(estate agent) Sold signs

[edcam]

James Barber Wrote:

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> You are most at risk of being burgled in the first

> 6 months of moving into a property. These signs I

> suspect add to that risk.

> Remove them.

>

> I wonder if people could write a letter explaining

> the estate agent haas one week to remove them

> before rent will be charged.

> Any lawyers who can tell us how to write such a

> letter successfully?

>

> Longer-term I'll ask if Southwark council could

> obtain permission to just ban the flaming things.

> Under thE Localism Act it could seek this power.

Banning them would be so welcome!

[Jeremy]

edcam, I totally agree that they serve no useful purpose in this day and age. Banning them is a bit strong, but I think vendors should have the option, and agents should be obliged to remove them after completion.

I've always had to take them down myself... bit of a pain but not the end of the world. And the wood sometimes comes in handy for little DIY projects!

[edcam]

The other thing I've noticed lately (particularly last summer) is that I've seen a lot of estate agents' boards outside houses advertising things like school fetes. Not sure how that works - does the houseowner get paid? Are they doing it for free to advertise the fete? Either way they're an eyesore and add to the general problem.

There were loads of them around East Dulwich/Camberwell borders.

[Jeremy]

The agents donate money to the school... I assumed the houses belong to parents of pupils.

But why anyone would want to go to a school fete - unless your child goes to the school - is beyond me..

[solar]

Edcam - The houseowner doesn't get paid, but the estate agent pays a small amount to the school or organisation for each sign displayed.

[edcam]

solar Wrote:

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> Edcam - The houseowner doesn't get paid, but the

> estate agent pays a small amount to the school or

> organisation for each sign displayed.

Thanks for the explanation. It should be banned.

[MrBen]

I've sold two properties without any signs up. I just asked not to have them. Anyone seriously looking for a place is online anyway. They're an eyesore. A total ban would be really popular.

[red devil]

Saw a sign with just 'Portico' written on it, no 'For Sale', 'Sold', 'Under Offer', no contact details, just 'Portico', all very minimal and mysterious. Just found out it's the new name for Bushells...

[EDOldie]

I am pretty certain that they have been banned in Kensington & Chelsea but I don't think it's an easy thing to do. The borough may have to make a case to the Secretary of State for Communities.

However, in my experience people who are either selling or letting property often want a board up. Despite the way searching for property has been revolutionised by the internet people still do drive around looking at areas before they even get on the net. For instance for sale boards are particularly helpful in the countryside. They do have a purpose and a use for some.

What I think would be more helpful is if the council put forward a voluntary code and got all the agents in the borough to sign up to it. With a particular emphasis on boards being removed with two weeks of the letting or sale of a property. Or if the property comes off the market.

[cactus]

Excessive board use on East Dulwich Road!

I counted 15, and only one is a current For Sale.

[Green Goose]

If any one knows of a similar excessive proliferation of signs please post the street name here and appropriate steps will be taken to remove them.

[Green Goose]

cactus Wrote:

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> Excessive board use on East Dulwich Road!

> I counted 15, and only one is a current For Sale.

Direct action has been taken by the Goose Green Vigilantes and ALL these signs have now been removed.

Some had evidently been there for years as the steel bands used to attach some of them were very rusty.

It is evident that the estate agent have no intention whatsoever of removing these signs as they see it as free advertising - particularly where there are several flats at one location. Also it costs them money to get someone to remove them.

Instead of whinging, we all have a responsibility of maintaining the visual amenity of our locality and we should all take direct action to remove these signs. Go to it guys.

[Nigello]

What did you do with them?

[cactus]

Thanks Green Goose, for the part you have played in getting those signs removed so swiftly!

[Duvaller]

Nigello Wrote:

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> What did you do with them?

Why do you ask? You're no an estate agent are you by any chance?

[Green Goose]

Nigello Wrote:

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> What did you do with them?

If you are an estate agent, send me a PM stating which agency you represent and then I will tell you where you can collect them.

GG

[Green Goose]

cactus Wrote:

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> Thanks Green Goose, for the part you have played

> in getting those signs removed so swiftly!

Many thanks for the expression of appreciation.

[redjam]

I agree these boards are unsightly and unnecessary if they're kept up for ages. BUT - can I just put in a plea for understanding when it comes to having boards up advertising school events? Unless you've been living under a rock you'll realise how much state school budgets have been slashed in recent years (my kids' school maintenance budget has been cut from c. ?40k to ?8k), so the money raised via estate agent advertising boards is crucial - it's the single biggest money-spinner for our school's PTA. The boards stay up for a short time only, three weeks for our school. And it is a way for estate agents to actively support their local community: it's not just schools but churches and community groups that can benefit from these sponsorship deals. So please think twice before pulling down any sponsored boards, guys...

[Green Goose]

No sponsored boards have been removed.

By way of clarification, our group specialises in the removal of illegal fly postings - particularly signs promoting businesses/services/sales that are attached to lamp posts and bus shelters. Before removal we photograph them and send the photos to Southwark Council for them to follow up - if they ever do.

Where the fly posting is persistent, then we find that writing over it with a felt pen with the word "Scam" or "Con Man" or "Rip-Off" can be very effective in getting them to desist. If it's for an event then writing "Cancelled" over it is worthwhile.

We leave notices for missing cats and dogs up for 7 days as after that time if they they haven't come home then they've gone to pets heaven.

The secret to effectively controlling fly-posts is to take them down immediately after they first appear. Also, go equipped with a side cutter or similar to cut the plastic ties these morons use to attach their fly-posts.

Currently, the worst offender is the "Man with a Van" who advertises widely around Southwark and Lambeth.

The scourge of fly-posting can proliferate rapidly and degrade an area very quickly.

If you want to preserve and protect your locality, it only takes a little effort.

[ruffers]

Green Goose Wrote:

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>

Also, go equipped with a side cutter or

> similar to cut the plastic ties these morons use

> to attach their fly-posts.

>

The chief culprit for this seems to be Southwark Council themselves.

[Nigello]

No, I am not an estate agent, and I applaud your direct action and speak as one who regularly picks up rubbish and who reports fly tipping etc but I am guessing they're tricky to get rid of due to their size, so I just wondered where you put all of them.

[edcam]

Sorry but the sponsored boards create the same eyesore. Several weeks at a time is too long.

[Green Goose]

edcam Wrote:

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> Sorry but the sponsored boards create the same

> eyesore. Several weeks at a time is too long.

How many have you removed then?

[DovertheRoad]

Nice work Green Goose. It's probably technically theft from private property but let's make an exception on this occasion. I say we take them all down one evening in the most audacious sign heist in history and make the news. I have a black ninja suit and will join you if you pm me...

[edcam]

Green Goose Wrote:

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> edcam Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Sorry but the sponsored boards create the same

> > eyesore. Several weeks at a time is too long.

>

> How many have you removed then?

None. I'd prefer them not to be there in the first place. It's not up to me to remove them and quite possibly illegal for me to do so.