House for sale signs are one of the first things that most realtors do to advertise their new listings. Realtor signs can be made locally and your house signs should be should be personalized. In fact, I would spend the money to have your own personal signs made and not the generic signs your agency may offer you. It will pay off if done right.
While most realtors place signs with their name, the agency, and the phone number of the listing agent to contact, these are not the best way to stand out in the crowd and advertise your listings properly. This is especially true in a competitive or down-turned real estate market. Home for sale signs should read like the headline of a good advertisement.
Advertising-type headlines catch the immediate attention of drivers-by and make them interested in seeing your home listing for themselves. Your realtor signs should play on the emotions of the potential buyer. "The Home You've Dreamed Of is Now For Sale" or "You Just Have To See The Spectacular View From Your New Home!" or "Imagine the Convenience to Work, Schools, and Your Shopping Needs of This Strategically Located Home". Some realtors I know have even gone with sub-headlines on their signs to even further perk the buyers attention.
If you make up a few generic headlines that you can use for more than one listing, you will save money by using them over and over. The above examples could easily be used for more than one listing. But there are special occasions where you may want to make a sign for a specific listing, especially if it the asking price warrants this.
Your phone number on your realtor signs should be prominent and large enough for visitors to read from the road. It should be qualified with a statement like: "For more information on this beautiful home, call 555-5555". Set up a phone number that is separate from your normal office phone number and specific for the purpose of selling that particular listing. This means you will need multiple extensions for your phone line.
Be sure to have an answering machine that has caller-id or subscribe to an answering service so that you can capture the name and phone number of potential buyers. The message should tell the caller to leave their contact information so that you can get back to them at the earliest possible moment with complete details on the property at minimum.
Some realtors leave a phone message that is like a mini-advertisement for the home listing. If you have the listing on the internet, you may also give them the website URL to view while they're awaiting your return call. The MLS website can also be listed on your home for sale sign.
Realtors that think outside the box when it comes to their "home for Sale" signs will find that they are at an advantage in their real estate market. Most realtors don't realize how important the for sale sign can be to capturing new leads for their listings. Think ahead of your competition and you will reap the benefits.
