For Rent Signs???????

Question

Let’s talk For Rent Yard Signs on SFH’s. Are you using them? Just the basic ones? Or, fancy “real estate like” signs? If so, post pics/successes or failures!

Will Fraser · Answer

For my recent rentals I haven't even put up a sign. Zillow's new Rental Manager has taken the cake and has given me some great quality tenants from their plethora of sites and "on-ramps"

Peter Tverdov · Answer

My management company puts up a permanent 18x24" sign on every single property we manage. It doesn't say For Rent, just the company name, number, email and Property Management. It is the best lead generator we have. Number one it strengthens our brand, everyone in certain neighborhoods in certain towns knows to call/email us if they're looking. Number two, it also offers a bit of cross selling. Someone walks down Main St and sees our sign and says they need a place. We say, sorry that place is filled but based on your needs we have 2 others across town that are available.

JD Martin · Answer

I haven't put one up in probably 3 years or more at this point. I have several very nice ones, hanging on nice posts, but everyone does everything online these days. In fact, when I think back on the inquiries from the signs, they were usually either people who couldn't afford to actually rent a place or people with poor planning abilities that were driving around at the last minute trying to find some "for rent by owner" sign where they could get in this weekend. All of my great tenants always had a process. Not even sure if I have a picture of mine anymore.

Bryan S. · Answer

@Blake Barnard I call the numbers for out of state numbers 😎

Jill F. · Answer

I am having signs made for our buildings with our company phone number so the police don't have to work so hard to find me should they need to get in touch (hopefully they won't ever, ever again, but...). I might consider a discreet sign on the side of an SFR or duplex just in case an owner contact by law enforcement was needed.Like others here I don't use for rent signs at all because I get better applicants online.

Dennis M. · Answer

Don’t waste your time on the signs. Use Facebook that way you can heavily pre screen and stop wasting your time and gas on losers . You’ll go through 50 people before you find a winner . Knowing what I know I would hate to decipher things and screen folks that randomly call me on the phone

JD Martin · Answer

Our signs are like this but we still don't bother using them any more. Virtually all of our traffic comes through electronics, and the tenants we place that are referrals call us directly. I actually liked putting the signs up - it was kind of a "warm and fuzzy" seeing them around town - but they're just not real effective compared to the alternatives any more. In some ways, too, they're counterproductive, letting everyone know "hey, this place is empty". When we were putting the signs out more than once I caught knuckleheads prowling around the place, "Just looking" but not actually interested in renting a house.

Daniel Dietz · Answer

I hear what you are all saying, but thought I would explain what we are working on that has somewhat to do with this topic. We have 30 units, hopefully to be about 50 in the next 1-2 years, in a small but prosperous Midwest town of 10,000 and a couple surrounding smaller towns. We aim to have the best units for their types, and take great care of the units and tenant needs. We are also working our pricing up towards the top of the going rates. In other words great units for great tenants at a price that is fair for both of us. Part of how we plan to do that by coming up with marketing materials for when we have prospective tenants. Part of that includes references FROM our existing tenants of how we are to rent from etc.... Basically so when a potential renter asks 'why are you $100 higher than option X' we can say 'well, we have the best units and the best service..... see what our existing tenants have to say and decide if it is worth the price'.Part of this marketing is finalizing a recognizable logo that we will use in a lot of different ways including on our for rent signs AND 'yard signs' we are planning on starting to use. Our thought is to have small but recognizable permanent signs saying something like "Red Stage Properties" with our number. We are getting enough of a reputation of having quality rentals that people are asking if they can be on 'our waiting list' for when we have an opening. We feel the signs would give a good representation of the types of properties we have, and when we DO advertise a place for rent it will be easily recognizable to at least SOME people, and still look professional to those who are not familiar with the name. We are also planning on adding the logo to our work trailer for our kitchen, bath and construction business to get more exposure of the name/brand.I do think this method is probably more applicable to a smaller town compared to a larger metor area.

Theresa Harris · Answer

Last time I used a sign was a few years ago. It was a simple 'for rent' sign that we paid a few dollars for. It attracted the locals and some of their friends and family. We also posted online. I know for one of my rentals, the person we rented it to saw the sign out front.

Blake Barnard · Answer

@Will Fraser - Thanks man!! I haven’t used it yet. I have 2 doors coming up for rent very soon and will be looking into it.