Ever wondered why a buyer might become interested in a home?
Real estate signs are one of the most powerful (and overlooked) marketing tools in the industry.
While most agents focus on digital ads, SEO and social media, these simple yard signs are making more buyers interested in a home than any other tactic out there.
And here’s the best part…
37% of buyers used lawn signs as information in their buying process.
That’s how powerful yard signs are.
Keep reading to learn why.
What You Will Learn
- The Psychology of Realtor Signs
- Signs as A Source Of Property Information
- Realtor Sign Design Elements To Avoid
- Reasons Why Signs Can Be More Powerful
Why Realtor Signs Influence Buyers
Realtor signs influence property buyer decisions because they reach buyers at the right time.
Think about the psychology of a buyer when they are driving through the neighbourhood of a home they like.
They are picturing themselves in the home.
They imagine where their kids would play or where they would eat breakfast on the weekends.
They are starting to imagine this as their new home.
So when they see your sign in the yard, it triggers a sense of urgency.
What’s your role in this? You help validate the home they like is for sale.
They could see a home on social media or a home site and not get the feeling. Yet when they drive by and see a sign, this helps validate that they like the home and want to see it.
Digital marketing has its place, but when it comes to generating instant interest, realtor signs outperform all other digital ads combined.
Agents that only focus on digital ads are missing out on thousands in potential commissions. Realtor signs are one of the oldest forms of marketing in real estate. Despite the rise of digital media and online property listings, signs still are the most effective way of advertising properties in a physical location.
In addition to targeting your local audience, realtor signs are visible 24/7. Your digital marketing plan can be great, but a physical sign cannot be turned off.
Materials used in professional signs
Most signs these days are made from coroplast plastic sheets. It’s durable, easy to clean, holds strong colours and is cost-effective.
Quality Matters
Quality of materials you use and the design of the sign are important.
Buyers and sellers are very unlikely to give your service a chance if they feel you don’t care enough to present your brand well.
Using cheap materials or reusing old signs is a recipe for disaster. A professional-looking sign is a sign of your professionalism.
Local Visibility Creates Influence
There is something that most real estate agents miss when it comes to realtor signs.
They are advertising more than just one property.
Every sign you put up is a mini billboard for your real estate brand.
If a potential home buyer sees the same real estate agent’s signs across multiple homes in a neighbourhood, then they immediately create an impression that this agent is dominant in this neighbourhood. It will take more than one or two signs, but consistent signage throughout a neighbourhood can create a sense of local domination.
Trust
Think about it, people are far more likely to trust what they see repeatedly. It’s a basic principle of psychology.
Realtor signs in buyers’ target neighbourhoods are the biggest influence on who they end up picking as their agent.
By having signs everywhere, you will end up being the first person to come to their minds when they decide to move forward with their home search.
Local visibility can make a huge difference between you and your competition.
Design Elements For Realtor Signs
Don’t make the mistake of leaving out critical elements from your realtor signs.
Remember your buyer has a few seconds (maybe 3 seconds) to make an impact.
So make your sign count.
Colour
Real estate signs that work use the right colour scheme.
The colours need to pop.
They need to stand out against what is behind them. Grass, bushes, house colours, fences, you name it. They need to jump off the background they are on.
Best real estate colours are bold colours that catch the eye.
Red, orange and bright blue are often the most effective colours.
The key, however, is that your sign colours need to be consistent with your brand. If you use different sign colours every time, then you aren’t building brand recognition; you are just creating more visual noise.
Photo
Use your headshot on your realtor signs.
Here is why.
People do not buy from brands. People buy from people they trust. The face on your signs make your brand more approachable and memorable.
88% of homebuyers used a real estate agent in 2024.
And many of them were selected by their visibility and trust level. They are most likely to pick the agent that had signs on the homes they were looking at or had signs posted in their target neighbourhoods.
It’s a no-brainer to put your picture on your realtor signs.
Messaging
Your messaging needs to be on point.
Use professional text in a legible font and use simple language.
What do you need to include on your signs?
Here are the most important elements of a realtor sign.
- Your name (or your agency’s name)
- Phone number
- Website (if there is space)
- For sale, just listed, coming soon
Simple Signs Work Best
Keep it simple, stupid!
Buyers don’t want to see a whole book on your realtor sign. They just need to see enough information to know who you are and how to contact you.
Placement
Place your signs in high-visibility spots.
This means:
- Corner properties (they have the highest visibility)
- Next to the entrance of subdivisions
- In locations with heavy car traffic
- In any place where people are naturally forced to slow down (before a stop sign for example)
Placement mistakes to avoid
Do not put your signs where they are blocked by mailboxes, cars or bushes.
Buyers need to be able to see your signs from the road. Anything blocking the signs needs to be avoided at all costs.
Install the sign in the middle of the yard facing oncoming traffic (gives them time to see the sign as they approach the home).
Wrapping It All Up
Don’t underestimate the power of realtor signs.
Agents that rely solely on digital marketing miss out on the thousands of commissions they could be making because they don’t take advantage of realtor signs.
Your signs influence property buyer decisions by connecting your brand with potential customers. They help create trust and visibility.
Online advertising is important, but realtor signs are even more important.
Get some great looking realtor signs printed today and see the increase in potential customers show up.