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Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs

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Real Estate Agent with Real Living Real Estate Solutions

Props to the 5 Man Electrical band for their song and I don't know if others have experienced this but why is it so hard to find good sign companies? As Realtors, the posts we order to be installed in the yards come with a price tag. Not only do we pay to have them installed and removed, we are also subject to them not showing up, them falling down, put in the wrong place, put on the wrong house and when they do arrive, sometimes they are banged up and bent. Why isn't there a company out there that can do the job and do it well. In my 5 years in Real Estate, I personally have been through 4 sign companies. Oh, we make excuses saying that there aren't any good ones out there and people ask, "would you want to dig holes all day?" But the reality is that this field, much like any other business is sorely in need of professionals. With the number of Realtors in our town alone, a quality company would clean up and take all of the business from everyone.

While we are speaking of signs, our experience has been that almost every sign company we have dealt with has come with some anguish. The outside signs on the building were an issue to put in place. The signs inside of our office, from a local sign company, were an issue and even those cute little cardboard bandit signs, simple enough, were not done correctly. Where Have all the good sign people gone?

(No names have been used in this blog to protect the guilty.)

Lisa Spalding
Casa Latino Four Corners, REALTOR, CDPE - Longwood, FL
REALTOR, CDPE

Hello, Jim!  Yep, our company just changed sign companies again.  About 6 months ago, all the agents were sent letters from THE sign company guy, saying that, since some of our agents were not paying, he was suspending ALL installations.  What?!  ALL installation!  Even new signs that were for the listings of agents that always pay and always pay on time.  How's THAT for customer service.  I have to say, though, that the new sign company we use is kind, courteous, and (sorta) quick.  I'm happy with them and their service thus far.  Good luck in finding a company that can be either one of those (or hopefully-all three!). 

Plus, if you need the name/number of a sign company that has blank coroplast signs for CHEAP, just let me know. 

Dec 07, 2007 12:16 AM
Jim Hirschhorn
Real Living Real Estate Solutions - Orlando, FL
GRI, Real Living - Orlando
It is a crazy business. What do you do with the blank signs?
Dec 07, 2007 12:19 AM
Lisa Spalding
Casa Latino Four Corners, REALTOR, CDPE - Longwood, FL
REALTOR, CDPE

Write on them!  Seriously.  Lead-generation for my 800 number and/or website.  I just ordered 50 blank, ugly yellow signs.  I have used two of them so far to promote my Buyer Workshop tomorrow, along with a Craigslist ad and e-mails to SOI and some almost-interested customers from this year that haven't done anything.  Have 3 parties confirmed for tomorrow, 3 that can't make it but would like to attend on another day.  Pretty good return on my investment.  Even if only one of those turns into a transaction~I've spent ($77.22 inclues S&H for the signs and $0 for the Craigslist ads/e-mails) and say HALF of the 6 actually meet with me and, of those 3, only 1 buys/sells, with my average commission this year being $2,500-ish, that means I've paid almost $13 per lead (sort of--actually it's about $3 b/c I only used TWO of the 50 signs) and have the potential to make $2,500, for a pretty good return on my time and investment (over an 800% ROI!). 

You have to be careful to put at the bottom the real estate company AND to include a direction sign (put an arrow on the sign!) so that makes it legal.  They are illegal signs in Orange and Seminole counties, unless they have an arrow.  They are DIRECTIONAL signs (to events or Open Houses) if they have a directional sign/arrow.  :)  There are still rules for OC,SC and cities but I haven't had either of those Buyer Workshop signs pulled from in front of Open Houses nor from in front of my office.  I had to take one down when the ink started running-make sure you use permanent ink! 

Dec 07, 2007 12:34 AM
Jim Calabrese
DeeSign.com - Cincinnati, OH

Jim,

My business started as a post installation service - had to get out of installations, though - not really profitable. But I do have a tip to make using a service less painful:

Use your old, free-standing signs or directionals to mark the listing. You could even use a flag similar to what the utilities use. Make the suggestion to your installer - we used to provide them for free to our customers. Saved us a lot of explaining when we drilled the wrong lawn!

May 05, 2008 06:04 AM
Jim Hirschhorn
Real Living Real Estate Solutions - Orlando, FL
GRI, Real Living - Orlando
Thanks for the comments Jim, That is a good suggestion.
May 05, 2008 07:56 AM
Anonymous
Jeff Lincoln

Jim, why do you use a sign installation company to install your signs, especially when they do such a poor job?  I know most agents feel it is a hassle but as the saying goes, "If you want to do something right, do it yourself".  Your FOR SALE sign is one of your most important marketing tools and certainly your most visual.  If your sign (which should have your name, phone number and website) doesn't look GREAT, you don't look GREAT!  I thing taking the extra time and energy to install your own signs is an important investment in your business.  Installing your own sign allows you to get your sign up ASAP (not having to wait for the sign installer) and can save you the installation cost.  If your agency primarily uses the heavy post, then try one of the self installing post designs or adding an upscale outer frame to the typical lawn sign. Never forget, "You only get one chance to make a first impression"  Good luck, Jeff Lincoln, President, LincolnLawnFrames.com 

Jun 30, 2008 02:30 AM
#6
Jim Hirschhorn
Real Living Real Estate Solutions - Orlando, FL
GRI, Real Living - Orlando

Jeff, although the idea of sweating in the summer months of Orlando heat with a 6 or 8 foot pole is tempting, I am thinking that, for me, the best thing to do is to use a sign company. I have had 2 occasions in 5 years to move a post..not a fun time unless you have a pickup truck.

Jun 30, 2008 02:43 AM
Anonymous
Tim Harris

Jim,

I can understand your pain with sign installation services.  As installers ourselves, we constantly have to deal with the reputations of other sign installers having a negative impact on our company.  My partner and I are doing our part in the central Florida area to bring a more professional approach to the sign installation service business.  We are the only sign installation service in the Lakeland area to have have joined the Lakeland Association of Realtors as an Affliliate Mamber.

You may wish to learn more about us at signpostman.com.  We install only vinyl sign posts that are five inches square - rather than the little 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch wooden posts that are so common in the industry.

If we can be of any service please don't hesitate to contact the Sign PostMan!

Tim Harris
www.signpostman.com
Lakeland, FL
tmharris@tampabay.rr.com

Oct 02, 2009 02:06 PM
#8