Nashua, NH · Member since 2014 · 71 posts · 25 votes
Hello,
So I get a call this am this guy claiming to be working for the city. He is completely lying pissed I put a few signs up. Telling me the whole deal it is illegal blah blah blah. I am nice but feel like telling him where to go. Anyone have suggestions on avoiding this type of call or is it all just part of the fun.
And I think you bring up a good point about the politicians. Even though they are allowed to put them up with a permit, how many of them leave them up after the 10 grace period after the election? In my area there were signs up 3-4 months after the election and I doubt many people were beating down doors to complain about that. While illegal and a drawback for communities, I believe it's the perception of real estate bandit signs that's a polarizing topic.
@Account Closed Part of my business plan does involve rehabbing the property if the situation is right. I have bought the eyesores in town and made the neighborhood better. With long term buy and hold. The banks thanked me and local residents as well. But in general right now my focus is assigning contract. Just to show that I am not just showing up here and running my mouth here is what I have done. Although not a huge impact I did something which is better than nothing in my book. I am not saying that I disagree with you but wanted to at least show I did care about the community I was living in until I moved to my new location. I love my area that I have grown up and lived most of my life. Hence my listening to both sides of the conversation.
You rehab.....if the situation is right. So do I. And pretty much every investor I know. Typically it's non profits and government agencies that rehab or redevelop for no profit. My point was that bandit sign marketing is not driven by altruism or community service goals.
Joseph Theriault Your apology was inspiring. This is a discussion and everyone has a right to their opinions. So, no worries from me. We are stating our cases (rather strongly in some instances) and getting feedback. I have only done buy and holds and a few flips so I can only see the negative of the signs. I like that you've been recognized for improving neighborhoods with your buy and holds. Good for you!
It seems to me that that the biggest use of bandit signs are the one that that end up passing laws against them, lets say it all together "Politicians". They get elected thru the use of bandit signs and then legislate against them. (and they hang there forever reminding you of your bad choices). I myself as a new BP apprentice came in guns blazing, only to get schooled by the folks in the know. Don't be emotional about it, just stop talking and listen, its important to be successful. These people criticize because they care and they ARE actually invested in your success, but it is a two way street grasshopper. Listen don't talk. All the best.
We have a new bandit sign in Raleigh I see all the time. "Cash for diabetes test strips." I called to try to figure out what the deal was with this but he never called back. It just appeared like 3 weeks ago but they are all over the bad parts of town.
Wow. Haven't seen that one here. Nor the mattress signs. Gotta say I'm curious what the hustle is. Is it some kind of re-sale biz? Test strips that are covered by insurance being resold off market? Or is it a conceptual art project?
@Eric F. Indeed, the bandit signs for diabetes strips is a re-sale biz. Buy from insured people who are getting them free or for $10/box. Resell for $20 to an online company that sells them for $40K. Still a bargain for the end buyer, assuming the product is good.
Thanks Joseph. My biggest marketing effort is to point people that I am local. So I am worried google voice will give the impression I am some company. Thoughts?
@Joseph Theriault (the mention doesn't seem to work no matter what I do)
I would use a google voice number to pre screen people, and if they are pissed, ignore them, delete voice message and onto the next one. You can get a google voice number with any area code you want.
You could even have it as an voice message that tells people what you do and what you can offer them and if they are serious to leave a message. If they want to listen to all of the voice message to leave a hate message and feel that helps them get some frustration out. Then you can delete the hate mails.
And if you're talking to someone who called I'd just tell them "well looks like I'll be extending my marketing to all the billboards then." That seems like a fun "back attaché." But in the end wish them a good day. I seriously try to remain as professional as possible no matter what they are throwing at me. I even had some guy call me and he was extremely hostile. I was just like "I understand how you feel, however, I'm just doing what I have to do to get the service that I provide and the help I can offer out there." Keep in mind this was after he had been speaking to me with EXTREME violence on the phone and belittling me. And after I said that he said "Wow you're extremely professional. You know what? I wish you the best in your future ventures and this just shows the caliber of person that you are." We hung up and all was good. Catch more flies with honey. No point in telling them to goto hell. This wasn't from bandit signs (I don't do them) it was just from post card mailings.
ALWAYS be professional. No matter what. That's just the way I work.
