Staging New Hampshire

This is pretty atrocious. His office needs to do an intervention. Oops, I meant his/her. ;)

I agree this promote a very negative image of the company and agent. It looks sloppy and unkept. If I were a buyer or seller, I think it would subliminally say that I don't care about my job or don't take it seriously.

Wow that sign has taken some abuse.  I know mine get pretty beat up in the winter.  One of my signs last year took quite a few (gun shot holes).  I don't think anyone realizes what those signs cost.  I don't pay for them at prudential but when I was at remax I spent quite a bit of money on signs.

YEEEEEEIKES !!!!!!!!

I wonder if the agent even knows about it ! Either way, someone, owner or agent, should have replaced this PRONTO !!!!

I see this when I am out and want to stop and fix them but should I? I don't know if legally I can upright their sign, the way people handle things today, I don't need problems because I am nice. The homeowners hired the person to represent them and this should never be seen like that. It does send a subliminal message to others who may want to hire a agent. I watched one in my neighborhood be down for 2 months, I had actually called  when I first had seen it and told the realtor but they didn't show until I guess they were back out here which is rural. What should we do when we see this?

Did a hurricane just blow through?  Looked like a distressed sale to me!

Sharon,

The agent is probably not aware that the sign has been damaged.  Do the professional thing and give them a call or drop them an email. Drop me a private email with the agent's name and I'll take care of it if you do not want to do so.

I just forwarded a copy of this blog the Portmouth office. Maybe they can track down the property.

Tom

I'm sorry you blotted out the name. I'd be most curious to see whether or not the home is actually listed, and if so, what the advertising for it looks like.

Based on some of the listing advertisements I see across the country, there are agents out there who embarass themselves and their sellers even more.

Then again, there could be other circumstances here. Maybe the home sold and the agent forgot to come back for his/her sign, and the new owner didn't want it sitting out there. I have heard of this happening, and the buyer wants the sign out of view.

Tells you how often someone has been to this house.

Sharon, Congrats on the featured post, I have had to make due with less than perfect signage when the ground is frozen, but just as you suggest...I wouldn't leave "my calling card" this way. Sad some are so lazy.

I think this more common than most of us would admit to. Drive around my town and I bet you will find 10 signs that look pretty bad.

sloppy   is as sloppy does... owner should see this and let him/her go

Sharon:

You are right -- this is really stupid of the agent to allow this sign to sit in such a way.

And I have got to say this ... I LOVE your header! And I also really like your embedded logo, too.

Wow. This is assuredl sending a message of professionalism, isn't it. And I hate to say it, but a lot of signs in my neighborhood look like that!

Sharon, driving through neighborhoods in Metro Atlanta I see this all of the time.  Sometimes the agents just stop caring.

I agree, this is neglect and proof that the agent is not doing their job. I also hate it when the house closes and it takes six months for the agent to pick up their lockbox and sign!

That sign has been up for a long time, apparently.  WOW -- talk about stale listings LOL  That's the impression I get.

I'm not a fan of the franchise, but COME ON! The winds have been a little on the high side don't you think. Here's a video link of our sign in front of our office taken the other day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAFGE6slY38

I don't think a blog post criticizing a peer is the correct way to handle this - this just more of bashing the other agent and sends the wrong message to the general public. Please take it down.

I would guess that the house is vacant.  Most likely the agent is not aware of the situation and the owner may not be aware of the situation or may not care if the property is being foreclosed upon.

Great feature, Sharon. I can't believe the Seller isn't upset by this. Sadly, it reflects the attention given to this property. Regardless of the reason's it doesn't look good for the agency.

Gregory,

I sent a link to the blog to every one of the affiliated offices that service Portsmouth. I'm hoping they can chase it down and fix it by sending the blog to every agent in the area.

Tom

P.S. I wonder if the OP can expect any business from those agents going forward?

Sharon - Good grief!  Did you say, "The agent actually looks much worse in person. She's bent and damaged, shoved in between some rocks and propped up against the mailbox.?" Just goes to show you how important image is when you're selling. You'd think agents would learn, but I guess some things never change.  CONGRATS ON THE FEATURE!  You go girl!

At least it is standing, Sharon. I've seen some on the ground week after week - for actively listed homes. I check my vacant homes weekly. In occupied ones, the sellers know to fix it or call me the minute there is a problem - and they do.

I do not see this as bashing (#18) and am glad this public post is on the dashboard.

Oops. I would be this agent very seldom if ever visits the property. Looks remote. What a bad situation!

We drilled holes in our signs and added screws to hold them in place as they should be - it's called professionalism when you take whatever steps become necessary to put forth the best first image.  Speaking of steps, it would seem the seller walks this route daily - surely they could have informed their agent of the repair needed if they couldn't handle it themselves. Some agents are just sloppy and give us all a bad name.  If she's bent and damaged as earlier comments suggest, maybe the problem will cure itself soon.

Elaine:  It's hard for me to believe that someone from the office hasn't cared to say anything.  It's a very public street, not hidden away in a remote area.

Michele:  That's exactly the impression I get when I pass by it.

David:  I guess that is one thing that this sign has going for it - no bullet holes!  Regardless of cost, I wouldn't have anything with my name on it displayed in public looking like this.

Sheldon:  Isn't "not knowing about it" on the part of the agent just as bad? 

Debby:  I'm not sure what you are supposed to do when you see this.  I wrote a blog post. LOL!  I think you did the right thing calling the agent when you saw a fallen sign.  It's out of your hands what they choose to do about it at that point.

Patsy:  We did have extremely high winds about a week ago.  I wish I could blame it on that storm.  Unfortunately, this sign has looked like this long before the storm.

Tom:  The sign is more than damaged.  It didn't just get hit by a car or blown around in a storm.  It has been neglected and worn over time.  It will be interesting to see if anything comes of your contact with the Portsmouth office.

Looks to me like the agent is falling down (on their job) also!

Sharon - Was this buried in a snowbank or something?  Yikes.

Seems like this must be a vacant property because if I was the seller I'd be opening a can of whoop-**s on my agent. I also have to wonder if this agent is even in business any more.

Or maybe some local kids decided to whack the sign to pieces because they were tired of playing mailbox baseball?

Whatever the reason, I hope it gets fixed soon.

Sharon the Transformationer:

Not wanting to have to wonder about my signs and whether they are performing, I spend a lot of time planning on where they will go and how I will fasten them. Same with my flyers. I find the answer is different at each property. I am always thankful for someone who lets me know I'm down. I love this business. Thank you

Dave:  The property was listed from June - December 2009.  It was relisted in February and is currently on the market.   I was curious about the interior of the house.  Based on the condition of the exterior, I expected bad photos or no photos at all.  I was surprised to find several photos portraying a nice interior.  It is vacant, which may explain the lack of owner input.  The sign is not "out of view" either.  It's right at the street.

