consequences of bandit signs

[whatupdawg40]

I'm getting ready to use bandit signs for the first time.  Has anyone ever used them and had to pay huge fines or is it usually no big deal?  Where should I go to find out the laws regarding this?

[MichaelQuarles]

Call your county for that info... I personally don't like bandit signs... I have purchased houses because of them however... Just list your telephone number in the local 411 directory under "I Buy Houses" and "We Buy Houses"

[xpandergt]

I'm getting ready to use bandit signs for the first time.  Has anyone ever used them and had to pay huge fines or is it usually no big deal?  Where should I go to find out the laws regarding this?

Time for the opposite side of the coin. I love bandit signs. Don't use a listed number. Don't use your personal or business phone number on your signs. Use your cellphone number or voicemail number. I personally use a prepaid cellphone number for my signs. Since prepaid phones don't have bills, there isn't an address for which code enforcement can send a fine  Even with that being said, don't be ghetto in how many signs you put out. Do it tastefully to be noticed not obnoxiously where it is a screaming eye soar. Getting leads from bandit signs is a science that has to be experimented with in order to get their maximum use just right. Put them out late Friday night or very early Saturday morning.

[whatupdawg40]

Thanks for the input.  I just started thinking about prepaid phones lately and think that's a great idea.  I'm not planning on putting out a ton of signs, I'm not a full timer yet so don't want to get bombarded with phone calls. 

Where do you recommend I get the phone?  And once you get one can you still add minutes?  I figure when I get it it's probably best to use cash to buy as well since they could look up who was on a credit card... Not that they would put that much effort into it but you never know.

[xpandergt]

Thanks for the input.  I just started thinking about prepaid phones lately and think that's a great idea.  I'm not planning on putting out a ton of signs, I'm not a full timer yet so don't want to get bombarded with phone calls. 

Where do you recommend I get the phone?  And once you get one can you still add minutes?  I figure when I get it it's probably best to use cash to buy as well since they could look up who was on a credit card... Not that they would put that much effort into it but you never know.

You can get a prepaid phone anywhere. Go to walmart, kmart, best buy tmobile, verizon store etc. Once you buy it, yoiu can add minutes online, via a fill up card or in person. If you don't want a ton of calls, put out around  8 to 10 signs instead of 25. You can measure your call volume based on signs placed and adjust it to where you can properly handle the volume.

[RonH]

i was under the impression that with prepaid phones you had to give all of your contact info.  Drug dealers were using them and I thought there was a law passed about that.

[xpandergt]

i was under the impression that with prepaid phones you had to give all of your contact info.  Drug dealers were using them and I thought there was a law passed about that.

Not that I'm aware of. I just bought the phone and added airtime to it, Code Enforcement isn't going to go through the trouble of seeking warrants from a cell phone operator just because of some bandit signs. A person would have to be be flat out littering the landscape with signs in order to get under CE to such a level that they would want blood.

[JR_FL]

The thing is if they want to get you they can.
I have seen STING operations. I know it sounds crazy. But you tick them off alot they will get you.
Personally I do not like them. They do work. I have a hundred in my garage. I just don't want to put them out.

[whatupdawg40]

I just bought a prepaid phone and in order to activate it they required me to give all of my contact information, either online or by phone.  I got virgin mobile.  Is there any brands that don't require you to give personal info?

[xpandergt]

The thing is if they want to get you they can.
I have seen STING operations. I know it sounds crazy. But you tick them off alot they will get you.
Personally I do not like them. They do work. I have a hundred in my garage. I just don't want to put them out.

Your right, it does sound crazy.

[whatupdawg40]

For anybody that might be wondering I found a phone that does not need your contact info.  I went to wal mart and got the tmobile pre paid phone and you don't enter any of your info to activate it.  All you have to do to add minutes is go and buy a card worth a certain amount of minutes and then call a number to put it on the phone.  Pretty sweet!

[xpandergt]

For anybody that might be wondering I found a phone that does not need your contact info.  I went to wal mart and got the tmobile pre paid phone and you don't enter any of your info to activate it.  All you have to do to add minutes is go and buy a card worth a certain amount of minutes and then call a number to put it on the phone.  Pretty sweet!

Even though you have a prepaid, don't let that go to your head and make you think you have a free pass to put out as many bandit signs as you want without consequences. Still use common sense in the amount you put out.

[whatupdawg40]

certainly, I'm not planning on ever going over 25... Thanks for your help

[reguru]

I've got a pretty good plan with bandit Signs. Even though there is a sign ordinance in my city,  put out 25 signs every Friday - and NO, I do not pick them up on Sunday afternoon. But what I DO do (lol) is use a SkypeIn number on my signs, and then forward it to my cell phone. THere is no way to trace a Skype number to a person - so the city can't really hammer down on me personally. Sometimes they turn on their automatic calling system to tell us to take out signs down, but we just turn off the call forwarding and let it go to voice mail. They quit calling after 15 minutes.

Yes, there's a bit of hasle involved, but is it worth it? YES!! I get alot of GREAT leads (from sellers who are NOT in foreclosure, by the way!!))) and get alot of good deals by staying consistent with my bandit sign campaign.

Good Luck

[MichaelQuarles]

I guess the city or county isnt smart enough to call you and set up an appointment for you to buy a house they are sitting at waiting for you to show up at...

If an investor wants to use signage they should go buy a friggin billboard. A 10 x30 is only around 425. a month... Set it up on a rotation schedule every 45 days...

Heck when I had 12 up it appeared as though I was all over town...

Maybe an investor should use a vehicle wrap.. They arent that expensive..

It still amazes me that so called gurus tell people to break the law....