AM car radio and find out it may have everything they're looking for inside without having to call the Realtor first.