Using Handwritten Bandit Signs

Marketing Your Property
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Using Handwritten Bandit Signs

Sharon Vornholt
Goshen, KY · Member since 2009 · 835 posts · 683 votes

I decided to try something new this week to market a wholesale property; handwritten “bandit†signs. In the past we have used “We Buy Houses†bandit signs for finding deals. I really am not a big fan of this whole process to be quite honest. I hate putting those signs out! After the last time I subjected myself to feeling like a “bandit†on the run, I had decided that if I ever were to use bandit signs again I would hire someone to put them up for me.

Recently I have heard of other real estate investors using handwritten signs to sell their properties and I decided to give it a try. I have to tell you, I was quite surprised by the results I got and definitely consider this experiment a success. Over the weekend I put out about 10-12 signs in the area where the house is located. I have gotten half dozen calls in just a few days from people that want to look at the house. Most all of these calls came from other real estate investors looking for something to rehab.

I put a few of the signs several miles away from the house on heavily traveled streets which were on the “route†to the house This particular property is not going to work for some of the investors that called, but I have been able to put them on my buyers list for future deals. Best of all, I have a potential buyer!

Has anyone else has success using these types of signs?

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Terry Royce
Real Estate Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2008 · 619 posts · 75 votes
16y

What wording are you using?

If I use "Cheap House 8k" I get homeowner wannabes

If I use "Cheap Shell 8K" I get handyman/investor types

Im interested to hear your input as im a big fan of these, I just hate putting them up.

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  • Terry Royce
    Real Estate Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2008 · 619 posts · 75 votes
    15y

    I've seen alot of handrwitten "We Buy Houses" signs lately.
    Not sure of the response.

    Anyone else?

    0Reply
  • Sharon Vornholt
    OP
    Goshen, KY · Member since 2009 · 835 posts · 683 votes
    15y

    Investors selling houses are using these a lot more thanks to forums like this one. They work great for selling!

    0Reply
  • Terry Royce
    Real Estate Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2008 · 619 posts · 75 votes
    15y

    Sharon, I use them regularly for selling.

    However, I'm seeing them alot more for BUYING.

    I also notice for selling I usually only get a SOLID response if the price is under 20k on the sign.

    0Reply
  • Sharon Vornholt
    OP
    Goshen, KY · Member since 2009 · 835 posts · 683 votes
    15y

    I have printed signs for buying. I haven't had as much luck with them in the past, but I am going to try them again.

    0Reply
  • Paul B.
    Real Estate Investor · Alpharetta, GA · Member since 2010 · 415 posts · 484 votes
    15y

    I know this will fall on deaf ears, but I detest bandit signs. I won't use them in my business, even in the places where they might be legal. They simply make a road or corner look like crap.

    In areas where they are illegal, I will either take them down every chance I get or I will spray paint over the phone number.

    I know, I know, I know...they make you money. Sorry, but I don't want to run a business where I have to get a separate phone number to hide behind.

    My two cents, and yes, I know that most people couldn't care less.

    1Reply
  • Kelly Brittingham
    Residential Landlord · White Lake, MI · Member since 2010 · 12 posts · 6 votes
    15y

    We have had tremendous response with handwritten signs. Printed, not so much. One sign my husband wrote was directed to investors, stating "$400 cashflow a month", we can't tell you how many calls we got asking for the house renting for $400 a month, I knew that was going to happen. My husband created a contraption to put them on telephone poles, it worked quite well once we got it down!! We did this video in October, and they have lasted through a Michigan winter, after I heckled him about his contraption! I received a call today from them! YAY!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dHPcjK1kS8

    0Reply
  • Sharon Vornholt
    OP
    Goshen, KY · Member since 2009 · 835 posts · 683 votes
    15y

    Hey guys - there is actually one of those for sale that works quite well.

    0Reply
  • Mark Yuschak
    Residential Real Estate Broker · Grand Blanc, MI · Member since 2008 · 885 posts · 316 votes
    15y

    I have been using bandit signs routinely and get AWESOME results. Thankfully, in my area, the signs never get taken down. In fact, I typically go back through the area where I put them up and retreive them myself just to get the phone to stop ringing.

    I find them to be nearly 100% more effective than craigslist. Craigslist seems to be full of bottom feeders. The real buyers with cash tend to call the signs on the side of the road.

    To take this thread a step further, where are you guys putting your signs? I target the exit ramps of the expressways, exits of busy shopping plazas, in the vicinity of home improvement stores, and near gas stations.

    I never put a sign in front of the house anymore. When I did, I would get too many irate neighbors trying to thwart my sale. They would influence the lookers by telling them the house had severe damage, etc. Now, when I get a sign call, I prescreen the caller and give the address at my discretion.