I agree with #18. Lots of assumptions floating around on this post. I once had a client going through a divorce who did not want to sell the house. The Seller actually sabotaged the sign, brochure box, showings, etc. Most of this sounds like Jr. High.

Makes me wonder if the listing agent has checked on or shown the property.  I've found my signs is disrepair (run over by county when cutting right of way or tampered with by likely neighborhood kids), but since I check my listings at least a couple times  a month even if I don't show them, it would not continue to be this way if it were my listing. 

It's certainly not inviting to buyers.

Sharon, my signs like Daves take a pretty good beating through the winter, however the weather has been good and all of mine have been replaced with new ones.

Some folks do not drive by their listings all the time. But, why didn't the owner call the agent to let him/her know so that this could be addressed?

Looks like the balloon needs some helium. . 

Hi Sharon!

I freak out if my signs are crooked or flyers are missing. I have a "runner" that checks all of my sings once a week, and I am very avid about letting my sellers know they need to call me if something is out of place.  

Sharon, maybe the sign itself is a short sale.

It's hard to imagine someone leaving that up to represent them.

Chuck:  That is the impression you get.

Steve:  Thanks!  I can imagine in mountain country you would have some frozen ground issues!  That's not the issue in this case.  There has been plenty of opportunity to fix, replace, or at least stand upright this poor sign.

Alan:  I guess it just makes the agents with professional looking signs look all the better!

Debra:  As stated earlier, the house is vacant.  I have no idea if the owner is even local.  You would think someone, a neighbor or relative, would see it and pass on the info, though.

Rocks holding the sign up, such great use of what is available. My guess, as bad as it looks, is that someone came along and put the sign back up the best they could and doubtful the Realtor has seen it this way..

I guess the property has been on the market a loooooooong time. Time for a refresh, sign, Realtor and price no doubt!

Agent Aaron:  Thanks!  Nice of you to say, I really appreciate it!

Rose:  Well let's assume that the bad signs in your neighborhood are making yours look even better!

Jennifer:  It's really too bad. 

Aaron P:  That also shows a lack of courtesy and professionalism.

Carla:  There certainly is no drive-by appeal or curb appeal. 

Maybe he hopes it will just blow away OR did he put it out there for the trashman to pick up ????

This is unfortunately so common. To start with those type of signs look so cheap. I only use wood post signs 2 feet deep in the ground. I mean business, my sellers mean business and this is the perception I want to project.
Good post-

Sharon - That sign is certainly sending the wrong message. Hopefully, the sign and the listing have not been abandoned by the agent indefinitely. I just drove by one of my signs today and had to stop to straighten it out. I think some teenagers were out having batting practice last night!

This sign needs help, I would suggest calling the listing agent and letting them know.

Wrong message for sure!! This lets me know that the listing agent does not care about his/her image or their client's!  Scary.

It does make you wonder if the agent is that casual/lazy about the rest of the transaction or if this is coming from the homeowner? I used to call the agents and let them know that I saw their sign and it was damaged, but so many times the response was so unappreciative (and once down right catty), that I no longer call. If it's a friends sign I stop and stand it up, etc... and let them know later.

Gregory:    Yes, we have had strong winds recently, but this is not a case of a sign with wind damage.  This sign has been neglected all winter.  I know, I drive by almost every day.

The purpose of my post is not to "criticize" or "bash" anyone.   I have nothing against the franchise. As a courtesy, I removed the agent's name and phone number.  I intentionally cropped the house out of the photo.

My purpose is to point out the importance of professionalism and pride as a business person.  My purpose is to highlight an example of just how easily your brand...your name...your reputation can be damaged. 

My business is based on helping others create the best possible first impression.  This is an example of one way some agents are failing in that respect.    

The first impression is always the most important aspect of a property...all the way down to the listing agents signage. Hmmmm.

This agent should be fired by the Seller, and the Brokerage.

Iris:  The house is vacant.  I'm not sure how that justifies neglect on the part of the agent.  Vacant is all the more reason to be checking the property on a regular basis.

Lee & Carol:   Thanks for the congrats!  I didn't expect this kind of attention.  I intended originally to post the photo as a Wordless Wednesday.  It's always the posts you least expect that get featured.

Laraine:  You actually had me there for a minute.  I had to go back and make sure that isn't what I said!  LOL!   Thanks for the support!

Irene:  Thank you so much!  I appreciate the support.

Vickie:  Worse than you think.  It is not remote at all.  It is on a busy street and seen by hundreds of people each day.

Drick:  I love when you said:  "take whatever steps become necessary to put forth the best first image."  That's all I'm saying! 

No, "she" (or he)  is not bent and damaged as Laraine has stated earlier!  That Laraine is such a trouble maker! 

I have to add that with the snow melting and snow banks gone there are many realtors signs like that laying face down on the ground now. These signs are of various agents and brokers around the Twin Cities area.

It puzzles me as to why a drive by ones own listings periodically does not happen so the listing agent insures his signage is still doing it's designed work of...being a sign with information for others to see and be confident about calling about the property?

I have contacted other agents about signage and most of the time they are unaware and very thankful to have been informed. But you know...someday I may have the same thing happen to me. Hopefully not with regular inspection of signage and the propety that has them. We will see..

Mike:  At least at this property, they have.

Coleen:  It was sticking sideways out of a snowbank once.  It's had a very long and hard stay at this location.  It's suffered wear and tear and abuse, but I don't believe vandalism is involved.  No matter what has happened to it, the fact still remains that the agent is not doing anything about it.  Yes, this agent is still in business.

Richie:  I would assume you would not allow your signs to reach this condition.  At some point you would make the decision to replace it.

Pat:  I'm not sure what you mean by "junior high" but my intention here was to point out an example of how your signs are a reflection of you and your business.  If I were just being hurtful or hateful I would have posted the picture unedited.

Tammy:  Exactly the point...no matter what happens to them, you check on your signs regularly.  That's the point...this sign is not being maintained.

Gerry:  And by doing that you have shown respect for yourself as a business man.

Melissa:  I have no idea what the owner situation is.  The house is vacant in the pictures. 

Fernando:  At the very least!

Lisa:  I'm not at all surprised to hear that!  Great idea to have someone watching the signs for you!  That's a perfect example of how to set yourself apart from the average agent.

