The Yard Sign

While in the Real Estate business I always found it interesting that many people who are selling their home refused to put a For Sale sign in front of the house. There have been several reasons, including "I don't want my neighbors to know I am moving" or "the sign will ruin my lawn" or some other mundane reasons. Not putting a For Sale sign where the public can see it is a major mistake.

A 'For Sale' sign  is one of the most important features to getting your home sold quickly. It lets the public know that your home is for sale and that prospective clients are welcome to look around. It is also the catalyst that keeps the phone ringing in various real estate offices.

It is an accepted fact that over 75% of all calls to a real estate office come from the sign. It could be from your neighbor wanting to know the price so they can compare it to their home. It could be from Sunday drivers touring neighborhoods and have an interest in your particular home. It could also be from Realtors who have clients that saw your sign and would like to see your home.

Granted, there are some neighborhoods where zoning restrictions prohibit the placing of business signs of any kind on the property. This is particularly true in the higher end market, Resort areas and especially in condos. For condos the reason is obvious as the grounds are part of the common elements and placing signs of any type on the property is under the control of the Homeowners Association. Some associations allow a single sign in the window but this is an exception.

There are generally two types of signs: the ones with metal pins that are shoved in the ground; and the post signs where a small hole is dug in the ground. The type of sign is generally controlled by the Real Estate Company, not the Listing Agent. If the homeowner objects to a particularly type of sign, exceptions are available.

For the homeowner, make sure the sign is clean and upright. It is the Listing Agents responsibility to make sure the sign is correctly placed and clean. I was always amazed at the number of agents who took a listing, put a sign in the ground and then disappeared until closing. Another good reason to make sure you contract with a Professional Realtor.