Do Bandit Signs Work?

 

In this day of high tech advertising, real estate investors want to know – do roadside "bandit" signs still work?  
 
The Answer: “Yes, they do!”
 
Ironic as it may sound, roadside signs are still a quick, easy, inexpensive way to grab the attention of needed prospects.  Ugly yellow signs – with red or black lettering – attract the most attention.  Coroplast signs, with wire stakes for putting in the ground, work well.  Or you can nail them to telephone poles – high enough so no one will grab them down.  
 
I encourage investors to be creative and let their imaginations go to work.  “Try placing a few signs near a Home Depot or Lowes,” you know, “where the rehabbers hang out.”
 
Meanwhile, don’t forget your own properties. Never fail to put up your own signs in your own properties.  While these locations might not be the highest traffic area, still and yet you will get calls from interested people within that neighborhood.  If people steal them from the yard (which could happen), simply place the sign in the front window.
 
Ask friends and acquaintances if you could put a sign in their front yard – especially if they live in a high traffic area.  Some RE investors have even been known to “rent” a portion of a fence on a commercial property.  For a set monthly fee, they are allowed to mount their signs on that fence.  A few of these around town, and your phone calls will definitely increase.
 
If there are strict rules about roadside signs in your city or community, you may have to be even more creative.  By putting up signs on Friday evening and taking them down Sunday evening or early Monday morning, most of the “sign officials” can be avoided.  This way you can comply with business ethics.
 
If having Coroplast signs professionally printed is too expensive at this time, buy the sign material and create your own signs with permanent marker.  Or you may prefer to always use this “homemade look” that portrays a non-threatening appearance.
 
Make sure the signs are large enough for a driver to see quickly as they pass by.  Keep the message brief and to the point.  Also make sure the phone numbers are larger than the rest!
 
A good mix of online advertising added with such techniques as roadside signs works well.
 
Whenever business gets slow, the solution is to simply get out and place 25 or 50 signs and wait for the phone calls.  
 
As soon as possible every investor should contract this work out to others in order to save even more time.  That means working smarter not harder!

So if business is slow, get out there and get your signs where people can see them.

Antonio Macias