Who Is Obeying The Tega Cay Sign Ordinance That Bans Real Estate Directional Signs?
If you don’t know, the Tega Cay sign ordinance bans many types of directional signs in the city limits. Real estate signs are allowed on the seller’s property with limitations but directional signs like open houses or branded company signs pointing the way to homes for sale in a neighborhood are not allowed at any time. So why are some real estate companies or agents not following the ordinance or the city enforcing the sign ordinance?
The picture above was taken on Saturday September 27, 2008 is an example of a non-compliant real estate directional sign. The sign has been up every weekend at the corner of Beachwood Cove and Shoreline Parkway pointing traffic on Shoreline Parkway to a home for sale on Beachwood Cove. The sign is up as I write this post Sunday morning. By the way, this was not the only directional sign up this weekend.
So why am I writing this post? First of all this is a personal commentary from me and not solicited or approved commentary from Carmen or Century 21 First Choice. I am frustrated with the lack of compliance and cooperation from the city, real estate agents, and their brokerage firms. Here is a little background to my story.
At one point in the past Carmen called the city admin office and was told it was ok to put signs up on the weekends. Trying to perform her best for her clients, Carmen purchased and put out directional signs every weekend for marketing open houses and her listings in Tega Cay. Directional signs are a standard effective practice in the industry. She never thought it was not allowed because of what she was told and you can see several other directional signs in Tega Cay most weekends.
At some point a complaint must have been voiced and Pete with Century 21 First Choice asked Carmen and all his agents to comply with the sign ordinance. Carmen being good business citizen and resident is complying.
So why do we continue to see signs up every weekend from other companies? Are these agents or companies not being asked by the city to comply? Is there an unfair standard on who is allowed to put up directional signs or simply a lack of communication and ordinance knowledge?
I know it is very difficult for Carmen to explain to her Tega Cay clients why she does not put up directional signs while her clients see directional signs on other homes for sale in Tega Cay weekly. It’s very frustrating to current home sellers who want all of the possible sign marketing support they can get to help sell their home in these challenge times. It is estimated that home buyer transactions/traffic is down significantly this year to last in Tega Cay.
Carmen has voiced her opinion to some of the Tega Cay City council members about this matter. She has also proposed to the city council a city wide “sanctioned” open house weekend for all homes for sale in Tega Cay. Her plan included all brokerage firms and agents with homes for sale in Tega Cay to have a special weekend open house all at the same time. All she asked from the city was to allow temporary directional signs to be posted for this special weekend event. She would manage the event. Some members of the council did not think this special weekend event was necessary. I image they would think differently if they were trying to sell their home right now.
So what is your opinion of the sign ordinance? I would like to hear your comments.
The same sign was up again the weekend of Oct 4th.
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September 29th, 2008 at 10:46 am
I suppose my response is just the opposite. Why aren’t signs allowed? I would love to know the logic our city “leaders” are showing in inhibiting free market?
Can I also add the caveat that if real estate signs are not allowed, WHY are we being inundated with political signage???
September 29th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Just so I have this right…we can park cars in our front yards but don’t dare put a directional sign out on the weekends so that house hunters can find the locations of the houses for sale? I would hope that the city would want to help in the selling of the homes in Tega Cay, but I guess we saw where that went with the lack of response Carmen received from the city on the open house idea??? Good Luck!
September 29th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Tim,
Great question. Unfortunately I see many cities around the country that are prohibiting many type of signs. The “logic” comes from the pressure of local citizens who complain to city hall that signs are trashing up the city. They consider signs to be an eye sore rather than marketing help to local small businesses.
I would think that we could come up with sign restrictions that would allow certain types of signs with time and placement restrictions. If the the businesses don’t comply they would eventually get fined.
I’m not sure how to answer the political sign question other than to say the folks voting on the sign restriction ordinances also use the signs to get in office. Hmmm.
September 29th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I guess I could park my car in the yard too if It would not roll back down the hill (ha ha). Thanks Kerry for the feed back. We love the comments…..
October 31st, 2008 at 4:23 pm
I can’t remember seeing “trashy” real estate signs anywhere. In fact, most of them are rather tasteful. I don’t suppose we want signs up unless it’s US that is selling OUR home, especially in today’s difficult market.
I believe that most people know the area(s) that they want to live in, and many drive with pen and paper.
Size and style and even time regulations seem reasonable to me, but banning real estate signs completely does not.
October 13th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Yep when it comes time to sell your home you will sing a different tune. If the signs are professionally printed and not scribbled on like many for “sale by owner signs” I don’t see a big problem. The number of political signs should be reduced to say….one hundred!
Remember that in Tega Cay our property values were lucky enough not to take a major hit this time. We NEED sales to push prices up. The more movement we have in the market the better.