Expired listing - what do you do w/ previous agent's signs?

[skipfactor]

Usually on a new house listing, we put agents' old signs in the shed or basement or something and give them a ring. However, this is the first time we've had to do it on a lot that's now active (and was expired by over a month with the previous agent/firm).

1. stack the signs on the ground and call the agent?
2. call the agent and tell her to come get them? we all know how long that could take
3. deliver them to her office personally?

[judyo]

I'd call the agent to have her pick them up. I'd certainly never deliver someone else's signs.

[BrandonSternfield]

If you were mean, and unethical, you could post the signs where you normally couldn't legally.

I would only do that, if they didn't pick up the signs in a semi-timeley manner though.

You know I'm just kidding.. I hope.

[Goknights]

I ran into a situation similar to this recently. I placed the old sign on the side of the house and added another lockbox. The agent came by weeks later to remove her stuff.

[Gjtrafl]

I always try to put them away but within eyesite of the area where the sign used to be. Propped up against the side of the house works good as mentioned below.

Once your sign goes up, you will be surprised how fast they will come on and get theirs.

[webmaster]

You wanna hear something funny (True story) - In August of last year, I drove by a house in the neighborhood that I lived, and saw that it was for sale (And reduced ooooohhhh) - So I pulled into the house, and grabbed the sign out of the yard, stuck in it my trunk so noone else would see that it was for sale, and called my Realtor the next morning.

In my defense, I bought the house and paid full price, but it was wicked funny.

Oh yeah, and I gave him his sign back after I got my offer accepted.

[Saodavi]

Our board requires that the sign's/lockboxes be off within 3 days of the end of the listing. We'll remove what we can and leave it on the side of the house. We tell the homeowner that if it isn't gone in 3 days, they can cut the lockbox off and throw everything in the trash. Then we'll call the agents and tell them to come get it before the homeowner gets rid of it. Seeing as how most Supra boxes are about $100 and good signs are about the same, I'm surprised more agents don't keep better track of them.

Failing to remove these items from an expired listing is about as unprofessional as it gets. I have no sympathy for those agents or their equipment. It's no surprise that these are the listings that expire ... though I've also had this problem when a listing agent doesn't remove their sign/lockbox after the sale.

[BrandonSternfield]

That's actually not a bad idea. If you are truly serious, you remove any other chance of other's putting their offers in.

If you weren't serious, I wouldn't do it though

[Saodavi]

You wanna hear something funny (True story) - In August of last year, I drove by a house in the neighborhood that I lived, and saw that it was for sale (And reduced ooooohhhh) - So I pulled into the house, and grabbed the sign out of the yard, stuck in it my trunk so noone else would see that it was for sale, and called my Realtor the next morning.

In my defense, I bought the house and paid full price, but it was wicked funny.

Oh yeah, and I gave him his sign back after I got my offer accepted.

You're lucky you didn't get arrested for theft. If you were an agent, you'd lose your license for something like that.

Besides, everybody knows most houses sell through the MLS and most people (or their agents) shop online via the MLS or IDX so I'm not sure what this shenanigan really accomplished other than making you feel shrewd and clever.

Hopefully your ethics aren't representative of the REW staff in general. (You are staff right?)

[Jason Painter]

Since this is a vacant lot I would say put the sign in your car and call the other agent and tell them that they can pick it up at your office. If they don't show up to get it in a week then trash it. Maybe I'm too nice. Since you are taking this listing from the other agent there will be some animosity anyway, so killem with kindness.