Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign (at least in Southold)

February 25th, 2008 category: Real Estate News, Southold Real Estate

I wondered when Southold residents would complain- if I’d had my druthers, it would have been sooner than later. As a real estate company, however, complaining about one’s peers is limited (by us) only to issues of ethics with respect to buyers/sellers.

Increased signage doesn’t fall into this category, because it is to both the benefit of buyers and sellers to direct traffic to a home for sale.

We just felt (and feel) that increased signage is ugly for the community, so chose not to engage in a practice that seemed to be growing.

Southold town agrees: NO MORE REAL ESTATE SIGNS OUTSIDE OF THE FOR SALE PROPERTY ITSELF.

No more huge, staked full sized sign pointing to another, which leads to the one that sits patiently in front of the home for sale. What’s next- a billboard at every corner?

While our area is often difficult to navigate, the advent of tools to assist both prospective buyers, and the real estate agents that service them is available (Garmin, anyone?).

Utilizing a listing to promote a company logo is perfect, just as it was, in front of the house only.

Local companies decided to take it a step beyond an unobtrusive (yet illegal, per Southold town codes) little arrow directional, offered to spike interest- yet somehow, not offensive.

The town appeared to agree to ignore- as did the residents (if the historical little directional is any indication- they’ve been around for a while).

Town of Southold to Enforce Sign Laws

The Town of Southold has contacted LIBOR and stated that many violations of Sign Code that involve real estate signage, have been observed at various locations throughout the Town.

By far, the most common complaint involves off-premise signage. Many “off-premise signs” have been noted. For Sale signs must be on the property being sold. Signs placed at intersections pointing to a property “down the street”, as well as signs placed within the public right of way, represent a violation.

The regulations state;

§280-85 (I)

Real estate signs. One (1) sign shall be allowed to advertise the sale or lease of real property. The sign may be either single- or double-faced and not larger than six (6) square feet in size. The sign shall be located at least fifteen (15) feet from the public right-of-way. All real estate signs must be removed immediately upon closing on the lease or sale. This sign may be allowed in any zone.

§280-83

Signs noting that a property has been sold are prohibited. Off-premise signs are prohibited.

Please take the steps necessary to inform your employees at all of your offices of the law and immediately remove all signs in violation. Your cooperation in this voluntary enforcement effort is requested. Should voluntary compliance fail, the Town will take the steps necessary to enforce the Code.

-L.I.B.O.R. on-line news announcement to all Long Island MLS Members 2/24/08

The growing trend has been to place a full sized sign on the closest main road possible, in order to advertise both the listing, and the company. Perfect idea, provided all permits are in place for a potentially long term sign. Good for you, Southold.

The larger picture is that people are purchasing in a community, and presentation of that community creates a desire to live here.

Buyers will find available properties, and they have access to many means available without sullying the landscape that is the North Fork of Long Island.

If you are interested in buying/selling a home on the North Fork of Long Island, we’d love to help you locate a property- don’t worry, we have a Garmin.

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This entry was posted on Monday, February 25th, 2008 at 2:15 pm and is filed under Real Estate News, Southold Real Estate. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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