Ted:  Hard to imagine...that's all I'm saying!

I list a lot of property that is way, way out of town. When I see a sign like this I usually try to call the agent and offer to bring it back into town. If found signs for agents who no longer work for that company or are no longer agents. But that's me...

I had a similar situation. Also blogged about it.  In my case, the sign was down completely for weeks and visible  -- still an active listing.  The agency was called to tell them about the sign and nothing was done.  Go figure.

Sharon:

I've seen worse scenarios.. there is no excuse for this type of marketing. Is it laziness or apathy? Seems like someone just could care less...

Talk about first impressions................That sign speaks volumes about neglect and despair. Not something we want to promote. Give that agent or the manager a call.

I caretake all my properites for the homeowners that have had to move and the house is still on the market that I have staged the home, its another service I provide. So if a sign is down or the brochures are empty I call the listing agent. I still think it is the case of laziness. Great post you have them thinking!

is this for real?

I wish they were in my market, it would make getting the listing easier for me when it expires.

Jerry:  Rocks and a mailbox are just barely doing the job.

Corinne:  It has been awhile.  It doesn't appear to be a priority.

Michael:  LOL!  The trashmen are also ignoring it.

Cathy:  Way to impress!  It sounds like you mean business and I love it!

Judy:  Boy, it seems the teens are really getting a bad rap in these comments!  Thanks for joining in.

Lorraine/Loretta:  I may have considered it, but now that I've read the comments saying how poorly those calls are received, I don't think I will.  And, really...a call should not be necessary.

Stephen:  That's the impression I get too.

Trevella:  I guess I just feel that the agent should be responsible in this situation.  It isn't a sign that fell over or a one time incident of damage to the sign.  This has been an ongoing display of neglect.

Randy:  And the impression speaks of the agent personally too, not just the property.  As previously stated, this isn't a "just fell down" situation like you speak of.

Stewart:  Please, don't hold back, tell us how you really feel!  lol!

Dena:  This is not a sign for a sold or expired listing or a sign from an agent who abandoned it.  This is an active listing. 

Barbara:  This is really too bad.  It seems it is a common problem.  I am really surprised at hearing that offices were notified and nothing was done.

Mott:  Well said!  I agree.

Millie:  It seems that the offices have been sent this post.  Others have stated that they did not have good luck making that call, and I don't feel it is my responsibility.

Debby:  This is a great service you provide for your clients!  This seller is not so lucky...or maybe this seller just doesn't care.

Meridian Financial:  In a word, YES.

Scott:  I love it!  Well said!

Sharon - At first glance, it appeared far worse than it is.  It looks like a tough place to put a sign, and they're not using metal, but rather Coroplex (I think?).  It looks like the panel just popped out.  I agree that it's crooked, though.  :)

Unless there was a major storm the night before this was taken this is inexcusable. I wonder if ReMax has no control over this?

Marcy

Not sure who this belongs to.  I know personally I spent a full day taking care of and tracking down my signs after last weeks wind storm.

It looks like a very difficult place to put a sign in the first place!  It IS embarrassing to say the least!

That is pretty bad!  I was cleaning signs with 409 just this morning before putting them out...that is a pretty sad way to represent a seller!

Since you drive by daily and it has been a mess for quite some time, I will say shame on the agent.  Otherwise, I might agree with some of the comments above.  Months of a sign sitting like this is not excusable :)

This is just sad.  It would be better to have no sign than a sign that looks like this.

I see that quite a bit in AZ. Many times I drive by and think to myself, they put their sign up originally and have not been out to the property since.

However, as a listing agent I know that my signs have been torn down by neighborhood kids from one day to the next. It could be a case of a careless agent or vandals.

Sometimes I will call the agent and let them know that their sign is in need of attention.

Sharon, Give the person a call and let them know how rotten it looks. Put his/her name on here and I'll give them a call for you. Thanks for sharing.

I have started doing custom signs for each listing...  So, they are re-done each time and every listing gets a "new sign"...  Even when I was with the "old company" I used to go through the signs to make sure I have good panels going out.  And I have pulled a few riders that looked a bit worn...

Jason:  I'm not sure what it is made of.  It's popped out of the frame and bent.  The frame itself is really bent.  You can't tell from this picture how much it is leaning.  It's been laying on the ground, stuck in a snowbank sideways, leaning against the fence.  It really isn't a tough place to put a sign.  I cropped out the full view because I didn't feel it necessary to show the neighbor's house. 

Marcy:  It's been this way for awhile.

Bill:  And the key is that you tracked down your signs.

Vickie:  It's a difficult spot to put a sign, where this person chose to put it.  But, there are plenty of other choices for better location.  You can't tell because the picture is cropped to only show the sign.

Jeani:  Now that is exactly why you get the big bucks!

Elizabeth:  It's been bugging me for some time, this is not an overnight, one time incident.

Stacey-Ann:  I agree 

Victoria:  If this is kids or vaddals, then they are working full time on this. 

Who hasnt had their sign kicked in or stolen by hoods in the area?

Joseph:  I find it interesting how many people want to call this agent.  I appreciate the offer, but I'm not going to publicly list them.    Tom (#7) has forwarded this blog post to the ReMax offices in my area. 

Lane:  Sounds like you "get it" and that will set you apart from those who don't.

Larry:  That's not what happened here.  This sign is suffering from neglect.  It must be frustrating when your signs are tampered with, though.

Sharon ~ Very timely post, as I noticed one the other day from a "Top Producer" in our area that was dirty and way past it's Sell-by-Date.  The listing agent's sign makes the first impression on potential buyers, and if my home was listed and the agent neglected the sign .... I'd find another agent who has time to check on it once in a while.  (I find it interesting that some of the commenters automatically defend the listing agent without knowing that you've seen this sign almost daily for months!)

hmmm.  I wonder when this listing expires?

Cheryl:  Great!  Then my job here is done!  From what I can tell, you have nothing to worry about.  I get the impression you take your signs very seriously!

Hi Sharon. I can't say anything disparaging but I can say that I do what I call "sign maintenance" at least once per month. It is the little things that add up.

Sharon I have noticed a few signs in bad shape just recently.  Kind of an indication the agent has not visited the property in a while.  I agree not a good refection on brand.

Sharon, also, isn't it against the law to obstruct the mailbox? I get in trouble for having my CAR too close to my mailbox! WOW.

Hi Sharon -- I've seen some that have been flat on the ground for weeks, signs put in other people's yards, stolen signs, etc.  You are right, this is unacceptable.

