Last night I went on a listing appointment, after getting the listing, I asked like I always do, "do you mind if our sign goes up on Thursday or would you prefer Friday?" I ask this because sometimes sellers have to prepare their neighbors that they are moving and they don't want them to find out when the sign goes up. Sometimes they asked me "do I really need a sign?" Hmmmmm..
Yes, I recommend that all sellers put up a sign (some towns have rules about this, but where I am they don't) but, I highly recommended that this seller in particular puts up a sign. Right now there are two houses for sale on that block, one home I just listed and sold and another that is pending contract. This is an active block, I have to assume people are driving up and down this block looking. If they missed out on a previous deal and loved the block - then I am sure they are scouting. Maybe someone who just bought a home on this block (like my buyers) are looking for a home for their parents. Putting a sign up is a great tool. I always leave the sellers with a stack of my cards, because in the event someone rings the bell, unannounced - I advise my sellers to just hand them a card and tell them to contact me.
On the weekends, we do open houses - and we do alot - I have all my agents ask "how did you hear of the open house?" and 30% say the signs, more than 60% say Internet, less than 10% say newspaper and the rest say from someone that lives on the block told them there was an open house. So the signs do work, as much as people complain that they hate them - they do work and they have by far beat advertising in the newspapers.
Sellers - when you are ready to sell - announce it and put up a sign!
as usual, an excellent post christine.
signs are good. although in manhattan, they are virtually non existent. i have seen one on occassion but it isn't the norm.
hey maybe i should write a blog post about it? yes, i think i will :)
-rdb.sellsius°
Posted by: rudolph d. bachraty III | August 11, 2006 at 12:49 PM