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Yard Signs...Do they work?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Ron Largent Global Travel 392135

Over this weekend I had the opportunity to talk with one of my sellers on "using a sign", for they had refused to put one up until now, as their home is in "too nice of an area for signs". I recently read an item and thought it so appropriate that I took it with me and went over it with the clients.

This is what I shared with them, and maybe it will work for other agents. Agents have always realized the sales advantages of branding themselves in this competitive industry. We hand out business cards, promotional items such as calendars, pens, and mugs, and advertise in print and on the web. However, with all this available to us, the yard sign is the most visible way to get intereted buyer. A National Association of Realtors survey said buyers used information from a lawn sign to help in their home search, and this is at a higher percentage than those who relied on print ads, open houses or home magazines when seeking homes. I covered alot more, but the value of the sign is what I emphasized.

So, use those signs......and take advantage of this low cost advertising.....almost as inexpensive as the web.

Thanks,

Ron Largent   Keller Williams Realty in Redding, CA

www.ronlargent.com    ronlargent@kw.com

Comments (13)

Kim Sellers
Lake Arrowhead, CA Coldwell Banker - Lake Arrowhead, CA
Lake Arrowhead Realtor - BRE#01412099 - Lake Arrow

Well I work in an area that yard signs are not allowed.  So, I would think there is an advantage.

Jul 21, 2008 04:28 AM
Angelia Garcia
Pure Realtors - Dallas, TX

So did they let you put a sign in the yard? I had a client like that and when I had no showings and they moved out, then they allowed it. I still did not sell it.

Jul 21, 2008 04:40 AM
Richard Mielke
RE/MAX Results - Gettysburg, PA
REALTOR, Gettysburg Pennsylvania Real Estate

I once had a seller who didn't want a yard sign because she didn't want her neighbors to know her house was for sale. I asked her if she thought her neighbors liked living in the neighborhood and since they did, they might know somebody who would like to live there, too. Yard signs work.

Jul 21, 2008 04:54 AM
Betina Foreman
WJK Realty - Austin, TX
Realtor, C.N.E., with WJK REALTY

Yard signs are great for two reasons.

1. It makes it easy to find the home when other agents are showing your listing.

2. It brings you new potential buyer clients.  When people call me from the sign,  I always get an email to send them the home details. Then I can try to capture them as a new buyer client.

Jul 21, 2008 05:05 AM
Ken Graczak
LoanDepot - NMLS#174457 - Equal Housing Lender - Lake Elmo, MN
Loan Consultant - Minneapolis / St. Paul

I agree with Betina.  Yard signs work!

Jul 21, 2008 05:16 AM
Leslie Prest
Leslie Prest, Prest Realty, Sales and Rentals in Payson, AZ - Payson, AZ
Owner, Assoc. Broker, Prest Realty, Payson,

We get a lot of calls from yard signs. Especially in a tough market, you don't want to keep selling a secret.

Jul 21, 2008 06:48 AM
Toni Carruth
Gulf States Real Estate Services - Covington, LA

I agree..I feel that signs give you a great advantage. I marketed for a national homebuilder previously and this was very important to me.

Jul 21, 2008 07:10 AM
Jodi Spickler
Home Staging by Jodi - Hagerstown, MD

Ron, Yes, yard signs do work.  Invest in Staging and add and ASP Staged Home Sign.  It will give you an edge.

Jul 21, 2008 07:33 AM
Jim Calabrese
DeeSign.com - Cincinnati, OH

Signs and the web are unique because their exposure doesn't diminish over time like newspaper, radio or television ads. But then, successful marketing means using several advertising options. Everyone responds to each differently.

Jul 21, 2008 08:32 AM
Chuck Willman
Chuck Willman - Alpine, UT
NewHouseUtah.com

yes they do work... not gangbusters... but better than nothing.

Jul 23, 2008 05:30 AM
Michael Fontana
Round Rock Home Stager Austin Home Staging - Round Rock, TX
@ The Stage Coach

hi, Ron: great topic!

How about the obvious?  REALTORs and clients are driving neighborhoods all of the time.  Every time a REALTOR or a home seeking buyer drives to any other house for sale in your neighborhood, it is a missed opportunity.  Spur of the moment showings are not unheard of... And every showing counts!

The Stage Coach Home Stager Austin Home Staging Round Rock Home Stager

Jul 23, 2008 06:08 AM
Andrew Berman
Lydia Realty Group, Inc. - Rockaway Park, NY

Great thread! So what type of yard signs are you folks using? If you can, please provide the type and providers that you order them from.

THANKS!

Aug 01, 2008 01:10 AM
Carol Clay
Looking Glass Realty - Brevard, NC
Broker/REALTOR, Brevard NC Real Estate Specialist

My answer to whether or not to use a sign is "Duh...why would you NOT have a sign"??? From the seller perspective, do they not want people driving by to know their home is for sale? From an agent's perspective, that's good marketing visibility. I have a listing now in a neighborhood where the HOA has prohibited For Sale signs. It's a problem!

Aug 01, 2008 01:23 AM