I'm sorry if it's already been addressed, I don't have time to read all 86 replies right now.

Did you call the agent? Did you fix his/her sign for them?

I know I'm not the only one in my market who will fix the signs of other agents when nature, drunkards, or county workers strike, perhaps you should start the trend in your market.

Ours is a cooperative competitive industry, we rely on competition and cooperation to make it work. I personally extend my cooperation so far as to help my competitors maintain their professional image when not too inconvenient for myself. Had I seen that sign while not too busy, I probably would have at least made an effort to right it, and then called the agent to let them know that their sign was in need of some assistance.

Sharon - pretty sad. And this scene, or a similar one, is pretty common on REOs and unoccupied short sales. I have straightened up signs or rehung them many times, but sometimes they are beyond repair. Like the home, which is often not in nice shape, it sends a pretty strong "lack of caring" message on the part of the agent and the brokerage.

I'm embarassed that it's a RE/MAX sign! :)

Jeff

Sharon, I experience this problem quite often. My name riders are often RIPPED from the main sign leaving a sometimes shredded main sign.  Seems as though I am regularly repairing/replacing signage.  It would appear that once the sign is up, the service is finished with this particular Realtor just hoping for the best.  Doesn't he/she ever drive by their listing for a look see?  I am not sure how to remedy my personal problem...something must be pretty enticing for sign vandals...could it be my name?  Is some pervert collecting them to make some kind of paneling for their rec room?  I have discussed this problem with my Broker saying that I was considering making my ad campaign  read "need an extra bath? call the Johns", then I may be able to understand the appeal...made him shutter...  lol. 

Sharon this is pretty rough. I am sure it looked better a while back! Its atrocious. Perhaps some kids played with it. If not this agent needs to shape up.

Wow, unbelievable.  I can't believe a seller would stand for this.  I like you am embarrassed for the agent, broker and seller.

Sharon, did you call the agent to let them know about this? That would be the first thing I would do, or possibly even stop to fix it for them if I had the time.

Yes, that sign definitely makes a statement and leaves an impression.  You said its not in an isolated area and many folks will see/notice it on a daily basis -- reinforcing the statement and impression that sign leaves behind.

Obviously we can't check on our signage daily for all listings but if you have mentioned to the sellers to bring any sign issues to your attention that should take care of being aware it needs some care.

I agree that Tom #7 did a great job of bringing it to the attention of the Franchise Offices in the area.

Something else that bugs me is a lockbox with the crud!  So filthy the mere thought of touching it is repulsive!  That may be extreme but there sure are some very neglected lock-boxes sitting on doors and they don't look good!

Sue of Robin and Sue

Congrats on feature!  I wonder why the homeowner hasn't done or said anything about this?

The sign says much about the Realtor and the Seller!

Sharon - yikes....this is sad.  Horrible representation of the property, the company and the agent.  Someone does need to do an intervention right NOW!

Sharon, that is really appalling.  I make it a habit of checking my signs often, after all flyer boxes need to be replenished.  Especially after a storm or high winds you really have to get out there and check on your product.

It looks pretty awful-- we have seen a lot of signs in similar condition -- guess in this tight market agents are just not able to keep up with the costs of them and the staff to keep them in good condition -- a sad sign of the time it seems.

I was going to comment about it but everything has been said. Just sad that someone cares about thier livelyhood that way.

Teenagers love to vandalize signs as well....  We have a few signs at the beach that always end up in someone elses yard...  Just for fun... So every weekend I go down and check on it...  I would give the agent a call...They may have no idea!

Signs do get pretty beat up in the winter -- and sometimes they're not in great shape to begin with since we re-use them. There's so much inventory right now the new ones go fast when they come in too.

Umm...There is some marketing to do here :-)

Distressed sale or distressed realtor....lol...

Sharon:

I did read most of these comments and I don't know if this question was addressed- How long has it actually been like this?  If it has been in this condition for awhile that is just neglect and does look bad for the agent and the property.

So, early on in my career, I listed a home and sold it next door to a listing that had been on the market for 6+ months for more than the house that had been listed.  The owner of the long listed house sawme putting up a Under Contract rider on my property listing and proceeded to take his sign from his yard out of the yard and throw it into the street and walked back into the house.  Now, that sign had some damage.  Within a couple of days - the other agent that had been neglecting the listing (so I heard) dropped the price - refreshed the listing, re-hung a new sign and it sold...for less than our listing, but it finally sold. -  Too bad the sign had to bear the brunt of the sellers anger.

This is definitely not the message you want to convey. As others have mentioned it would be interesting to know how long the sign was like this. In my area during thee winter it is very easy for a sign to look like this due to a snow plow hitting it.

I would have just called the agent/office to let them know.  I have had signs stolen & placed on other properties, run over by the landscapers (it actually had tire marks on it), buried in mud, etc. etc.  And never was it the property owner that alerted me to the problem and only once did another realtor. 

I can't be everywhere, everyday & if this were my sign, I would have preferred a phone call rather than a blog post on ActiveRain.

LOL  I knew winter was tough!

Was it this way for a long time? If so, shame on the agent. If it just happened because of the weather I'd cut them some slack. The agent might still be without power. 

I have straightened out the signs of competitors before. 

Oops!  And what does this say about the sellers?  You'd think they would call their agent right away to get the thing replaced, assuming they still live in the house.

I would think the thing to do was to call the agent. It would have been a shining example of following the Golden Rule.

Guess it's appropriate ...."Sign Of The Times" ...."Housing market falling apart"....Frankly. I am not sure what all the fuss is about....So...So what?

I wonder how long the sign has been like this.  If for a long time, it is a shame that it hasn't been replaced. 

If vandals just smashed it a few days ago, then maybe it can be excused.  But replace it ASAP.

I have had properties listed where we had jokers (or drinkers) in the neighborhood who just loved to destroy signs, OR sometimes STEAL them. 

Maybe this property has those type neighbors mentioned above and the sign has been replaced several times already, and the seller and agent have just decided to let the ratty sign stay since a new one would just be destroyed too.  It's possible.

Sarah

I got a good listing last year when the previous agent hadn't bothered to pull the vines off her sign.   There were other factors involved, but that was important.   She also didn't remove the lockbox many months later and they had to unscrew a fixture to get it off.    I know signs and boxes aren't cheap, but this agent didn't care.   I guess her company paid for them.  

Weedy beds and overgrown grass send a similar message - someone isn't checking the listing and it's vacant.  

OMG, I can't believe it was a ReMax agent. So not like us, I'm so embarressed.

Oh boy,......sure wasn't a good sign literally was it???

