Advertising Tips: How to Use "For Rent" Signs Effectively
Easy-to-Read is Key
What do many landlords consider their best form of advertising? It’s not Craigslist and newspaper ads, coffee-house flyers or even their own websites: it’s signs.
Nothing catches a potential tenant’s eye like a sign on a building or house in a neighborhood they want to live in. Most folks will use a combination of web searches and on-the-ground search by car or foot when it’s time to move—so it’s important to use any means possible to attract them.
You can order custom, inexpensive plastic signs online or from your local sign shop. Use color combinations that are easy to see: black and white, red and white, and blue and white are all great choices. Red and yellow or blue and green combinations are harder to distinguish. Customize them for each type of unit you own, and have however many on hand will cover your normal vacancy rate.
Or, check your local hardware store for their standard “For Rent” signs. They’re not as specific, but can be used for all of your vacancies. Hand-write your phone number, email address, and website in large, legible characters.
Place the signs in the front window, if visible from the street, and in the yard. An arrow sign at the nearest street corner is always helpful. Keep in mind that theft of outdoor signs is a reality.
Craft stores sell “For Rent” flags that you can customize with your phone number, too. A moving object catches the eye even better than a stagnant sign.
Consider placing signs at rental units that have been leased (befo tenant re the new moves in). They might read “Just Leased! But We Have More to Choose From!” with the contact information, or the address of the vacant unit.
Using signs to advertise your rental vacancies is a quick, easy, and inexpensive method to attract attention!