With the invention of the Internet you may think that this topic is obsolete, but probably the oldest and still today the best tool in the real estate business is the yard sign announcing that a particular home is coming to market or currently for sale.
Over the years, it has played a major role in millions of home purchases. There are still certain sellers, however, who question the use of a for sale sign for their property. Some owners really don’t want their neighbors to know they are selling their property. Others feel that their privacy may be interrupted by people coming to the door to ask questions about the house. Here are the benefits of using the yard sign:
DEFLECTS BUYERS TO THE REALTOR
For the seller who is looking for privacy from curious buyers, the sign actually deflects inquiries to the Realtor whose name and phone number appears on the sign. This allows you to maintain your privacy while giving the buyer an opportunity to have his or her questions answered by a real estate professional.
A SOURCE OF REFERRALS
Many properties are sold by one person telling another about a property they have seen or heard about. A for sale sign can get referrals started by either a neighbor or passerby who notices the sign and mentions the availability of the property to an interested party. Sometimes, neighbors are on the lookout for a friend or relative who would like to purchase a home nearby.
ATTRACTS MOTIVATED BUYERS
A call from a for sale sign is much better than an inquiry resulting from any other form of advertising. The person calling after seeing the yard sign obviously likes the outside of the house and the grounds. Many buyers actually drive the streets of certain residential areas looking for a new house to come on the market. A sign call usually indicates that the calling party likes the immediate neighborhood as well.
ADVICE: Allow your Realtor to use a sign. It works!!
