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AR POLL - Is Your Real Estate Sign Invisable?

By
Real Estate Agent with EXIT REALTY BEND

  Does Anyone Really See Your Sign?

I have a theory about that. Before I start I would like to give you some numbers to set the stage, so to speak.

I own an EXIT office in little ol' Bend, Oregon....population...ummm.....about 75,000. In our greater metropolitan area we have 2224 ACTIVE residential listings, 56 multi-family, 5 farm, 929 land and 85 investment /income property listings. That's about 3300 listings.....and MOST have signs in front or on the property somewhere. Would you agree that that is a lot of SIGNS?

When you drive around the Bend community you will see, like many cities, real estate signs of every color, shape and brand. You have the Re/Maxers, C21's, Coldwells, EXIT's and the Independents. They are everywhere. Sometimes you will see multiple signs for blocks.

I believe that perhaps potential buyers are not seeing YOUR signs. I mean, they see them IF they are searching for them...but otherwise they just don't see them. Or do they?

How many of you are familiar with the term "reticular-activator?" Have you heard of this? Here is what it is. Okay, you drive into a car lot to purchase a car. you know, something that get's good gas mileage, has eye appeal and fit's your needs. All of a sudden, there it is! It is the right price. It is the right size and heck, with $4 bucks plus per gallon, it get's decent gas mileage. Yep. It is a one-of-a-kind. Or is it?

So, you slap down the bills and drive off the lot in your new BLUE FORD MUSTANG. As you drive you suddenly see another car just like yours....then another....and another. Where did all these cars like yours come from? That is your reticular-activator! You see, before you purchased your BLUE FORD MUSTANG you were not consciously looking  for MUSTANGS and specifically, BLUE FORD MUSTANGS....but now it is almost like they are everywhere! I think REAL ESTATE SIGNS are just like that. What do you think?

Now, it will be difficult for you to be objective on this specific poll. You are a Realtor, right? You spend your life looking FOR and AT real estate signs.....so your activator is always on. But...how do non- real estate folks SEE real estate signs?

I have asked several agents in my EXIT office to test my theory on specific REO BANK OWNED properties.  I believe that if investors and buyers could TARGET the availability of these listings by SIGNAGE that it would be helpful to them and my company.....and to the REO client!  I have asked my agents try my UGLY YELLOW SIGN theory. 

If you are not familiar with UYS's, they are just that.  Hand printed and placed on a property in a bright yellow format.  Oh yes, they do stick out.  To further test my theory, my message on the sign will direct potential buyers to my toll free information hotline with CALL CAPTURE!  I will be able to track calls and have the ability to call every potential client back to qualify them.  I believe they will SEE my signs from signs like yours!

So, am I nuts?  Do you think I am unprofessional for using such signage?  Seriously, I would love for you to take part in my AR Poll.  Heck, maybe you are already doing something like this.

Should make for interesting conversation.

Jim Mazziotti
Principal Broker
EXIT Realty Bend

Comments (8)

Charlie Ragonesi
AllMountainRealty.com - Big Canoe, GA
Homes - Big Canoe, Jasper, North Georgia Pros

These are good signs and people are using them more and more. I worry about people with certain eye conditions looking at them . No studies have been done so way to go

Jun 04, 2008 05:05 AM
Gene Allen
Fathom Realty - Cary, NC
Realty Consultant for Cary Real Estate

We have people like you who use UYS and I always pull them up if I can.  They just irritate the crap out of me.  It looks so unprofessional for a professional to be doing that.  I guess it works or people wouldn't do it.  Reminds of spam email.  Now ask me how I really feel.

Jun 04, 2008 12:53 PM
Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA
Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD
301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

my biggest complain that I can remenber was that my green signs weren't helping to sell a house. .because they were camouflagged by the grass. .

my clients were convinced that was the reason thier home wasn't selling

 

Jun 05, 2008 10:16 AM
Thesa Chambers
West + Main - Bend, OR
Principal Broker - Licensed in Oregon

Jim - I think you have some valid points - but what about the agency?  the hand painted sign would have to have the company info to follow the agency rules - I was with Sunriver Realty when they changed their signs and the response was great - many did not like them.... but they noticed them.... and the point was to be noticed - not if they liked them or not.... Being noticed in our market is truly a task we would all like to accomplish - I would think your teal would stand out beter than most of the signs...

Jun 05, 2008 06:18 PM
Lee & Pamela St. Peter
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices YSU Realty: (919) 645-2522 - Raleigh, NC
Making Connections to Success in Real Estate

what's a UYS sign???  You guys in Bend, OR are always ahead of the curve trying out new stuff!  We need a picture Jim!

Raleigh Realtor

Aug 09, 2008 01:54 AM
Bob Willis
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Orange, CA
Orange County & L.A. County Real Estate Agent

Hi Jim,

Where do you buy your ugly yellow signs, and how much do they cost?

By the way, I also read your article about postcards, POSTCARD MAILINGS: ARE THEY EFFECTIVE FOR YOU?

Do you have a Microsoft Word template to make the postcards, and if you do, would you be willing to share it?

Thanks,

Bob 

Dec 23, 2008 02:01 AM
Keith Pound
EXIT REALTY CRUTCHER - Louisville, KY
Realtor, Auctioneer - Louisville, KY - 502-645-5950

I saw one of those signs, handwritten with a toll free number, exactly saw several in an area one day. Called the number, got a message and left my name and number. It turned out to be an investor with a property he was trying to sell to the highest offer that day, but it took him 3 days to return my call. The house did not sell that day, but he did get 56 calls. DO you think the UYS work?

Dec 24, 2008 12:50 AM
Gene Allen
Fathom Realty - Cary, NC
Realty Consultant for Cary Real Estate

If he had been a real estate agent and had 56 calls he probably could have turned one or two into some type of buyer.

Dec 24, 2008 07:41 AM