What the Best Real Estate For Sale Signs Have in Common

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There are endless real estate for sale sign templates out there. How can you be sure you're choosing the right one? Follow this simple guide.

Why Are Real Estate For Sale Signs Important?

Lawn signs are the unsung heroes of the real estate marketing world. Day, night, rain or shine, they’re outside working hard to communicate your contact info to the world. And all for no pay!

Of course we’re only joking…sort of. There’s a lot of talk about how tech is disrupting the real estate industry. It’s hard to imagine the days before Zillow and Trulia. New software and marketing platforms pop up every week. And in just a few years start-ups like Opendoor are earning valuations in the billions of dollars.

Yet, through all of this change in the industry, real estate signs have remained. And from what we’ve seen they’re not going anywhere. Where there’s a home being sold, you can count on there being a sign out front.

Real Estate Sign Best Practices

Just because these signs have been around for years, doesn’t mean they can’t be improved on. In this article, we’ll go over three questions you should ask before you start your search for the perfect real estate template. Then we’ll talk about one thing that most real estate signs are missing, which could have an impact on how many leads you generate.

What Info Must Be On Your Real Estate Yard Sign?

First, the basics. Most people who will read your sign are on the move, either walking or driving. That means you only have a few seconds to make an impression. Don’t waste any space with information that isn’t essential.

Be sure to include:

• Agent or agency logo
• Listing agent’s name and number
• Website where interested buyers can learn more

That’s it. Just three key pieces of information are all you need. Remember, you’re here to sell the house—so save your headshot and credentials for your website instead!

What Makes a Good For Sale Sign Design?

You could spend hours looking at real estate sign templates. It can be a bit overwhelming at first. What color should you go with? All caps or no caps? 12″ by 18″ or 18″ by 24″? We get it. There are a lot of options out there, and you want to make sure you’re spending money on a sign that will be eye-catching. Understanding a few key design principles will help:

• Chose an easy-to-read font
• The fewer colors, the better. (And cheaper!)
• Pick a font color that stands out on the background
• Make your phone number the largest element

In the end, buyers are going to be busy looking at the home you’re trying to sell, not your sign. Just make sure it’s legible. That’s what matters most.

Where Should You Place Your Real Estate Sign?

Once you have your sign printed, it’s time to find the right spot for it. This seems like common sense, but sometimes you may not be able to tell if a sign is hidden from a certain angle. Be sure to drive and walk by the property to make sure your sign is properly positioned to be as easy-as-possible to read.

If the home you’re selling is on a street that doesn’t receive much foot traffic, print out a few extra signs and place them at nearby streets and intersections. These should include the address of your home, just in case people drive by and want to visit later. Some homeowner associations have rules regarding sign placement, so be sure to check with them first.

One Easy Real Estate Sign Improvement That Will Drive More Leads

We’ve gone over the basic info your real estate sign should include. The most important of which is your phone number. This is how buyers will get in touch. But what if you’re in a meeting when they reach out?

A study of the top 74 real estate brokerages in the US found that only 7 respond within the coveted 5-minute window. According to the study, the chances of qualifying a lead drops by 400% after 5 minutes.

How long does it take you to respond to your leads? What if we said you can do it in seconds, without putting in any work? Yes, you can respond to messages right away without even being near your phone. All you need is a keyword. A keyword is a word that people can text to your number to get back a message.

For example, someone could text “321MainSt” to 555888 to get more info on your listing. Actually, go ahead and try it now and watch what happens!

If you put this to the test, you’ll notice you get a message back right away with a link to schedule a viewing. Your real estate text marketing efforts don’t have to stop there:

• Use autoresponders to follow up automatically days, weeks, or month after the initial contact.
• Collect useful information such as first name, last name or email using data collection.
• Segment your audience based on zip code or other criteria to send them other homes they may be interested it.

Adding an SMS keyword to your lawn signs opens to door to a lot of marketing possibilities. Curious about what else you can do? Download our free, in-depth e-book for real estate agents. When you’re ready to give it texting a go, you can sign up for a free 14-day trial here. We’ll even include a custom keyword, on us.

The Best Real Estate Signs Make Your Work Easier

A successful real estate for sale sign is like having an assistant who does your busy work for you. As an agent, you already have a lot to work on. By ensuring you have signs with good design, proper information, solid placement, and a text message short code, you’re setting yourself up to sell more homes.