It sure looks awful!   Please do a follow up - love to hear if it ever gets fixed, and what the reason was, if you find out.....

Maybe he doesn't know it's damaged. I've had lots of vandals attack my signs in the last year. Or maybe the wind beat it up.  I usually carry zip-ties for the other signs, and if I see someone's sign hanging by one zip tie I will pull over and fix it for them, only takes a minute.  If I see an agent's sign destroyed like that I'll call and give him/her a heads up.  I'd give him a call and let him/her know the condition of the sign.  I'm sure he/she would appreciate it.

Maybe the agent is trying to make the listing 'stand out'? Or maybe it's a pity appeal. You know, "I'm too overworked and poor to take care of my sign, please help me out and buy this houise." Or - the agent is a friend or family member of the owner, so the owner puts up with it.

As I read through these posts I hear a voice in my head that says "judge not least ye be judged"...yes you....ok guys, this is snow country and plows and kids with too much time on their hands and divorces and you name it happens....how about taking the high road and calling the agent?

I'm a heavy listing agent carrying 70-100 listings at a time and my signs get stolen, my lock boxes and keys taken and I rekey and I have my inspectors visit my listings (which are empty) weekly and perform interior inspections and photograph them to prove we've been there. Still, HVAC units get stolen, etc. and I'm pretty sure that the majority of agents posting here aren't performing this FREE SERVICE for their client.

 It is real easy to be an arm chair quarterback and slam the agent and call them lazy and careless, etc. but until you walk a mile in their mocassins....be careful of what you say. Remember- what you put out there comes right back at ya.

Janet Fetterman, Broker Associate/Owner

Concord Real Estate

I want to give a shout out to the following commentors on this post . . .  You've shown what true professionalism is and you've certainly earned my respect today!

#7 Tom Branch

#18 Gregory Bain 

#33 Pat Mulliken

#78 Victoria Lawrence

#79 Joseph Keech

#82 Larry Hultberg

#92 Nick Snow

#97 Don Wilson

#105 Barbara Kornegay

#113 Jenna Dixon

#117 Mark Brian 

#124 Lisa B

#126 Janet Fetterman

Did anyone think there might be a valid reason for the sign being that way?  Perhaps the listing expired and the Seller has put the sign out at the road to be collected?  Perhaps the wind dragged it down the street and some kind neighbour left it at the mailbox for them?
There are many reasons for the sign being in that condition and position and Sharon is the only one who might know how long it has been like this (1 hour, 1 day, 1 month?) and so many of you have jumped on the negativity train to trash this agent. THANK YOU SHARON FOR LETTING US KNOW MORE DETAILS IN YOUR LATER COMMENTS!   Also, I'm not in any way criticizing you for the post, just the 100 or so commentors who felt like trashing the agent/Seller in question.  My concern also is with the Powers that be who feature posts that criticize colleagues. 

Do each of you know instantly when your signs are damaged?  I don't as my magic powers only provide me with so much information in a nanosecond! 

Wow...if I were a potential seller I'd be running home to call this agent to list my house...NOT!  As someone said before, the sellers must not be too motivated to sell either.  Maybe it's a seller/agent situation :).

Good grief! How long has it been since this agent was at this listing? Not good pr at all~

Sharon, I wonder if the owner contacted the realtor to let them know?  We've had signs damaged by lawn services that we wouldn't have seen ordinarily - but the homeowner called to tell us & off we went to fix it. 

Sharon - you are right, agents should check vacant homes more often.

This makes me glad we have a sign company who installs our signs for us on sturdy 4x4 posts. The worst we've ever had was a rider hanging by one hook or blown off by high winds, easily fixed. We've started using heavier hooks that don't come undone unless someone manually does it, so we should never have this problem. Maybe this agent needs to look into a sturdier sign for his/her listings.

I've seen signs that have been run over or otherwise damaged in some way and typically will call the agent and let them know.  I hope you did that.  I'm not sure you are following "The Golden Rule" with your blog and by an outsiders perspective this could be construed as trying to make the agent and seller look bad without knowing the facts.

WWJD?

I think the agent should be paying attention to where their signs are and in what condition they are in. Doesn't matter what company it is.

the agent's sign makes him/her look distressed more than the property.

If I had the time to stop and take a picture and write a blog about it - I would have just taken a minute to fix the sign for the agent. Who knows - they may have paid it forward when one of your signs was down.

Well Sharon, you've really struck a cord here!

My first reaction to the photo was: the place must've been for sale so long everybody's forgotten about it! However, reading through the comments, there are so many ways to explain what may have happened! A reminder why this forum is so valuable--we get another view(s) on the matter and that helps all of us. 

Most importantly, we all want to be better at what we do and a little poke can prompt us to take some needed action. Serious message yet having a sense of humor helps... 

You need to check your signs on occasion.  I had a sign of mine be taken down a couple times and kept putting it back up.  Then one of the neighbors was nice enough to call me (and she was very nice about it) and point out my sign was blocking the view of cars trying to turn at a certain intersection.  I moved my sign and no more problems.

Sharon- Congrats on another timely and interesting post.  It's been interesting reading all of the comments.  I never interpreted your post as criticizing any one Realtor.  I felt you were pointing out to all of us that because impressions DO count, that we all need to be diligent in all areas of marketing a house.  The Realtor, the Listing Agency, Stager, Fellow agents AND the Seller.  We can't all take an "It's not my job" attitude because it does reflect on all of us. 

Hi Sharon, Congratulations on the feature.  We see some signs like this, I don't know if it's the snowplows, the wind or competing Realtors (kidding) but it doesn't present a professional marketing approach - many of the listings up here are second homes/vacant or vacant land . It pays to drive by once in awhile and check the sign!

About a mile down the road from my house there was a listing that stayed on the market for a couple of years with only occasional showings. (Yes, it was overpriced.)

The sign had been nailed on the side of the shed, but after a few months the top nail fell out, so the sign hunt upside down. It stayed that way, in spite of showings by the listing agent, until the house was finally sold.

The occupants were tenants, so they didn't care.

Every now and then I thought about calling the man and telling him to fix his sign, but I never did, because I knew he had been there and seen it for himself.

Those "silent salesmen" need to be kept in good shape, or you're right - they send a very negative message about the agent and the real estate company.

Hi Sharon - Did you contact the agent or office? They should appreciate hearing about this, and it may even earn you some business down the road (or right at this very listing)!

Wow, it's all been said above. I will do regular drive by's just because that is what many buyers do.

