Great post and of course I agree with the red white and blue stripes! :)

I have sold many a property where no sign existed. Real estate is a local business driven by local people.

I don't use the "Accessories" on the sign because I like to continue to receive sign calls and verbally tell someone that we have a contract but that I can help them with another property.  Accessories go up, phone stops ringing...

LaNita....you are soooooooo fashion forward LOL!!

David, you're right it's local. I'm just glad my locale, is alive and breathing again!!

Donna, hmmm I'm not sure how this would be viewed in our area. MLS rules allow the Selling office to install the sign and if they don't then the Listing office can, I think the timeframe is w/in 2 days. I'm surprised your clients don't want to see the sold sign up. When I was selling my personal home a few years ago, I couldn't wait to get the sold sign up. Sellers ask me all the time.

Plus, I wonder if there's a code of ethics issue there.. I'll have to process that one.

Colleen

Hi Colleen,  There's no Ethics issue because a house isn't sold until it is Closed and Funded.  To advertise "sold" in Texas before it funds, it's false advertising and you can get fined.  Am I misreading your post and you're putting the SOLD accessory up after closing?  If so, in my market, you have to have permission of the new owner, and they are usually the first to ask when the sign and lockbox will be removed from their property... with that, they don't want a sold sign lingering after they have closed on the property.

No, we're not putting it up after closing. It's all about industry standard I would assume. One year I tried "Sale Pending" and the sellers had a fit. They thought the neighbors would think there was some issue that prevented the "Sold" sign from going up. In my market a sold strip on a sign indicates the property is under contract. The sign comes DOWN when it's closed and funded. No need for a sign at that point.

Every market is different and if your clients don't mind then I that's what ultimately matters. I'd be pretty ticked if I were the buyer though, having to drive around and look at signs of homes that are under contract. But again, things are different in every market.

I put a SOLD Sign on the day of settlement, but a CONTRACT PENDING when a ratified contract is received

Karen, Then how long is the sign up? We call ours down the day of closing.

Karen,

...so then, are G-string and thong signs ok?

 Blog on,

Steve

um,  if it means things are selling, ok by me :-)

We do under contract up until closing then sold for a week.  None of the new owners have had a problem with it.

Linda, I don't care when they go up, I'm just glad we're seeing them again LOL!!

One of the builders I finance was so happy a home finally sold that he has left the SOLD sign up for nearly 2 months! It did help attract attention to two other properties. Now I can get my payoffs from those and I'm getting one of the loans, too. The other two paid CASH for $700,000 homes! But I don't care, those loans are finally paid back. Remember everyone - I am not an agent I am a LENDER (I don't want to get in trouble about that again - the signs aren't mine - they belong to the agent I referred to the builder.)

Ken, I'm saying "nuttin" :-) Whatever works is fine by me!

Gotta love those pending, under contract or sold signs... whatever it is, it means one more house is working its way to being closed and funded.  Can't beat that with a stick!

When the market was hot there was not need to place sold, pending or what ever, now I think it give the public a sign that things are moving along to a closing. I have seen one rider used lately that says "Too Late" it was great since so many buyers are taking so long to make up their minds about which house.

Jesse, agreed 100%!

Mary, LOVE that one!!

Colleen

I like the "too late" idea. On houses that didn't linger on the market forever that might stimulate some buyers... or at least counter some of the media.  hmmm.

I like the red white and blue as well :)

I saw my first "Too Late" sign a few weeks ago, and did a double take.  Hopefully, it had the same effect on buyers waiting for the price reduction that never came.  Nice post Colleen!

Colleen - This is one sign of the times that we can all show an appreciation for. Now if the press would just notice instead of beating the stale drums of last year.

Great post Colleen;  and Kathy, I think the papers are "hurting" more than the real estate market if one is talking about "sales":)  "Scares of Recession" sells more papers!

Anna, LOL, glad to know I'm not the only one who plays favorites :-)

Norma, yes, people need to get the message that staying on the fence can have negative repercussions!

Kathy, If only we could make it happen. I'm not holding my breath though.

Charles, LOL...you are so right on, although I'd never looked at it that way before. Why no? Bad news always sells more than good news. It's so sad, but very true.

Colleen, nothing should bring you, the home seller, and the neighbors a big bright smile to your face like one of those JUST SOLD riders. Congratulations.

I like it where it says, Sold But We Have More. Shows great activity!!

Great blog and POST. I too like the idea of a 'too late' rider, I wonder which company is selling them?

I love see the sold signs go up, especially here in GA.  >What's even better is when I did the home inspection and then get to send them a greeting card with their own home on the front with the caption "Welcome Home".  Gotta Luv It.

I love see the sold signs go up, especially here in GA.  >What's even better is when I did the home inspection and then get to send them a greeting card with their own home on the front with the caption "Welcome Home".  Gotta Luv It.

I love see the sold signs go up, especially here in GA.  >What's even better is when I did the home inspection and then get to send them a greeting card with their own home on the front with the caption "Welcome Home".  Gotta Luv It.

I love the "Too Late" sign!  There is some GOOD psychology happening in that phrase.  I think I would modify that a bit to:  "Too Late...SOLD!"  I think I will look in to that!

 Colleen, I am glad to read that the signs are dressing up for a brisk spring, very fashion forward!

Thank goodness...I noticed a few today as well.  I'm glad we can use them here, the neighbors notice them and often call the selling agent, not the listing agent, for a market analysis and/or listing.

I think it's time to load my sold strips and staple gun back in the Subaru!:) 

Gary, sellers definitely like seeing this sign of their success.

David, I've never had a Home Inspector do that for a client. What a nice touch!

Deborah, I agree, can we call it "reverse psychology"? LOL

Lisa, Absolutely! Load that Staple Gun up and head to Maple Valley, I've got a few signs for you to "dress" LOL!!

Colleen