Selling Houses on TV

For most people, the worst part of buying a house is the tiring trek from one place to another inspecting nearly every home that is for sale. The most annoying part of selling a house is showing it to a steady stream of lookers, many of whom conclude at the first glance that they have no interest. Now Victor Klein, a real estate broker in Westport, Conn., has an idea that could eliminate most of the bother. Using an inexpensive Sony TV camera and playback unit that is simple to operate, he puts on video tape the interior and outdoor views of the houses that clients want to sell and shows the tapes to prospective buyers on his office TV set. After looking at the houses on TV, the buyer can then select for personal inspection only the few homes that appeal to him.

Klein, a former sportswear manufacturer in Manhattan's garment district who switched to selling real estate only eight months ago, has used the video-tape system for only 21 months. Sales generated so far by his homemade TV shows total eight houses. The idea is spreading. For $4,000, Klein offers to supply other real estate brokers with a camera, TV set and a week-long instruction program detailing how to operate the unit. Already eight brokers have signed up, giving Klein a fast profit on his $30,000 investment.

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