Bandit Sign thought - Posted by Tim (CT)
Posted by Tim (CT) on April 01, 2003 at 12:22:09:
When I put up my bandit signs around town, I immediately get calls from the city to pull them down or face a fine. I’ve been trying to think of a way to get them up without having those kinds of problems (who hasn’t!!). I have a thought. I’m sure this has been thought of by others already. But, I haven’t seen any posts on it. If it has, let me know how it went.
I, currently, have 1 sign up that I never get any complaints on. It’s on my parents property and it’s about 10 feet off the street. I’ve probably been left alone on this one because they city just assumes I have permission from the property owner (my guess). My thought is to approach property owners that are on a busy street or within my target market and ask them if they would be willing to allow me to put up my bandit sign in a front corner of their property. If I get a sale which resulted from a seller seeing the sign on their property, I will give them, let’s say, $200. If they, themselves, call me on a lead that they know about, and I purchase the property, I will give them $300. This might be good compensation going forward. In order for these people to take me seriously, I will offer them $20 right then and there for me to put up my sign. The thought is, once they see money, it might be an easier sell. I was also thinking about drawing up a contract that basically states what I suggested. This contract will give them all the control they need (i.e. they can take the sign down whenever they want (let’s say after 30 or 60 days, or so), and when they do, it automatically cancels the contract). The contract would have an expiration date 1 year from it’s inception. I, also, would have an “out” in the contract that states, I can take the sign down whenever I want (using the same rules I give the property owner). This will give me some flexibility, as well. Anyway, I can dream up the details of the contract later.
So, to re-cap: I would give the property owner $20 right off the bat to put the sign up on their property. Any sales I get which resulted from the seller seeing my sign on their property, I would give them $200. If they give me a lead which results in a sale, I would give them $300. And, all of this will be in a very flexibile contract. I don’t have any problem making the contract this loose. I don’t want to scare off the property owner but, by putting it in a contract, they know that I’m serious and that they have a binding agreement that I will have to abide by.
I guess this is wrapping “bird dogging” in with “bandit signs”. I’m still in the early stages of developing this marketing strategy so I would welcome any thoughts by anybody.
Thanks for your time.