Admin

Disappearing Signs

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with Keller Williams Realty

Is it just me or are others having a problem with open house signs disappearing around Laguna and Elk Grove. It seems almost every open house I have done in the last couple months I end up short at least a sign or two. This is getting expensive. I have had them missing from Bruceville, Whitelock, E/G Blvd., Vintage Park Drive, and many other roads. I truely hope it  is just kids and not other Agents taking them. I have heard rumors that code enforcement is picking up some but I spoke to a code enforcement gal(Sac City) at one of my open houses.. she says they leave a the Real Estate signs alone, they know our Real Estate signs get picked up daily,so they leave them alone.   If it is other Agents, that would be very sad they would stoop so low. 

If anyone knows if the city of E/G is picking them up please let me know. I would like to find out where they take them and how we can retrieve them. 

I know in the Laguna West area the HOA has them picked-up. According to several police officers I have spoken with this is absolutely illegal for them to do. They can make any rules they want for their HOA but they don not have the athority to enforce those rules. Taking someone's personal property is theft plain and simple. An HOA is not Law Enforcement!  Has anyone ever looked into this or know of some obsure law that gives them the right to pick-up the  signs?   

DAN  

     

Comments(10)

Show All Comments Sort:
Mark Horan
Resident Team Realty, LLC & Toni's Property Management LLC - Saint Cloud, FL
"The Resident Chef" - Resident Team Realty LLC &

Dan, I have a feeling that it's a combination of all the things that you listed. I have had homeowners as well didn't like it in their tree lawns.

The Resident Mark

Nov 18, 2007 04:47 PM
Alix Pinzon
Open Mortgage, LLC NMLS # 2975 - Downey, CA
(562)743-6086
I had some signs disappear when I posted them on a utility pole, or other city property.  I'd recommend investing in the cheapest signs that you can, and set up a sting to catch the individual who's snatching them.  If they're going missing that often, it shouldn't take much time to catch them.  Have a witness with you, video tape them if possible, and turn them in.  Good luck with that. 
Nov 18, 2007 04:47 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate
Hi Dan:  Sometimes folks just take them because they can be used for garage sales and stuff like that.  Are your signs simple generic Open House signs ?  My Open House signs are very plainly marked with my Office Name and Logo, and have my name plastered very plainly all over them.  I have found that really can cut down them being stolen.  Take care...     Karen Anne Stone
Nov 18, 2007 04:51 PM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate
I'm in Florida so I have no idea about your area, but here the code enforcement is definitely to blame. We get one sign in front of a property. Anything else is taken. And forget about posting directional signs to open houses. 
Nov 18, 2007 05:04 PM
Erin Stumpf (Attardi)
Coldwell Banker - Sacramento, CA
916-342-1372 / DRE# 01706589 Sacramento, CA
I have done several open houses lately in a different part of Elk Grove near Calvine & Auberry, and I have not had any issues loosing signs...earlier this year I had a listing in Laguna, and I did not loose any signs over there either...
Nov 18, 2007 07:13 PM
Renée Donohue~Home Photography
Savvy Home Pix - Allegan, MI
Western Michigan Real Estate Photographer
All my a-frames are gone and disappeared within the last 6 months.  It is disheartening and I think it is a combo of conditions!
Nov 19, 2007 12:25 AM
South Austin Real Estate Blog
Sky Realty South Austin - Austin, TX
I went to an Open House seminar where the giver of the seminar had about 25 UGLY YELLOW SIGNS with black magic marker quotes on them.   He said no one steals/borrows/moves or otherwise uproots these signs.  He had things on them such as.   ALMOST THERE ---->>>  TURN HERE ---->>>> ITS A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE I ASSURE YOU!!!!!!  and other things ... they were humurous all together.  He said these UGLY YELLOW SIGNS had brought up the attendance of his open house and stop the disapperances of his signs.
Nov 19, 2007 06:47 AM
Lori Mode
The Mode Real Estate Group - Elk Grove, CA
Real Estate Made Simple

Dan -

I like Gail's idea about the ugly yellow signs!  I'm looking for blank ones already for something else; maybe we can give this a try; it's certainly cheaper than your A frame signs. 

Nov 20, 2007 02:34 PM
Jeff Payne
The Payne Group at Keller Williams Success Realty - Panama City, FL
Panama City Real Estate
Go cheap and put out plenty of them but expect to lose signs.  Maybe if they have your name and number, no one will steal them
Nov 26, 2007 01:01 PM
Charlotte Home Loans Your Charlotte Mortgage Lender
Charlotte, NC

There was aquestion posted at Localism regarding this. A homeowner was upset that someone put a sign in their yard without asking permission (not the seller of course). The advice given ranged from "get over it" to "throw away the sign!" And this advice was given by the professionals on AR!

Personally, I think you should ask permission if placing on someone's property and go from there. If placing on side of roads and other public areas, you never know what will happen to them. As far as what HOA's can do, I will stay out of that... just let me say I am not a big HOA fan! LOL

www.EdNailor.com

Home Loans in Charlotte

Nov 27, 2007 01:32 AM