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Need advice for real estate signage. Wondering if somebody could share some experience and wisdom about selling signage to real estate agents. Commercial signs 4x4, 4x6 4x8 8x8; coroplast & crezon (pricing and terms with agents)
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A*s against the wall when you talk to them,bid high,stick to it and be prepared to always hear the speech on how much cheaper they used to get them from so-n--so,dont be affected by the horrified look they take on when you mention a price because its an act,and dont negoitiate with them because they live their lives doing it and wont think twice before they stick you and move on to the next one.
-------------------- Gavin Chachere Plotter in the garage,New Orleans La.
"Sgts Shugart and Gordon again request permission to rope down to crash site two" Posts: 1223 | From: new orleans.la. | Registered: Mar 2000
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""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3484 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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YA! what gavin said. Cash in advance, Don't be quick to give them quotes over the phone. Be carefull about giving quotes for free because they will shop it around to squeeze the last cent out of it.
You will never see the job again. And they will call for a price on a sign, then the cheapest guy will get it yet they will charge what YOU quoted and pocket the difference.
Once you give them a sign be ready for them to drop back and want phone number change in 7 minutes.
They call me, my answer is "Come on by and I'll make up your layout". If you don't they will come to pick up and say "I thought the phone number would be bigger or some strange crap then want a discount cuz its wrong.
So, Cash in advance. Never quote over the phone. Job after approved proof only. No negotiating with the promise of more work. No FREE quoting for job speculating. No quoting for the realtors profit.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5273 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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In our area, real estate and job site signs are more and more ink jet printed banners stapled on plywood.
I think this is where much of the work is going to go very quickly. Now days, a 4x8 banner or realty sign can be printed in minutes.
I remember the days when going into my bosses sign shop and the only thing I was responsible for the entire day was laying out and painting in ONE 4x8 realty sign. The next day we would install it. Those days are gone!
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Boy, You guys sound bitter...and probably rightly so. I do lots of real estate signs and don't get stuck. I tell them the price and if they have a problem with it, I don't have a problem with them shopping. I do always tell them why its better to have my shop do it.
Some allow us to do their work and others continue walking. I'm not going to lower my prices for them. It probably helps that I was a realtor at one time and can build a rapore (sp) with them.
The ones that I have problems with, are the middle eastern...especially dr's. They always ask if I am giving them the best deal, how much am I going to take off, or if I'll do them a favor. I just laugh and tell them I already did. I dont' have a prejudice but sometimes It just gets a little old.
[ January 12, 2005, 11:07 PM: Message edited by: Laura Butler ]
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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Laura,what kind of prices do you get for 4x4,4x6 & 4x8 4mm coroplast? I've done these signs for realtor before when I was employed by somebody else. (3 years ago) I must agree with some of the replies and e mail I got for this post! I was just wondering normal pricing for these signs. I remember that on these we use to make good money and they were easy to make (the small signage 24" x 32" I don't want to touch, they are giving these away). I'm looking at this as an "add-on" to create more volume so I make it worth the while to hire a full time employee. (the second pair of hand could often be very helpful!)
If I may say this,it sounds like you are struggling with your pricing. Do yourself a favor, go to the Letterville Merchant section. Click on the EstiMate logo and that will bring you to his site, you can download a trial version from there. I think you'll find it will be a great tool for you and you'll never have to struggle with pricing again. (no, it's not a paid plug, just been there and it's an awesome tool!)
-------------------- Mike Berry New England Posts: 534 | From: New England | Registered: Jan 2002
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I get $28 ea. for two color double sided coro...but I don't do very many of those for realtors. I do quite a few Alumalite for realtors. Usually sizes either 4x4 or 4x8. For something with two colors, reasonably amount of text, I get anywhere from $14-16 a sq ft for those.
When someone asks about coro, I have a price chart I pull out and show them the price breaks. Anything over 25 and its cheaper for me to send them out to screen print. Those go as low as 3.84 ea for one color DS plus shipping.
[ January 13, 2005, 10:09 AM: Message edited by: Laura Butler ]
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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Strictly time and material. And if you don't get the job, you're probably better off (I'd rather do nothing than work for nothing). I think Dave is right on.
-------------------- Tim Whitcher Adrian, MI Posts: 1546 | From: Adrian, MI | Registered: Mar 1999
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Tell them that you are too busy, and refer them to your competition, you know the ones that you don't that you can't stand, because they low ball everybody.
-------------------- Jerry Priddy All Sign Co. 763-427-3878 Posts: 21 | From: ANOKA, MN. USA | Registered: Dec 2000
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"I remember the days when going into my bosses sign shop and the only thing I was responsible for the entire day was laying out and painting in ONE 4x8 realty sign. The next day we would install it. Those days are gone!"
Dave you had it easy, when I worked for a commercial shop, if your output was only one 4x8 a day you would be the one gone Three or four was more the norm.
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
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I had a realtor in here the other day, & he saw 4 other RE signs leaning against the wall & said "thats my neighbor". That guy had paid me $300 just to cover a 7" x 21" section of both sides of his 4 signs w/ opaque white Control-Tac & put his name & ph # over his companies name & ph.
Then the new guy & I came up with a design for 2 x 3 "signacade" A-Frame sign's w/ his lettering/logo plus a 12 x 18 section with dry-erase vinyl for changing his OPEN HOUSE information. I'm charging $400 & I guess he liked the price so he ordered 6 of them.
BTW, I asked him how he found me... says that new full-color YP ad brought me his business... so once again, things are different out here
Realtors around here do really well, so I don't have as much trouble as others seem to.
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I must agree with some of the replies and e mail I got for this post!
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Three or four was more the norm.
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