Definitely feature worthy again Sharon, congratulations.  I have called agents about their signs and I'm often surprised at their less than thankful attitudes, but I will still continue to call.  This is "just another sign" that people will see as an invite for lowball offers, right or wrong. 

Maureen:  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you for noticing that I said this sign has been this way for awhile.  This seems to be something that people are missing. 

Jeff, Lana, Jennifer:  Thanks for the comments!

Marney:  Not sure about mailbox laws, but that is a good point.  At the very least, it probably annoys the mailman.

Chris:  This one has been on the ground at times too.

Nick:  Your professional attitude is commendable.  It is not a one time thing with this sign.  It needs more than straightening.  I am not a realtor and would never consider touching someone elses sign. 

If you have 1 or 100 listings, making sure your signage and marketing material is professional is paramount. $10.00 says the above property is vacant!

Ty

Sharon:

If I saw a sign like this, the first thing I would do is call the agent and let him or her know. Maybe their are circumstances you are not aware of. Rather than judge and chastise I would try to rectify the situation.

Boulder City Steve

Jeff:  It's a reflection on the whole name, I understand your disappointment.

Connie:  Thanks for bringing your humor into the conversation!  I wish I had an answer to your problem!

Robin and Sue:  Lock boxes are another area where agents can make a very bad impression.  Good point!

Claudette:  It has been like this or equally bad for a long time.  I wanted to take the picture last week after coming up with the idea the week before that, after having seen it like this for a week or two.  It's been 3 or 4 weeks minimum.  Prior to this we saw it laying flat and also stuck sideways in a snowbank.

It's a glaring advertisement to find a DIFFERENT realtor when selling your house. I wish I could get one of these in front of all my listings' NIEGHBORS homes :)

Thank you all for your comments.  Obviously many of you have not read through all the comments (I don't blame you, it would be very time consuming) and I'm seeing the same questions and points repeated.  I would like to address them here:

1.  This is a sign that I have been driving by on a daily basis for weeks.  It is not a case of me not knowing the cause of the damage and assuming it's a bad agent.   I have watched this sign deteriorate over a period of time.

2.  No, I did not stop to fix it.    I am not a Realtor and would never assume that it was my place to handle someone else's property.  I can see where it is a very good deed on the part of one agent to stop and reposition another agent's fallen sign.  I commend those of you who have done this, but this is not what this is about.

3.  No, I did not call and will not call the agent.  I learned early on in my business that most agents don't appreciate a surprise call or visit from a stager wishing to give them marketing advice on their listings, no matter how well intended the advice may be.

4.  Ignorance is not a defense.  For those who mentioned "maybe the agent doesn't know about the sign"  I ask you: Is that a defense?  The agent should know, or have someone who checks or at least visit the property or drive by on a regular basis.  They may not know immediately that a plow has pushed down their sign, but they should know within a few days.  If they don't know it means they don't go to the property.

5.  My intent is not to humiliate, criticize or bash this Realtor.  I went to great lengths to protect the ID of this Realtor.  I took the house number off the mailbox and the agent's ID off the sign.  I cropped the photo so the house would not show.  My intent is to point out a very important piece of marketing that is often neglected.   

But yet, you "will not call or contact" this realtor, in defense of your pride? Your image? Because one or two agents early in your career responded negatively to constructive criticism (if it was indeed intended that way by you)?

I read this as a lesson you meant to teach others, by way of a bad example that you've seen for awhile...but without having taken the important first step to have the problem corrected, either anonymously or not, by placing a call to the agent or to their office to inform them of the condition of their sign, the lesson now not only becomes one about how important one's sign is to one's image, but also a lesson in professionalism in responding to situations like this.

The fact that you decided to post this here first, after weeks of seeing this, instead of addressing it where it should have been first, and then asking permission to address the issue of image, does not speak well of us at all.

Perception is reality and that does not look good.  Maybe you should call him to let him know...You might make a friend. Maybe he is an REO agent that has 500 listings...

Very interesting discussion going on here.  I sure hope none of my signs look that bad.  I would appreciate a call if it was.

With the large number of real estate signs I have in a 50 mile radius of my market area, I would not be offended if someone calls and tells me my sign is missing or destroyed.  I would have contacted the agent.

Joetta:  Now that's a really interesting theory.  I hadn't thought of that!  LOL!

Pat and Wayne:  It seems it would be worth the investment for the sturdier signs - they make a far more impressive statement.  Understanding that cost could be a major issue, though, there is nothing wrong with the type of sign used here.  The key is regular maintenance.

Russell:   As for being perceived as "trying to make the agent and seller look bad without the facts" - the one fact I am sure of is that this sign in it's present condition and position are making a very bad impression.  If I were trying to make someone look bad, I would not have protected their ID.

Michelle:   "Take a minute to fix the sign"  I would have needed more than a minute.  I would have also needed tools.  I am not in the habit of randomly pulling into driveways and hammering on bent signs.  Should I have picked a better location for it too?

Hi Sharon,  it would not have been too much to call the office and suggest that they have the agent do a drive by to check on the condition of the sign.  On at least one occasion I re-installed a competitors sign.

Marian:  I like your attitude!  A little poke, good way to put it!

Gene:  That is a great example of where an agent needs to be informed that his location choice was not a good one for a specific reason.  Instead of removing your signs they should have called you like that one neighbor eventually did.

Kathy:  Thank you, well said!

Mary:  Exactly!

wow - looks like that sign has seen better days.  Maybe you should put a sign on it that says "retire me"!

Wow Sharon, you sure got a "stimulating" conversation going!!  I want to commend you on responding to so many comments and observations.

Sue of Robin and Sue

Marte:  I agree.  I don't think you should have called that agent.  It was his responsibility to maintain the sign and he was choosing not to do so. 

Ginger:  It's too bad that your act of trying to help someone has been received poorly.  I give you credit for continuing to do so.  Honestly, I don't see this that often and have never seen a sign I thought needed to be reported in.  I just happen to pass by this one all the time.

Ty:  You sir have won $10.

Boulder City Steve:  Sorry you think I was trying to "judge and chastise" anyone.  I saw a good example for the point I wanted to make and I photographed it.  I made every attempt to protect the agent's ID.

Karen:  Now that's a marketing plan!

Sharon-congrats on the feature!  There is a sign I have been passing for the past few months just like that and the last time we went by (we are going by again on Monday) I said I was going to take a picture to post.  I cannont believe that Realtors allow their signs to look like that. (sellers too)  I check my signs once a week for that exact reason.  That is a huge embarrassement.

