Dallas-Fort Worth Real Estate Investor Club

Bandit Sign Question

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  • 16 Jan 2014 5:07 PM
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    Message # 1476660
    Matt Yancey

    I was wondering if anyone has ever had any problems with code compliance in Fort Worth and putting out bandit signs? I’m new to the REI game and trying to find some wholesale deals to get started. I put out my first round of signs last Friday in South FW and left them up throughout the week. I got a call today from FW Code Compliance telling me I needed to take them down or face a fine, for each sign, for each day they’re up. I thought about putting them out Friday evening and taking them down Sunday evening for this reason, but I rolled the dice and I guess I lost. I haven’t been fined yet that I know of but I was wondering if anyone has been in this situation and/or has been fined before? If you have a minute I would love to get your opinion on the use of bandit signs.

    Thanks!!

    Matt Yancey
  • 30 Jan 2014 1:35 PM
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    Reply # 1486833 on 1476660
    Greg Moore

    Matt I had the same thing happen as u did someone called me saying he was code compliance and if I didn't take them down immediately I faced fines for each one I didn't chance it I removed the signs but I didn't have a problem if they went up Friday night and down on Sunday good luck
  • 05 Feb 2014 9:18 PM
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    Reply # 1491892 on 1476660
    Matt Yancey
    Greg, 
    Thanks for the input. I really appreciate it!! At first I thought the guy calling might have been another investor trying to bluff me so I did some research and sure enough it wasn't. I found the guys name on FW Code Compliance website. He was the SW Ft Worth area manager. haha... 

    I'll probably give it some time and then start putting them out Friday evening and picking them up early Monday morning. 

    Thanks Again!!
    Matt
  • 06 Feb 2014 6:54 AM
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    Reply # 1492097 on 1476660
    Deleted user
    Matt,

    Very shortly you'll have tons of posts from other investors telling you not to worry about Code Compliance Officers or fines. I strongly suggest you do some due diligence and make sure you are aware of the down side of doing Bandit Sign (BS) REI Marketing.

    Putting out "Bandit Signs" is illegal. Moreover, there are better ways to market to find and land deals. In fact, that is the topic of this week's training class. If you need additional help marketing your business, let me know and I'll be glad to help you.

    With that said, some investors feel they cannot be in this business without using BS. That's not true. I bought my first investment home in '96 and have not had to use BS marketing to land all the deals I've ever wanted since then. 

    To directly answer your question, one of my friends not long ago was fined $1,000 PER DAY, PER SIGN in Fort Worth. It cost him a fortune to fight those fines - and he didn't even put out the signs. A wholesaler used his property address and the Code Compliance Officer came after the owner of the property (my friend) when he (CC Officer) couldn't locate the wholesaler. Eventually, my friend got the charges dropped and the wholesaler was prosecuted.

    Let me know what else I can do to help you build your business.

    -Greg

    PS - Don't fool yourself and adopt the stupid games other "investors" play regarding ignorance of the law. "I didn't KNOOOOOOW it was illegal" or "Sorry man, I'll scold the guy who put them out" - when that guy is you. Almost without exception, ignorance of the Law is no protection from prosecution.
  • 08 Feb 2014 1:46 AM
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    Reply # 1493626 on 1476660
    Deleted user

     Matt, Greg Wilson is correct about the signs. If you will come to the meeting in the morning you will discover other ways to find the good deals. Thinking outside the box is one way to generate business. There is one tool in my tool box as a Real Estate Broker that everyone has access to, it is guaranteed to bring you the good deals you are looking for. It requires no advertising, no signs, and no investment in buying lists or attending seminars. It is so simple that 95% of the people will not use and they will leave money on the table. If you can't attend the meeting tomorrow contact me and I will share with you what I have done for many years that has created a business where people come to me and ask me to sell their home or help them buy a home. It is not exactly the lazy way to riches but it is so simple that a guy like me from Fort Worth Texas can do it.

    Rick

  • 08 Feb 2014 2:22 PM
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    Reply # 1493887 on 1476660
    Deleted user

    We had a good discussion regarding Bandit Signs at the meeting this morning. On the way back to my office I drove through Arlington Heights just south of Camp Bowie and saw the Fort Worth Code Compliance officer. This is not the first weekend I have noticed the Fort Worth Code Compliance officers patrolling on Saturday. I am sure they are primarily picking up garage sale and estate sale signs but I am sure if they see a Bandit Sign they will pick those up as well.

     
  • 08 Feb 2014 6:38 PM
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    Reply # 1494038 on 1493887
    Deleted user
    Rick Irving wrote:

    We had a good discussion regarding Bandit Signs at the meeting this morning. On the way back to my office I drove through Arlington Heights just south of Camp Bowie and saw the Fort Worth Code Compliance officer. This is not the first weekend I have noticed the Fort Worth Code Compliance officers patrolling on Saturday. I am sure they are primarily picking up garage sale and estate sale signs but I am sure if they see a Bandit Sign they will pick those up as well.

     


    I am new to the club and missed the meeting this morning , when or where can i get the audio of this morning meeting
  • 10 Feb 2014 8:20 PM
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    Reply # 1495415 on 1476660
    Matt Yancey

    Greg & Rick,

    Thanks for sharing your experience with the use of bandit signs. I would love to visit with you more about different ways to market and get started in this business. I don’t think I’ll be putting out anymore bandit signs. I don’t want to be doing anything illegal and I definitely can’t afford a big fine.

    I’m kind of bummed because I was not able to make the meeting this past weekend and I’ll be out of town this coming weekend.

    I really appreciate folks like y’all that are so willing to help out!! I’m excited to get to know y’all more and really get some marketing going and find some deals!

    Thanks!

    Yancey
  • 10 Feb 2014 8:35 PM
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    Reply # 1495434 on 1476660
    Stuart Grazier

    If anyone still plans on using bandit signs and is looking for cheap signs, I'll sell you the rest of mine. I have a box of about 200 that I will sell for half price ($1 a sign). I paid about $2 a sign. They don't come with stands but they are brand new. They are pre-made, white background with blue lettering and say:

     "We Buy Houses"

    "We Take Over Payments!"

    With a big square to write your own phone number at the bottom.

     

    Ever since the Code Compliance Officer came to my home to hand my wife a ticket for $1000, I have decided I won't take the chance of putting up anymore signs.

  • 11 Feb 2014 9:53 AM
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    Reply # 1495747 on 1476660
    Robin Carriger (Administrator)

    Fear mongers beware :-)   OK... I tried to stay silent on this, but here's my perspective.

    I've heard lots of horror stories about huge fines for putting out signs, but I've never heard of any one who actually had to pay one of those huge fines.  I don't recommend doing anything illegal, and prudence is good to a point, but if you don't watch it, you'll end up letting the fear of doing something illegal make all your decisions for you.

    I prefer to concentrate on the valuable service we, as rehabbers and landlords, provide to our communities.  Call me foolish or naïve if you like, but I'm going to resist the urge to withdraw from activities that don't hurt any one and are extremely effective in enabling real estate investors to help lots of people.

    For what it's worth, with the profits we've made over the years from deals we've done using signs, the horror stories I've heard, when told in full, are not yet intimidating enough.
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