    0Reply
  • Namarial Hurd
    Investor · Pomona, CA · Member since 2011 · 1 post · 0 votes
    15y

    Has Anyone had experience using handwritten signs for Buying? What kind of ads do you run? Do you find that the simple "I Buy Houses Cash" a winner?

    0Reply
  • Sharon Vornholt
    OP
    Goshen, KY · Member since 2009 · 835 posts · 683 votes
    15y

    I'm getting ready to try that. I would love to know what type of success others have had.

    0Reply
  • Sharon Vornholt
    OP
    Goshen, KY · Member since 2009 · 835 posts · 683 votes
    15y

    I'm getting ready to try that. I would love to know what type of success others have had.

    0Reply
  • Aaron Mazzrillo
    Investor · Riverside, CA · Member since 2011 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    15y
    Originally posted by kelly brittingham:
    My husband created a contraption to put them on telephone poles, it worked quite well once we got it down!!

    Watching him figure out that 'contraption' was painful! Glad he figured it out!

    I have used bandit signs for both buying and selling. I have only used handwritten for selling.

    When I am selling a property I want to unload quick, I not only put the signs up at the nearest intersections, but I put arrows on them directing toward the property. I then get a large piece of scrap plywood. I spray paint on it:

    Owner Must Sell! Make Offer!!!
    Call 123-123-1234

    Or any other motivated message to capture the attention of prospects. An old piece of plywood and spray paint with that sign sitting in the front lawn bring out all kinds of buyers. You'd be surprised how often a neighbor will be interested.

    You can use this strategy to build a buyers list for a certain area as well. Just tell them that the house with the sign is sold, but you get new properties all the time and direct them to your website to provide more info on what they are looking for.

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  • David Wedemire
    Real Estate Investor · Bellingham, WA · Member since 2008 · 407 posts · 90 votes
    15y

    Aaron this is quite clever. Hand-painted sign in these times will be quite effective. I'm going to give this a try

    0Reply
  • Sharon Vornholt
    OP
    Goshen, KY · Member since 2009 · 835 posts · 683 votes
    15y

    Great idea!

    0Reply
  • Jocelyn Thompson
    OH · Member since 2010 · 47 posts · 6 votes
    15y

    Hello Everyone,

    Where do you buy your bandit signs?

    I have called my local stores and print shops and I have not been able to find any.

    Thanks

    0Reply
  • Rob Gillespie
    Specialist · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2011 · 1k+ posts · 852 votes
    15y

    :mrgreen: Sharon,
    I have a stack of nice beautiful signs that I do not use! I get way more response off of the genaric lookin signs!

    P.S. the same goes for craigslist. Look small!

    0Reply
  • Sharon Vornholt
    OP
    Goshen, KY · Member since 2009 · 835 posts · 683 votes
    15y

    You can get printed bandit signs from here at http://banditsigns.com.

    I would also price them out locally. I get my blank corrugated signs locally. Just call around and compare prices Jocelyn. Like some of the other folks said, handwritten signs work great.

    0Reply
  • Dan Koch
    Real Estate Investor · Member since 2009 · 88 posts · 48 votes
    15y

    I'm about to place a bandit sign order. Should I go blank or printed for picking up deals?

    Just trying to get some opinions!

    0Reply
  • Sharon Vornholt
    OP
    Goshen, KY · Member since 2009 · 835 posts · 683 votes
    15y

    I have always used printed signs for buying, but I've just gotten 100 blank signs. I am going to try them out for buying.

    I have great luck with blank signs for selling.

    0Reply
  • Cat Smith
    Fort Lauderdale, FL · Member since 2012 · 1 post · 1 vote
    14y
    Originally posted by Johnny P.:
    I would recommend using a google voice number since they are free and very hard to track back to you ( less worries of getting a fine). Ive put up over 600 signs in my area and never gotten a fine

    All they have to do is call as a potential seller and then you'll be exposed when you tell them more information about yourself. Right? How do you stay anonymous?

    1Reply
  • Sharon Vornholt
    OP
    Goshen, KY · Member since 2009 · 835 posts · 683 votes
    14y

    There is no foolproof system for sure, but I haven't heard of anyone having this problem. If someone has, maybe they will share their experience.

    0Reply
  • Ned CareyPro Member
    Moderator
    Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2008 · 17k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    14y
    Originally posted by Jocelyn Thompson:
    Hello Everyone,

    Where do you buy your bandit signs?

    I just write on the back of the Terry Royce signs I tear down.

    He he he Just kidding Terry.

    1Reply
  • Sharon Vornholt
    OP
    Goshen, KY · Member since 2009 · 835 posts · 683 votes
    14y

    Banditsigns.com or a company I believe is called cheap signs or something like that. For blank corrugated signs, I just called around locally.

    0Reply
  • Wayne Brooks
    Real Estate Professional · West Palm Beach, FL · Member since 2012 · 23k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    14y

    Ned, good idea. Big enough volume?

    0Reply
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