William:  My professionalism is in question now because I didn't call this agent to tell them their sign had been neglected and was making a very poor impression on them, their listing, and their agency?  My professionalism is in question because I didn't ask this agent for permission to post this picture?  I am sorry I don't agree.  It seems to me that you are shooting the messenger on this one.

Stephen:  That would be a very happy ending to the story!

Georgina:  If any of your signs end up looking so bad that they are making a poor impression, and it's because you let them get that way...then you would need more than a call.  You would need a wake up call.

Kay:  I agree.  Call the agent and tell them if their sign is missing or destroyed.  This sign is neither.

Bill:  It is very nice of you to maintain your competitor's signs.  I'm sure they appreciate it.

Marc:  I have a feeling the sign has been retired.  It seems to have disappeared this afternoon.

Sue:  Thank you!  That is very nice of you to say.  I've tried to address the points and questions raised. 

Debra:  Careful!  You don't want to admit to driving by a neglected sign for a long period of time without stopping and fixing it or calling the agent who neglected it to tell them it's in bad shape.  It doesn't go over well with everyone, and your professionalism could come into question. 

Wow, Sharon, interesting comments for sure.

I have been shocked by the condition of some lockboxes, too. But, if the agent put up the sign or placed the lockbox, they already know the condition and a phone call would probably not be appreciated.

Using this example to remind everyone to keep their equipment in good repair was the best choice, and since our training and experience teaches us how important first impressions are, you are just providing a service to the members here, and I'm sure that's why this has been featured. 

Sharon - If this had happened to any of the signs on my listings, I would have appreciated a call.  If the sign was in this condition for a long time, then shame on the agent for neglecting their image.  A good lesson and reminder to the rest of us to not neglect this part of our marketing.  It destroys our image and our credibility.

Depends on how long it has been in this state. Could have been a day since it was damaged. Could have been longer and the owners have not bothered to call the agent. Could also be that the agent is from out-of-town and working an area that he cannot effectively service. This happens all the time and in my opinion is a way of giving customers an incorrect picture of what that agent can do. An ethics violation in my book. But without enough facts, hard to say. If it was repaired or replaced within a reasonable amount of time, then I see not major problem. I find info boxes on signs that are empty for months on end to be even more revealing. I love them though since mine right next door are always well maintained and refilled. When the other listing exprires, guess who gets the call? :)

If something like this had happened to my sign, I would want to know about it.

Sharon - Based on your response to my comment, it sounds pretty bad indeed.  :)

Elaine:  Thank you so much for returning and reinforcing my intention and position!  I really appreciate it.

Lora:  This is the point I wanted to make.  Thank you.

John:  So, be the agent with the impressive sign and the filled info boxes and the clean lock boxes and stand out amongst your competition!  I agree.

Christine:  My point being, if your sign was in this condition, you should know about it, because you are responsible for maintaining it.

Jason:  The good news is, it has been removed.  Someone got the message.  I assume due to the forwarding of the blog, see comment #7.

This post and the comments were an interesting way to spend a rainy, cloudy, cold Sunday morning!  Thanks for posting, Sharon. 

Hi, Sharon. GREAT POST; congrats on the Feature!

Many months ago, wrote a post about how I drive around to make sure my signs are straight and to weed whack under them (thanks to John Mulkey's advice, I now have a lightweight, easy-to-use electric weed whacker that makes the job almost painless!) because that is MY curb appeal. That says that I am competent and professional, and buyers/sellers can expect more where that came from.

There are so many battered, faded, tipped over signs in this area..to me that just says, "I'm careless and lazy and if I can't pay attention to what's important to me, how can you expect me to do a good job for you?!" Those agents' signs make me look good!

I changed agencies a while ago because, in part, the broker did not seem to care that another agent's signs were a disgrace. It reflected on the agency and it also reflected on me because people associated me with that agency.

I disagree with comments #18, 147 and 151. I don't think that you are "judging and chastising." This topic and this picture is, in my opinion, the kind of issue that SHOULD be posted on Active Rain!!

Actually Sharon the sign does not have the person's name on it.  It is by the same company as your picture I might add but there is no agent name on it.   As for my professionalism I had never thought of it that way, but as someone who checks their signs every week to make sure this doesn't happen I saw this as someone who doesn't take good care of their clients or their listings.  I have listings that are more than an hour away from me and EVERY week I check the signs to make sure they aren't leaning in any way and to make sure they look as if they were just installed. 

Sharon,

I do not think it is your responsibility to contact the agent or to fix the sign for them.  I understand the reasons behind why you wrote this post.  I also commend you for the great lengths you took to protect the agent's identity (others may not have been so kind or found themselves the guilty of slandering).

Wow, you stirred the pot with this post!  It is too bad that AR members are being critical of you-- Not your fault that you posted a controversial blog-- and not your responsibility to take care of an Agent's sign... Kathy

Jan:  I'm so glad you think so!  Hope the weather has improved!

Leslie:  I appreciate the support, thanks!  I'm not surprised that you "get it" and understand the point I am trying to make here.  I can't imagine you ever neglecting your signs.

Debra:  I hope you know I was being sarcastic!  I had never considered my professionalism would be questioned from writing this post.  I think it's ridiculous.  You make a very good point...it doesn't matter the distance or whether the listing is remote.  If you take the listing, you are responsible for it.

Gina:  Thank you so much! I appreciate it. 

I can't think of another word but WOW ... just plain old WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sharon - I support the concept of needing to be professional and having all aspects of your business reflect that - whether it is signage or flyers or whatever.  Sometimes the more controversy you create, means that you struck a cord in many people - including yourself.  The dialogue is what it is all about and you certainly achieved what you set out to do.  That was to remind people that we all have to be aware of the branding we have out there and is it sending the message we want it to send.  I appreciate the message and certainly would never think of shooting the messenger! :)

Kathy:  I honestly had no idea it would be a controversial post.  This took me by surprise.  I appreciate your positive words, thank you!

Sharon,  Our RE/MAX office was sent a copy of this blog, its wasn't our office but it looks like it was by your address!  Did you forget about the severe wind storm we had? The sign is located on a busy road that probably was bashed by a snow plow or the hurriance force winds we experienced a few weeks ago or the flooding we had.  Bashing RE/MAX is not a good idea.  Maybe you could of called the agent and let him know what happend to his sign as a courtesy.  Your name was on our "favorites list" of people to contact for services.  Guess what? It's off the list!

Pippa:  Gets your attention, doesn't it?

sad & lazy. i feel bad for the seller. but then maybe they don't care either.

