I recently had a request from a seller to not put a “For Sale” sign in their yard as the home was vacant and they didn’t want to attract “lookie-lous”.
The seller must indeed weigh the pros and cons of having a sign in the yard. Certainly, especially in the case of an empty home or in a situation where the sellers may be out of town, security may be a concern.
However, here are some facts to consider when making this decision according to the National Association of REALTORS® 2014 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers:
• The first step taken by home buyers 6% of the time was to drive by homes and neighborhoods.
• 48% of buyers cited that yard signs were a source of information used in the home buying process
• 91% of buyers indicated a yard sign was “very useful” (32%) or “somewhat useful” (56%) source of information
• 9% of buyers ultimately found the home they purchased via a yard or open house sign
• 6% found the home they ultimately purchased through a friend, relative, or neighbor
I have seen situations where it might not be wise to post a for sale sign. One example would be if the home was well known for the wrong reason (murder or other crimes). Ultimately it is up to the Seller but it seems like a for sale scene is generally good practice. For more information on this topic, please contact me at (425) 260-0715 or send an email to [email protected].