@Eric F. Indeed, the bandit signs for diabetes strips is a re-sale biz. Buy from insured people who are getting them free or for $10/box. Resell for $20 to an online company that sells them for $40K. Still a bargain for the end buyer, assuming the product is good.
This is basically stealing from every honest person who pays a huge insurance premium each month. I figured it was some scam like this
@Richard C. thanks. I am not here to make waves with locals. @Nick Kent Your right and Just keeping my cool no matter what. @James Wise putting those pictures up leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I did not realize the same level of those advertising those diabetic strips...
Why don't you express surprise that what he says is true - and then let him assure you that he is right and your are wrong. Agree with him and then after that apologize for putting the signs out and thank him profusely for bringing the matter to your attention.
So I get a call this am this guy claiming to be working for the city. He is completely lying pissed I put a few signs up. Telling me the whole deal it is illegal blah blah blah. I am nice but feel like telling him where to go. Anyone have suggestions on avoiding this type of call or is it all just part of the fun.
Go down to the courthouse and ask them what the laws/etiquette is in the area. One guy at a REIA here told me "yeah this guy did it and they got him when he got off the plane". It's not that big of a deal. If you want to pull over and pick up signs, then pick up all those other bandit sign as well. If you use a google voice they can't trace it to you.
Wait until they leave a voice mail. and delete it. Now you don't have to listen to them complain. That's what I do. People also get mad about me sending them letters.
Speeding is not the same - if you know what you're doing, you're not hurting anyone and there are no victims. With bandit signs you're trashing a neighborhood.
And seeing that you've asked the same question here 2 months ago with your first post on BP and you're only on post 14, you obviously only come here to try to find support for your situational ethics.
So, you think that you're improving as a person, because you come from gun manufacturing to this? Huh!
Bad analogy to make. Speeding is the number 1 cause of automobile deaths, and crashes. How many people have died because of a bandit sign? Just saying. :)
As a counter-point I feel obligated to mention that not every speeding car ends up dying - many are repaired and go on to speed another day. The statistics you are reading may be overstating the issue in regard to automobile's dying as a result of speeding.
We don't put signs on public property & we don't receive angry phone calls about signs.
we really only get 3 kinds of calls.
1. Hey do you buy houses? I have blah blah house to sell.
2. Hey do you buy houses? Do you have any houses available for rent?
(People looking for rental housing is actually the most common call we get from the signs)
3. Hey do you buy houses? I'm a handy man blah blah blah.
James nailed it. I don't use bandit signs. I do have print advertising in a few small local papers. After a year of running the ads I'm now thinking of bailing on that marketing strategy. I got a deal the first week after running the ads. However, those ads generate FAR more calls inquiring if I have any rentals and/or if I need a handyman/painter/gardener than motivated seller calls. And I haven't gotten a deal from them since that first one.
@Account Closed I have been running print ads with no leads giving another month. I think there has got to be a better way as newspapers seem antiquated. But they do link back online and help with seo with Google for my website.
Go down to the courthouse and ask them what the laws/etiquette is in the area. One guy at a REIA here told me "yeah this guy did it and they got him when he got off the plane". It's not that big of a deal. If you want to pull over and pick up signs, then pick up all those other bandit sign as well. If you use a google voice they can't trace it to you.
Wait until they leave a voice mail. and delete it. Now you don't have to listen to them complain. That's what I do. People also get mad about me sending them letters.
I posted this in another thread http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/93/topics/168832-who-goes-to-the-effort-of-putting-out-100-signs-and-not-returning-any-calls :
"Any sign placed on any curb, sidewalk, post pole, hydrant, bridge, tree, or other surface located on, over, or across any public street, right-of-way, property or thoroughfare, unless authorized by the City Council. "
Violations fall under this state law reference: Unlawful posting of advertisements G.S.14-145, which if the charge sticks, results in a Class 3 misdemeanor. Class 3 offenses are the least serious type of misdemeanor crime, but if they are a repeat offender they may not be answering the phone because they are busy for up to 20 days over at the Wake County Detention Center. At a minimum, they will be out $200 to $1,000... so maybe they can no longer afford the VA ;)
And that's federal? What about all these fitness and diabetic signs I see everywhere? They sit there for ever. At least we only out them out on the weekend and pick them up.
Now my attention has been drawn to all the different signs put out by people. We have a power washer guy, diabetic, insurance, and nevermind every time some church or school has an event the big signs go out. This has turned out to be a very unique thread I was not expecting.