4 x 4 real estate sign production

[chester215]

I would stick with someone locally if possible.
Shipping costs for 4x4 signs is up there and you would likely need a way to unload skids from a tractor trailer.
Doing it yourself is probably not a great idea since you will need the space, equipment and labor
to make and store the signs and related materials such as posts which need to be dried, primed and painted.
Let's just say for the sake of argument that you do 365 signs a year. There is an average of 250 work days in a year.
That means that you are installing an average of 1.5 signs a work day or 3- 4x4 panels or 15 a week. Which would take a day or so to make.
Also as you already know the work can be steady or come in spurts, so what would you have the person making the signs
do in slow or off periods? Around here the winter is slow regarding commercial signs.
Although it may seem like from the cost standpoint, you just do not seem to have the volume to make them yourself at a reasonable cost.

 

[MarkSnelling]

I have a commercial RE company. We use 4’ x 4’ Cloraplast signs. I would like to print out own and just hire someone to install. Can someone help me with exactly what type of equipment I would need to do this. We currently go use sign company’s to do this and put out about 160-200 double sided signs a year.

Any help would be appreciated.

I'm happy to introduce you to some customers of mine who have built really great internet portals to help you make real estate signs. You just upload a few details and they crank it out (my wife is a realtor and she uses one of them and pays around $100 for a great and durable sign) If you are really paying what you say, you are paying too much. I'm in Elk Grove all the time (I have a warehouse there) and would happily meet up and share some ideas. Just send me a direct message or email me at Mark@HascoGraphics.com

 

[Hero Signs]

Thanks for the feedback back. Again just trying to understand my options as we pay currently $60-$80k a year on signs. I have maintenance people in place and plenty of room to house the operation. We also are a commercial real estate company that does 300 transactions a year so I want to explore starting a sign company or maybe buying one as it is a natural lead in for our business. Crazy some of the rude responses of people who don’t ask enough questions and assume things very sad.

Hey I'm in the same industry, I own a sign shop and I'm also a residential commercial mortgage broker. bartlinglending.com

I got a couple questions ask you in order to help your decision point.

Are you going to be printing every 2 to 3 days?
Do you have 600 ft of shop space?
What is your labor rate in your area for a carpenter?
Here in Houston is somebody who's good is $25-35 an hour
Do you have delivery Bay access?
Is somebody going to staff the delivery location?

I'll do the math for you real quick, send me a list of what you pay for everything but it seems like everybody else already did you're looking at roi in three plus years

If that's an investment that you're willing to make I say it's a bad business idea.

If you can't pay for all the equipment needed in 2 years from profits from your business or in your case calculating unrealized savings, my advice is always do not make the purchase.

If you want to send over what you're currently paying in a DM or send it to my email from my website listed above you know I'll let you know if you pay a fair price.

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

If you're getting commission on 160-200 properties a year.. and are worried about 60-$80k in sign expenses. you got your priories messed up. $60-$80k a year can't sustain a sign business.

 

[The Blind Signman]

I have a commercial RE company. We use 4’ x 4’ Cloraplast signs. I would like to print out own and just hire someone to install. Can someone help me with exactly what type of equipment I would need to do this. We currently go use sign company’s to do this and put out about 160-200 double sided signs a year.

Any help would be appreciated.

i make and install my commercial real estate signs....airbornesigns.com (I only do commercila real estate signs in south west florida) i make 4x4's 4x8's 6x8's and 8'x8' signs

 

[The Blind Signman]

Lol, real estate agents.

i only do commercial real estate signs in sw florida they got $$$$$$$$$$ look at my website airbornesigns.com

 

[The Blind Signman]

i only do commercial real estate signs in sw florida they got $$$$$$$$$$ look at my website airbornesigns.com 4x4 4x8 6x8 and 8x8

 

[The Blind Signman]

If you're getting commission on 160-200 properties a year.. and are worried about 60-$80k in sign expenses. you got your priories messed up. $60-$80k a year can't sustain a sign business.

i made 83,000 last year on my commercial sign (only) and my expenses were 21,000 iam 65 and i only work about 6 hours a day and do not do retail...i have several large commercial real estate companies i do work for ..I make and install the signs myself 4x4 4x8 6x8 and 8x8 10mm coroplast / vinyl ..sw florida has alot of $$$$$$$$$$$

 

[CanuckSigns]

i made 83,000 last year on my commercial sign (only) and my expenses were 21,000 iam 65 and i only work about 6 hours a day and do not do retail...i have several large commercial real estate companies i do work for ..I make and install the signs myself 4x4 4x8 6x8 and 8x8 10mm coroplast / vinyl ..sw florida has alot of $$$$$$$$$$$

Does your $21,000 in expenses include paying yourself a salary?

 

[Boudica]

i make and install my commercial real estate signs....

...i have several large commercial real estate companies i do work for ..I make and install the signs myself

Are you saying you're a realtor making your own signs, as well as making signs for your competitors?

 

[Gino]

Was is it, most of these threads lately are so tough to follow ?? We're in a communications kinda business and it's getting harder and harder to follow these ........... people.

