I'm interested in the differing opinions on placing a "SOLD" sign on a property when you sell it (and obviously it is your listing).

There are apparently two schools of thought on this:

1. Don't put a "sold" sign on the house to keep sign calls coming in on the property,even though it is "sold". People will call about "123 Main Street" and be told, "It's under contract, but can I tell you about...."

2. DO put the "sold" sign on the house, to show how "successful" you are at sales, especially if it goes quickly. I've heard from people around town things like, "Wow, I can't believe that house is still on the market...what is (insert brokerage name) doing wrong?" or something. That "SOLD" sign says, "I got it done for this house, I'll do it for you too."

There seems to be no consistency in my market. "Sold" homes will have signs on them sometimes, or not.

thoughts?

I would much rather have a sold sign to attract more listings, as that is what drives my business. Buyers are great, but considering that not all leads pan out, you're taking the bigger risk by not putting the SOLD sign out and losing potential new sellers.

Plus that, the sellers usually want the sign too.

JMO.

Do sold signs really sucecssfully attract sellers? They are guaranteed to cost you buyer leads.

I put the SOLD rider on, but not until it closes. Until the day it closes, you never know what is going to happen. Not only do I want to keep getting buyer leads from the sign, I want to be able to keep a list of interested parties in case something falls through. I have changed the FOR SALE to SALE PENDING, but not always. If it happens very quickly and it's not a sign that gets a lot of calls then I'll change it. If it's a property with high visibility that generates lots of calls, I leave the FOR SALE sign up.

You may not be able to track your seller leads, but if you want to look like you're doing your job in your farm area, there is no better validation than a sold sign.

In the same vein as "Just Sold" cards. I don't do it to waste my money, that's for sure.

If you are the buyers agent that sold a co-op listing do you put your sold sign by their for sale sign????
Some others started doing that around here..just curious..thanks!

Angie

I put it on once the buyer's financing addendum expires. I figure if anything is going to bust after that, it's going to be slim. Anything sooner and it's like counting your commission before it hatches.

I've seen agents that are trying to get started with new agencies, totally remove the listing agent's sign and place their new companies sign, with a sold rider on them.

I've also seen that same agent when they were with Re/Max place their sign with a sold rider, beside the listing agent's sign, who was also with another Re/Max franchise in the seller's yard.

In Western Washington, it's common for the buyer's agent to place the "Sold" rider on the yard sign. I believe the buyer's agent has a window of 3 days to place the rider after after mutual acceptance.