Real Estate For Sale Signs

A Vancouver firm now offers FM radio for real estate. How it works: a low power FM frequency is broadcasted from the property that is for sale, a talking for sale sign. When people are driving by they can here about the home or condo while sitting in their car. The radio station only broadcasts for a one block radius. This has proven particularly useful for condo building that do not allow realtor signs.

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Real estate radio hits the airwaves in Vancouver

Updated Tue. Apr. 10 2007 2:10 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff
A new radio station is on the air in Vancouver but you won't hear any pop music or the local news.

Instead, SellFM broadcasts real estate information about properties for sale using their 'Talking sign' feature.

The 'For Sale' sign on the property directs people to a radio frequency where, using an FM transmitter, information about a property is broadcast.

For potential home and condo buyers driving by, all they need is an FM radio.

"They drive by the house and they get the information right away. They don't have to call me, go back home and look it up on the internet," said realtor Rick Stonehouse, who came up with the idea alongside entrepreneur Riel Roussopolos.

In his studio, Roussopolos creates a custom tailored commercial for each home, adding music and suitable sound effects.

"This is 70-year-old technology for the most part," he said.

"The only confusion is that people think it's a radio station all over the place so we are adding stuff to the sign that says one-block radius only."

Stonehouse said the biggest benefit is for condo sellers in the city's downtown core.

We're "putting it in apartment buildings in downtown where they don't allow signs," said Stonehouse. "(People) drive by and listen to the listings selling in that building."

David Coates sold his home in two weeks after three open houses and the use of the FM transmitter.

"It's hard to say whether an FM transmitter broadcasting from the house got us thousands of dollars more," said Coates. Either way, Coates is satisfied as his home sold for $69,000 more than its original asking price.

With a report from CTV's Heron Hanuman in Vancouver