 

[Stacey K]

No comment to that? How could we save on having to pay a realtor? Care to share the backdoor in real estate transactions?

We have FSBO companies in Wisconsin. You pay a flat fee of $1,000 and they get you listed on the MLS. You do the showings and paperwork yourself (just send to an attorney to look over). If you don't want to do the paperwork and showings, for 1% they will do it for you. Foolish to pay 5 or 6% right now, the houses in my area are pending within 2-4 days and typically 10k-30k over asking with no inspection contingency. Anything FSBO, just regular like FB marketplace, sellers are refusing to pay an buyers agent fees, they are putting it on the buyer. That's what I did when I just sold my rental. The buyers realtor wanted 1.5%, I said get screwed. The buyer paid it instead.

In Wisconsin you now have be a realtor to post on Zillow, so that's when all these FSBO companies popped up.

 

[Stacey K]

Was is it, most of these threads lately are so tough to follow ?? We're in a communications kinda business and it's getting harder and harder to follow these ........... people.

I think we all have ADHD...LOL

 

[Gino]

So, you think it's all kids coming aboard juiced up on ritalin and just f*ckin' with us ?? Hmmmm...... didn't think of that. Thought more along the lines of people who didn't do well in school and decided to get into this easy business. Besdies not making sense, their grammar and spelling is atrocious.

 

[MikePro]

i dodge VRBO fees all the time, by internet stalking building owners and simply contacting them direct for rentals & paying in cash.

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

i made 83,000 last year on my commercial sign (only) and my expenses were 21,000 iam 65 and i only work about 6 hours a day and do not do retail...i have several large commercial real estate companies i do work for ..I make and install the signs myself 4x4 4x8 6x8 and 8x8 10mm coroplast / vinyl ..sw florida has alot of $$$$$$$$$$$

I live in swfl and had to look up ona. Never heard of it before. You are way out in nowhere. Congrats on keeping it up at 65.

 

[The Blind Signman]

Are you saying you're a realtor making your own signs, as well as making signs for your competitors?

no i been making signs since 1986...i moved to florida in 2012 i have my own shop since iam a commercial real estate sign maker only...i make the signs and install them...here are some pics on my website: airbornesigns.com

 

[The Blind Signman]

I live in swfl and had to look up ona. Never heard of it before. You are way out in nowhere. Congrats on keeping it up at 65.

well its near myakka city but i moved to bradenton florida two years ago to get closer that's near sarasota my website has pics ...airbornesigns.com if your anywhere near bradenton...4523 30th street west....

 

[The Blind Signman]

8x8 4x8 4x4

Your post asks specifically about 4x4 coro signs, but your numbers don't add up if you're saying that you spend $70,000 on 180 signs per year. Don't conflate your numbers. You might be spending that much per year, but that includes a lot of other signage you failed to mention.

If you're trying to say you spend that much only on coro, then it comes out to ~$388 per panel. Absolutely no signs shops are charging that much for double-sided 4x4 coro. Check the line items on your invoices.

Want to save money? Talk to your local sign shop or get a few bids. Negotiate with them. 160-180 signs/year isn't a ton of work for most shops, but if you're ordering consistently they'll work with you on price.

If you're trying to do it yourself -- that's barely enough volume to keep your $2k print head from drying up. It will only take you a month to figure out that you bit off more than you can chew, and that buying a sub-par $10-15k printer is just a drop in the bucket compared to all the expenses you will encounter. (guaranteed you'd be trying to resell that printer by the 2nd or 3rd month) And we haven't even talked about labor costs or skillsets. Your so-called "maintenance crew" is going to what... fix plumbing in the morning then switch to graphics design / print production after lunch? Good luck with that. And labor isn't free, regardless of whether or not someone is on salary. Software licenses, controlled environment for materials, employee training, tech support etc.... you have no idea what it takes for a sign/print shop to operate, even at the bare minimum.

Negotiating with your local sign shop is your most cost-effective option. We do what we're good at, meanwhile, you should focus on what makes you the most money -- real estate.

And on a side note... the reason why folks here are pissed about your inquiry isn't because you're trying to save money -- heck, we all want to save money. It's because everyone here has spent many, many years in an industry we're passionate about -- where we invested many tens to hundreds of thousands on equipment and software that helps us produce quality work at a competitive price. Many years of learning, training, improving techniques etc... it doesn't happen overnight. Asking us to give suggestions on how you can save a few bucks isn't just unreasonable -- it undermines our industry and insults our profession. I won't insult you or cuss you out, but I agree with everyone else's responses.

i get 380.00 for a 10mm 4x4x2 (2-sisded or Vshape) commercila real estate signs///thats all i do.....airbornesigns.com florida $$$$$$$

 

[Boudica]

8x8 4x8 4x4

i get 380.00 for a 10mm 4x4x2 (2-sisded or Vshape) commercila real estate signs///thats all i do.....airbornesigns.com florida $$$$$$$

How many times do you need to list your website?