A for sale sign is one of the first images that comes to mind when you think about selling property, but did you know that you don’t need to put one up at all?
It’s customary to put a for sale sign outside your house when you put your property on the market. They usually feature your estate agent’s details so that interested buyers can enquire about your house. It’s one of the most basic forms of marketing a property, and yet more and more people are choosing not to use one.
There are lots of disadvantages to using a for sale sign that you may not have considered, but the pros of putting up a sign are also worth thinking about.
To help you make the best decision in your search for a property buyer, we’ve put together a list of all the pros and cons you should consider.
The Pros of Putting Up a For Sale Sign
When it comes to selling property, it helps to have a wide range of marketing tools at your disposal, and although a for sale sign might not seem like a very modern choice, there’s a chance it could make all the difference.
Word of mouth
If you have a for sale sign outside your house, buyers are more likely to hear about it by word of mouth. People are likely to act on the recommendations of friends or family, so if someone passes by and notices your house is up for sale, they may give them the heads up. This is especially useful if your property is in a small town or village where there is a strong sense of community.
Getting your house noticed
If you’re searching for a house to buy, you’ll be much more likely to notice houses as you pass them, whether that’s on a walk or run, or perhaps on your daily commute. Houses that have for sale signs outside them are much more likely to catch a buyer’s eye, and if they like the look of a property they have seen, they may even look it up and make an enquiry.
The Disadvantages of Using a For Sale Sign
While there are clearly some advantages to putting up a for sale sign outside your home, there are also some cons that you may not have considered.
Does a for sale sign have any purpose?
Most people begin their property search online by looking at online listings, so a for sale sign is unlikely to attract many buyers in the grand scheme of things. What’s more, people are more likely to research their chosen area online and select houses based on that. It would be quite unusual for them to visit the area simply to take a stroll around, looking for houses for sale.
Clusters of for sale signs can be off-putting
For sale signs can deter buyers, especially in areas where there are clusters of for sale signs. For instance, if there are lots of for sale signs along your road, this may suggest that the area has a high turnover of residents. Buyers may be asking ‘why are all these people leaving?’. Of course, the quantity of for sale signs might just be a coincidence, but it could negatively affect your sale.
Some residents and councils are against for sale signs because they look untidy and off-putting, and there is a risk that they will be left after the house has been sold.
Simplify Your Sale with Zoom Property Buyer
Deciding how you market your property is one of the most crucial decisions you need to make when selling your house, and some methods work better than others. Although for sale signs are arguably much less useful than they were decades ago, many would ask ‘why wouldn’t you put up a for sale sign?’. If there’s even a small chance that it will attract a buyer, it could be worthwhile.
One of the disadvantages of selling your house on the open market is that you’re not guaranteed to find a buyer, regardless of how you market your property. That’s why some property owners choose to sell to a fast property buyer like Zoom to guarantee a quick and stress-free house sale.
Give us a call on 0333 880 4362 or complete our online enquiry form today. Our experienced team would be delighted to hear from you and arrange a visit to view your property.
Get in touch to kickstart the process today!
