To be perfectly frank with you – I absolutely hate bandit signs. I hate receiving shipments. I hate storing them. I hate installing the stands. I hate the calls from the city officials. And I really hate putting them up.
So why would I or anyone ever suggest using bandit signs?
Simple.
Because they make the phone ring! And that’s what it’s all about. Finding motivated sellers – preferably those that others don’t even have on their radar.
A downside of mailing to a list is that others are able to purchase the same list of potential motivated sellers and the message becomes diluted. Bandit signs often draw in homeowners who have not received scores of other marketing pieces.
While bandit signs may be an overall massive pain in the neck, they also bring in deals and they are relatively low cost. DirtCheapSigns.com and SuperCheapSigns.com have the least expensive prices I’ve seen anywhere. I can have them custom made and shipped cheaper than I can buy from any local sign person.
Bandit signs don’t stay up too long. They are usually removed by angry residents or insecure investors or by city ordinance enforcers. Those that survive get knocked over by weather. Yet, with all of that, they still make the phone ring and you get deals.
Just like any marketing, repetition and tenacity are required. You can’t put them up once and hope to get a deal. I recommend 25-50 placed on the more commercial roads leading into your targeted residential area. Ideally, you’ll place them out about every 2 weeks.
Be prepared. A common question is: “How do I know if they are legal in my area?” The answer is simply: They’re not! I have never heard of a single community that did not have a sign ordinance preventing the installation of these type signs. Can you imagine any municipality saying “Yes, please come clutter our landscape with your ugly signs?
The question isn’t whether they are legal or not. The question is whether the municipality enforces the ordinance or not. If you see lots of those type signs out, you’re pretty safe. If an area is pristine without a sign in site, there’s a good chance they actively enforce sign ordinances.
Keep your wording simple on the signs. People are driving by in cars. They need to be able to read quickly. I place my at Stop signs and street lights where cars will be stopped. Keep your verbiage down to 3-4 lines at most so that the characters are printed large. Don’t use so many words that the font shrinks to fit in the space.
Speaking of space, use an 18”x24” coroplast sign with vertical ribs – black print on yellow cards. I’ve tested all types of color combinations, and that works best. If you nail the signs to electric poles, they will last longer, but you’ll receive fewer calls. It seems the bet response comes from placing them on “H” stands near the road.
Bandit signs won’t make you rich, but they will be a regular source of deals for your business.
Expect abundance,
Lou Castillo
