We have had signs removed before too - there is no way to know if it is kids or adults - sometimes we find them - sometimes we don'-

I have always used a chain and post support for my signs in rural areas.  Keeps the seller happy too.

Hi Brigita,

We recently had a sign disappear on us too.  The funniest thing was that within a couple of weeks, it came back.  The brochure box had been broken but we were just so thrilled that whatever person took it saw fit to return it.  I don't think there is much that you can do when this happens.  Chalk it up to being an occupational nuisance.  We believe it was one of the neighbors that wanted to buy the home direct from the Sellers.  Sometimes it could be teenagers in the neighborhood playing games too.  Outside of babysit a sign, there's not much you can do.   You can always forgo the sign and tell all the people that call from the MLS that there is no sign.  Good luck with it! 

Most likely a neighbor who is tired of seeing your sign or doesn't want anyone to build on the lot.

Mischievous kids would probably be a one-shot deal--they wouldn't keep it up.

I had a neighbor tell her kid to remove a political support sign for a local initiative from our yard. Why? Because I guess she didn't agree with the proposition and felt I had no right to my own opinion.

How did I know who it was and what happened? I saw it on my security camera.

I've also had sign removed and flyer boxes stolen or busted up.  In our area, if a sign is placed within the public right of way it is considered trash and anyone can remove it.  Other reasons I've found for missing signs:

1. The stake is useful for pinning up tomatoes
2. The neighbor doesn't want the land sold
3. An unscrupulous agent with a nearby listing would rather have their sign noticed
4. Kids having fun

I would go buy an inexpensive banner.  Signs 365 does this for a song!  I blogged about them in the past.  Go very high on the trees and put it up there.  If it comes down it is probably kids!  Or buy their ultra cheap 18x24 coroplast signs ($4 each single sided) and nail a bunch high up on the trees!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

           FOR SALE
    For Information call
        555-555-5555

This sign is private property. 
This property is POSTED.
Survivors will be prosecuted.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Renee,

Are you aware that hole in tree makes tree susceptible to rot and bug damage and can potentially kill the tree?  Please don't nail to the trees!  We need to preserve the few that are left, not try to kill them.  Not trying to start a war-just letting you know.

We have experienced the disappearing sign phenomena ourselves.  We just keep putting a new one up and hope that the perpetrator gets worn out!

Steven Simmons & Marti Schmidt, Realtors, Prudential GHP, Ocean Shores, WA

The Ocean is calling...answer the call!!

Get the coroplast sign like Rene sugguested and nail it high and prominent in a tree. Take a six foot ladder Try to get the sign over eight feet off the ground, people over six feet tall can reach up and grab anything lower. You may need a larger sign though, the higher you place it the harder it will be to read. 

I have placed coroplast signs out as a campaign in the past (years ago before the local authorities asked me to stop) the ones above eight feet survived the longest by far. 

Nailed to a tree is usually way too much trouble to take down......

I had the same problem once, I lost 3 signs because of it.  After the third one being stolen, I gave up and left it with no sign.  I never sold the property because they had it listed so high, I just let that listing go so another agent could battle it.

Dearest Brigita .....

That was your sign?

Oooooooooooops.

I promise to leave it alone.

Best Regards,

Rob

Barbara-Jo & Bill:

It is very frustrating to both my buyer and me.  Don't people respect private property anymore?

Allen:

After this incident, that is something my husband suggested.

Lisa & Robert:

With the tree painted with the flourescent paint, I do tell them to look for that tree.  But, I had gotten calls from drive-bys, whom am losing without a sign posted.

Drew & Christine:

I do suspect a neighbor whose property borders this lot.  He put in an offer for half of what the seller's looking for and the offer was rejected. 

Don:

In this case I believe it is reason #2, the neighbor.  Having his offer of half the asking price rejected by the seller's, I suspect he is unhappy about it.  He probably feels if the sign is down, nobody will be able to buy it, so he ends up buying it.

