the biker who buys houses forum

[tjdean01]

I'm in the process of getting some bandit signs made up. I spent most of the day figuring out how to get the best stakes for the cheapest prices and thought I'd share my findings.

Ideally, this is what we'd like to have, with our message posted on each side, for around $1.50 each:



These are 18" x 24". Notice how the "H" stake is included. This is the simplest way, and I'd do this if I were buying signs for a garage sale. But, these are $6 each at Menards!

Now I haven't decided where I'm going to buy the signs yet. In "The Biker Who Buys Houses" ebook Jim said there should be some links on the site where to get some cheap bandit signs. I could really use those links right now!

Okay, in Jim's ebook he suggested using "concrete block mesh." My local Menard's in Michigan had 4' x 8' "concrete reinforcing panels" for $6.50 each. I'm sure this is the same as was mentioned in the ebook, but different overall size. You can get it in a flat panel or the roll. I think the roll was 4' x 100' for around $54. Menard's had both, Home Depot only had the roll. At both stores, the rolls were rusty.





If it's 4 ft wide, 8 ft of the stuff will make you 16 sign stakes. At $6.50 that's around $0.40 per stake. If you buy the rusty roll you can make just over 200 signs, so that'd be about $0.26 each. I don't think I'll need 200 right away, and plus I don't want them rusty! However, something to consider is that the roll would actually fit into your car better. I have a big car, but not a pickup, and if I bought the flat panel I'd have to cut it up in the parking lot. So, if I find some that isn't rusty, I'll get the roll. If not, to start me off I'll get the panels, chop them up in the parking lot, and keep looking for a non-rusty roll.

Oh, the wire on these is around 0.12" of an inch. What gauge wire does that translate into? Well, there is the A.W.G. standard and the S.W.G. standard (see chart). It would be 8-10 gauge. The ideal size would be around 0.15". That's the size used in some of the political bandit signs in my neighborhood and it fits really snug into sign. If I use 0.12" it might slide out a bit easier, so, since it's a friction fit, I might add a little tape or even glue to the end of the stake. Just wrapping the wire with a half inch of electrical tape should do it.

Next up is various type of fencing. The best type I can think of is the type where the bars go only horizontally and vertically. This is the type of fence you can't climb or it will bend over. It said 14 gauge on it, and although it was cheap, it would have been too thin and flimsy. Good idea, though, I thought. :(

I found horse fence wire. It says 12.5 gauge on it but that means nothing as it was the same thickness as the concrete reinforcing wire. Looks nice, but is too expensive (over $150 for this roll) and not as good as the other stuff. Just thought I'd show you since I took the pic:



Wood stakes are the cheapest:



You can see the measurements of 2 feet, and you get 24 stakes for that price. So, it's around $0.35 per stake. But, if you put your sign on that, you'll only be using one. I think you could slit them down the middle and put a stake on each side, but....I don't know, wire just seems like it would work a lot better. If you do want wood, though, they have 2" wide by about 1/2" deep by 8 ft long boards for $0.97 at Menards. If you split it and cut it into 2" stakes, you'd have 8 of them, and could do 4 signs for $0.97. That's $0.25 per sign. The cheapest so far!

Now, here's the picture of the sign pulled from my neighborhood:



Now, these are really good! They are 2" ft long and just straight 0.155" wire. The thickness is perfect for the sign, and if the sign is standard then this will be the perfect size wire. You need 2 for each sign, but they are very small, and, since they are the "H" type, you can store and carry them easily. And, can you see the how there's a little bend in the rods? That's to keep them from slipping down. Very VERY good. However, where can we find appx 0.15" rods/wire for cheap? 4 feet would do two signs. I'll be looking around!



If anyone has any links for cheap signs please let me know. If I can't get it printed on both sides cheap I'd consider buying blank and doing it myself. It wouldn't look as professional but I'm just starting off and my goal is not to impress, but to buy and sell a house, gain confidence, and then spend more time and money on pretty signs. Also, if the price is right I'd consider buying non-white signs. That'd be cool. Everyone else has white.

Also, I was thinking about the placement of the signs at intersections. If you place them right, you might only need two signs at each intersection. I'm curious how everyone else does it and what placement works best

Hope these pics and my stake research helps someone!

BTW, in the ebook, Jim mentions a 10' x 8" wide concrete mesh product that can make 4 stakes from it. That'd be the cheapest! I asked at Menard's, but didn't ask to see their catalog at Home Depot. Will check it out soon!
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[BikerJim]

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[gresmi]

Don't even bother trying www.YardSignWholesale.com. They NEVER pick up their phone. On top of that, you can't even leave a message. Not professional at all. Tried calling, then emailing. Finally got an email response. Not good enough, buddy. Get a real phone.

[tjdean01]

Thanks, Jim. I called the owner on the phone and he was very polite and I got my signs made up and they should be coming in the mail this week. I paid just under $300 for 100 signs. More than I was hoping to pay but for now I guess that's good enough. I made up some semi-pro looking signs by myself and have put around 10 in key points around the city. I put a few fliers on bulletin boards, etc. I've gotten around 10 calls so far!

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