Real LI

A bit of American Idol has come to Long Island real estate.

About 1,200 for-sale signs put out by Everlast Sign and Service now features text message codes that can be tapped into the cell phone, sending a stream of information on the property to the cell screen, from number of fireplaces to agent’s phone number.

“Everything today is texting,” said Michael Tiefenworth, owner of the Syosset firm. “You watch 'American Idol' and you’re texting your votes.

“All the young people between 20 and 35 – all they do is text message. They don’t even make phone calls anymore.”

As this younger population becomes house hunters, Tiefenworth says he expects they’ll use what’s familiar to them – such as text messaging – when they’re house hunting. What's called the Mobile Stream service tracks number of hits per code for agents, and since the service debuted on Long Island Dec. 3, the hits have grown, to 163 last weekend in the Hamptons, where at least 700 signs have the new codes.

It’s an “instant” service in this fast-paced era. House hunters can ask for an “immediate” callback from the agent and schedule an appointment. Agents can get “instant” notification when someone keys in the text code for one of their listings.

Everlast puts up signs for many of the Island’s real estate agencies, and Tiefenworth said he’s getting more calls each week put the text messaging code on more property signs. He charges $25 per property for the service and .05 cents for every message an agent texts to the potential buyer’s phone.

The idea is to prime the interest of a house hunter who may be just driving by and save time for both the buyer and agent.

“Sometimes you don’t want to call the agent and have a 20-minute phone conversation,” Everlast’s head said. “If you can’t afford the house, you can move on. If you’re looking for a house with an in-ground pool and it’s not in the house, you move on.”

Tiefenworth has plans for an ad campaign on the new service, including television commercials. He’s waiting for late winter and early spring, when the house hunting season gets in full swing.

“It costs a fortune to get the technology,” he said, “and we want to education homeowners and agents.”