I also know exactly which property this sign was on, and what happened to the sign.  If you look closely, you'll see that it is standing almost right up against the mailbox.  It was stuck into the ground as it should have been, and when it was initially put into the ground, it was a little further away from the mailbox than it is now.  Winds during one of our winter storms knocked the sign into the mailbox, which pushed the panel psrt of the way out of the frame.  I saw this sign the day after that happened, and it was fixed within a day or two.  Unfortunately it happened again, and was actually pulled up out of the ground.  For a second time, the panel was put back into the signholder.

After that 2nd time, the ground was too frozen to get back into the ground for a firmer hold, so the listing agent (or someone else) propped it up as best they could, presumably, up against the mailbox and the rocks that are there.  Clearly from this picture, the wind hit it against that mailbox and the panel once more was pushed out of the frame when it hit up against that mailbox.

Yes I had previously called and left a message for this agent who's from a RE/MAX office out of town, and I believe a couple other calls were made as well so he'd know what had happened again to his sign.

I've seen competitor's signs laying down, about to fall down, etc., I stand them back up, and I know others have done that for mine as well.

I do appreciate the sentiments expressed in some of the comments above, especially Janet's in #126.

Ann

Sheila:  I appreciate your input.  Yes, the reminder that our marketing tools are a reflection of us is the message meant to be made here. 

Cathy:   I removed the identifying info from the sign because it served no purpose to the post.   I'm sorry that doing so has caused you concern that people may assume this sign comes from your office in Portsmouth.   Your reaction confirms that a negative impression would be the result of being associated with a sign in this condition. 

I've already addressed the issue of wind storms and plows several times through my comments.  But, even if that were the case...that has nothing to do with the point of this post.   If your sign looks bad - you look bad.  (and those associated with you look bad)  This sign looked bad for a long time.  Hundreds of people, each day, saw it looking bad.  On my blog, the agent and the agency are anonymous and it's all about the sign.  In real life, everyone who has driven by that sign knows who it belongs to.  Over several weeks time some serious bad impression was made. 

I agree that "bashing RE/MAX is not a good idea" and I would never do that.  One of my favorite agents happens to work in your Portsmouth office.

As for your "favorites" list, it is unfortunate you feel that way.       

Bill:  I hope others will see this and take sign maintenance a little more seriously. 

Ann:    I have to give you credit for being far more observant than I am...I've just been driving by and thinking what a terrible impression the sign was making.  I don't have specifics.  I am impressed that you seem to know this sign on a day by day basis.   Although I appreciate the history of this sign's tragic fate...it really doesn't change the message of my post.

When I decided to take the picture, it was 60 degrees.  It had been barely propped up for at least two weeks.  There is no excuse that can change the fact that for every person who saw it in that condition a negative impression was made.

You said that you called the agent, and "a couple of other calls were made" to inform the agent of the sign's condition.   Many have suggested in their comments that I should have made a call to the agent and now I know, calls were made and the agent was aware of the sign's condition. 

One great thing that stands out from all this discussion is just how many agents are maintaining and caring for other agents' signs.  I think it's wonderful that you do that for each other, and it serves the industry as a whole.  

In our area we have bus benches that have realtor advertising on them. I've noticed graffiti on some of the benches and I always call the realtor to let them know that their is a mustache drawn across thier face or devil horns were placed above their head. I figure if it was me I would want a call, it takes all of 2 minutes to let someone know that thier reputation and branding is being affected. 

Lydia:  I am sure those benches are very tempting to vandals.  That has to be very frustrating and very expensive to keep maintained.

OH  MY --   hopefully a realtor in that area will contact the agent/office so that they can get the sign company to replace the sign.  Thanks for the post it a reminder that we should be looking out for each other. 

First impressions will make or break you everytime! A lesson this agent needs to learn.

Michele:  Since the posting of this, the sign has been removed from the property.  I don't know who took it, but a new sign has not yet replaced it.

Matthew:  Agreed.  Thank you.

This looks to be a very interesting read. I'll have to come back tomorrow and read all these comments. Many of them are very long, which means that people are actually thinking and commenting instead of cutting and pasting some generic comment.

Russel:  It is a long read.  I never expected all the comments and the Feature was a real surprise.

I was going to say, just place a call to the REMAX broker and I bet it gets corrected in a day....

your friend in Charlottesville Virginia

Wow Sharon, looks like a missed all the fun on my break!  Who would have thought that a sorry sign would spark all this!I understood your point in posting this but I am not surprised by some of the negative comments.  

I view the rain as a place for all real estate professionals to learn and share together, and part of learning is understanding and taking constructive criticism.  That's why I get on here... to learn... to be better and yes FIX things I may be doing wrong. 

Apparently some jumped on you without reading your post or comments carefully. You in good faith made this sign and property as generic as possible and yet a few say they know where this is which says a lot and a lot about how long this was in view, especially if calls were made to the office in question. 

Yes the majority of agents are professional and get it but sadly, as a Stager I must say there are many who don't, just like every other profession, ours included. Lord knows I have made some whoppers along the way.

We can joke and talk seriously about MLS photos, bad staging, bad marketing and so on.  I say let's keep some perspective here, shake your head but don't shoot the messenger! That's why this place is great we can all keep each other honest. 

One more point, as for you calling to correct the situation, in my experience many times agents don't like stagers pointing out anything to them in their realm no matter if it is presented with humor and tact.  It is what it is. 

Congrats on the feature!

Ana

Charles:  The message was received and the proper action has been taken.  It looks much better now.

Ana:  Better late than never!  LOL!  I so appreciate your joining in, especially since you are coming to my rescue in a way!  Thank you so much for your support.  Well said!

The owner of that sign is obviously not a detail person and not doing the Seller justice.

Tigard:  The sign has been fixed and repositioned and does look much more professional now. 

I have not read all the comments. I am "the public". I will answer your question about the message this beat up sign sends to the public.

I can't quite tell from your photo but this looks to me like a vacant parcel. I would believe that it has been "available for sale" for a couple of years. The owner is not local. Property is owned outright and the only expense of ownership is property tax. That is typically not a high cost. Owner is not in a hurry to sell, he doesn't really expect the agent to promote the property. If I was interested in purchasing the land I would call the agent on the sign.

The beat up sign signals to me that the owner doesn't care if the land sells or not. That puts the owner in a stronger position than the buyer.

Robin:  I appreciate you taking the time to comment and speak for the "public" on this issue.  It is not just land...there is a house.  You are right it is vacant.  It has been for sale since last Fall.  I do not know the facts re: ownership, but I agree it appears that the owner doesn't care whether it sells in any hurry.