For Sale or not For Sale, that is the question. Excuse the dodgy ripping-off of Shakespeare, but the point remains – are For Sale boards still of any use in the modern, online world or are they a waste of time and money?
It’s a debate that causes a fair bit of division, with those in favour of For Sale boards arguing that it’s still a very useful marketing tool, an excellent way of gaining extra exposure and a beacon for opportunistic, instinctive buyers – the ones who make split-second decisions about a property as soon as they lay eyes on it.
Those standing against For Sale boards, however, argue that they are an eyesore with no function in an increasingly digital environment.
Below, using our experience as estate agents working across Essex and Kent, we take a look at the pros and cons of having a board up outside the home you are looking to sell...
The benefits
The main advantage of having a For Sale board is that it attracts attention to your home. Those driving or walking past might notice it, like what they see and follow up this initial interest with something more concrete. Out of nothing, you have your lead. You have a possible offer.
There is also the power of association argument – people still strongly associate For Sale signs with estate agents. As soon as they see one, they put two and two together immediately.
If you want to sell your home, you want interested parties to know instantly that it is available – a For Sale board can help you to do that.
Equally, word of mouth can still be very important, even in this day and age. A person might walk past your home and see the For Sale sign, subconsciously noting that the property is up for sale.
They may know someone who is looking to buy – a friend, a neighbour, a loved one, a work colleague, etc. – and pass on the information about your property when it crops up in conversation.
Person A: “We’re looking to buy fairly central, fairly close to the high street.” Person B: “Oh, have you checked out that property for sale near the church, the one with the big For Sale sign outside?” Word of mouth, even now, can still spread fast.
It is likely to be especially important in smaller towns and villages, where gossip gets around much quicker and there is a higher chance of lots of people knowing each other.
The downsides
Are For Sale boards really necessary when so many of us now live our lives online? The majority of people head first to the portals – in particular Rightmove and Zoopla – when it comes to browsing for property. Thousands of properties are a mere click away.
The exposure your property can get online – on a local, national and even worldwide scale – is much, much more than you’d ever get from a For Sale board, which is only likely to attract comparatively few local people.
Some also believe that the days where opportunist buyers go on the hunt for For Sale boards or act on off-the-cuff interest are long gone, leaving the signs without any real purpose.
People argue, too, that word of mouth just doesn’t have anywhere near the same level of power (or reach) that the internet possesses.
There are those, too, who believe that For Sale boards are simply a blight on the landscape – tacky, off-putting eyesores that are often kept up too long and appear to serve no useful purpose.
There is an argument that streets with lots of For Sale signs might actually act to put buyers off.
They might quite reasonably ask why so many people are seeking to leave the area in question – what’s so wrong with it?
With a For Sale sign in tow, you may also feel the wrath of your local council or your fellow residents.
We have seen plenty of recent stories in the press about local councils and local residents moving to ban For Sale signs from their areas.
It’s probably not the best idea to annoy your neighbours or your local council if you are trying to sell your home, so you need to weigh up whether having a For Sale board has more benefits than downsides.
As we’ve outlined above, there is good arguments on both sides of the coin. You will need to work out what is best for your particular sale.
At Balgores Property Group, where we have a number of branches, from Romford to Hornchurch, we will do all we can to get your property sold – whether you opt for For Sale boards or not.
Contact us at one of our many offices or take advantage of our free and instant sales valuation tool.