Renee, Steven & Marti:

I don't care too much for nailing signs into trees.  I am considering the lock and chain idea my husband proposed.

Lenn:

I like that sign.

We have this problem from time to time but it is usually in a divorce situation.

Ron:

Putting the signs high up would help.  It will take a rather tall person to take those down.

Julie:

I agree.

Linda:

I feel sorry for the sellers because they are such a nice elderly couple.  I really do want to help them out.  The funny thing is, the property is reasonably priced and I know will sell.

Rob:

You may return it to the office the next time you swing by.

Keith & Robin:

I wish it were that simple.  At least then you know who is doing it.  Here, I don't know for sure.

I guess whomever it is removing the sign has too much spare time and nothing better to do. 

Ann:

That's the truth.  I guess I'll never know who took the sign, but one good thing.  It looks like it will be going to closing soon.  The sellers have accepted an offer.

Congratulations on the contract, things are looking good now!

Ron:

Thanks.  At least I don't have to worry about keeping a sign on this particular lot anymore.

Brigita- We get a lot of listings in one acreage community where we are allowed to have signs. And they get stolen and taken  often. There are people there that do not want people moving in so they take the signs, we have teens that take the signs and use them for target practice as we have found our signs with bullet holes and such. We have contemplated not taking listings there anymore. It gets very expensive to keep buying new signs for those listings. Katerina

Katerina,

I get some of my prosepects from the signs I have on my listed properties.  It does tend to get expensive.  Fortunately, the lot sold quickly and I don't have to worry about anymore.  Whatever happened to respecting other people's property?

Brigita

Brigita - I read on local blogs people complaining about real estate signs. They think it takes away from the look of the street. They were actually talking about some petition to disallow signs. Of course, there are communities where signs are not allowed, and some -where you have to apply and pay to the municipality. 

Faina:

Yes, there are communities here that do not allow signs on the lawns, so they need to be put in the windows.  This area has no problem allowing signs.  Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

Welcome to the world of rural real estate sales.

In the past year I have had 3 signs stolen/damaged/destroyed.

Guess it's the cost of doing business.

To make it worse, the signs and 4"x4" posts were often involved.

If the market was not so poor I would be irritated.

Ed:

It is frustrating and costly to have your signs stolen, damaged or destroyed.  It would be nice if everyone would respect each other's private property.

It's funny... I just had this happen on an acreage listing of mine over the past weekend. I was meeting a client to show the property and drove right on by, because I was looking for the sign. I have my suspicions about a neighbor who I think wants the property for a too-low price. Sure is irritating--and expensive.

I have a new listing--54 acre farm in Schuylkill County. $375,000.

Weds. the sign was put up. Sunday it was flat on the ground (in a different spot). Huge goal post--it didn't blow there.

Sunday it was put back up right. It was solid (my husband did it!).

Tuesday 4 pm it's standing straight up.

Tuesday 4:30 it's in a big pine tree. In the tree. Wind???? Huge goal post with a heavy panel.

Right 

John & Kathy:

It is really frustrating.  How is the property to sell?  I guess maybe that's the idea.  With the problems I've had keeping the sign up, I am happy to say that this property was just sold.  The sign must have been up at the right time.

Erica:

Isn't it amazing how strong our winds are getting lately?  They are so strong, that they blow our heavy "For Sale" signs into trees and brush.

It isn't just rural real estate where this is a problem.

Here in suburban Philadelphia (acutally cloer in to the city - Huntingdon Valley to be exact) one realtor I work with often had several of his directional signs stolen.  Fortunately for him, a neighbor who keeps tabs on the coming and goings of everyone described the thief, his car and his license plate.....

Research found it was.......The doctor husband of a competing Realtor with an open house and several homes for sale in the area!

Some people are truly unbelievable.

Joseph:

At least that thief was caught.  Thank goodness for neighbors.  Some of them really do keep an eye on anything unusual happening.  It amazes me how some people have no respect for others and their property.  I was taught to respect all people and their belongings.