Estate agency boards have stood the test of time. Even in a market dominated by online property portals, estate agency ‘For Sale’ or ‘To Let’ signs remain an important marketing tool. They establish your presence in the local community, alert opportunistic buyers or tenants and appeal to older generations who are less likely to look online for property.
In short: Estate agency boards must follow Town and Country Planning Act rules, with a 0.5m² limit for residential signs and up to 2.3m² for commercial ones. Boards must come down within 14 days of a sale or letting completing. Leading UK suppliers include Kremer Signs, Agency Express, Countrywide Signs and Signboard.co, offering everything from bulk board printing to full design, print and installation management.
This means your property boards must look good and attract the right kind of attention from passers-by. Done rightly, your signage will generate new leads and increase property sales and lettings.
Estate agent board services can help you with this task, with providers often managing your signage’s design, creation and/or installation. Some services supply the materials, whereas others will manage the entire process from start to finish.
Before suggesting some of the best providers, let’s look at the different signage types and materials you can use.
Residential property boards are a staple sight on most streets. However, it’s worth saying there are rules governing how you can use these signs. Specifically, they should only be erected on for sale or let property and must be taken down 14 days after the sale. Failure to do this can lead to prosecution under the Town and Country Planning Act.
Residential property boards give your marketing efforts several advantages:
Equally, there are some downsides:
Commercial property boards serve the same purpose as residential signs. However, one difference is the space allotted to commercial signs. They can be 2 square metres, or 2.3 metres where two boards are joined together. By contrast, residential boards can only be 0.5 square metres.
You can use the extra space to say a little more with your sign. For example, many agents choose to say how many square feet the building is, whether it has a car park etc.
There are several board styles offered by most providers. Your style should be influenced by the properties you’re trying to sell. For example, a V-board that attaches directly to the property is best used when there is no garden to accommodate a T-board.
It’s also worth noting that many suppliers sell the signs and posts separately.
Here are the types of boards you will generally find:
Equally, boards come in a range of materials. Whichever one you choose, it’ll need to be durable and weather resistant. Almost all real estate agency boards are made of a corrugated plastic called Correx, which varies in thickness according to the size, style and shape of sign being used. Some of the most durable commercial boards are also made of Foamex, which is even hardier.
Providing a specific price is challenging because it depends on the service. The cheapest options upfront let you buy the estate agent boards in bulk (but not the posts or fittings). This is a good option if you’ve got a supply of fittings and posts, and are willing to install them yourself.
However, many suppliers offer a sliding scale of services where they include and/or manage parts of the process for you, increasing the cost. Full management services which print signs, supply fittings and deal with installation usually offer bespoke pricing, which is much higher.
So, which provider should you choose for your estate agency boards? Here are some of the options:
Established in 1985, Kremer Signs offer commercial and residential signage for estate and letting agents. If you’re a larger agency looking for a holistic solution, then Kremer Signs are an excellent option.
They offer all the types of boards mentioned above, and can also supply the posts separately (if you’ve already created your boards). Additionally, they offer in-house design services for your signage, so you can let them manage the entire process.
It’s worth mentioning that they can also do much more signage than simply for sale boards – their services include hoardings creation, marketing suite signage, whole-site signage and banners (to name but a few).
They also offer an installation service and recycling for some old signs.
Agency Express are slightly different; they mainly focus on sign management services, while working with other suppliers to design and create the signs. They are a UK-wide company who installs, maintains and removes commercial and residential signs – meaning they are a great solution if you have estate agency branches across the country.
They offer three levels of service: Inclusive, Movement and Rental. The Inclusive service is holistic, including “maintenance, servicing, retrieval and storage all for a single fee per new listing.” The Rental service takes this further, liaising with property board creators to create your signs and then manage printing, production and supply (in addition to the Inclusive service features). The Movement service is similar, except that you pay for each individual property visit, giving you more control over how much you spend.
Countrywide Signs operate across the whole UK, and offer a holistic signage and sign management service for commercial and residential property. Their services allow you to be as hands-on or off as you like, depending upon your budget and requirements.
On a basic level, they offer an extensive range of sign types, from the typical Correx T-boards, all the way to bespoke commercial signage. They also create and supply ‘for sale’ slips and promotional banners if you’re looking for extras.
Their full-stock service is worth mentioning. If you choose this option, they print your signs, prepare your posts and fittings, and keep their stock high for whenever you need it. The system is automated so your stock is continually replenished, and you can choose to use it when you need it. Not only that, but the service includes complete installation and removal.
First Agency Boards focus on supplying a particularly large range of commercial and residential boards, along with posts and fittings. They also offer sign creation services for site hoardings and office displays.
First Agency Boards is a good choice if you’re looking for a highly customisable service. Their signs and boards can be bought separately and pre-drilled to suit your requirements. Unlike other suppliers, they even offer variations in the colour, styling, sizes and types of posts for your signs. They also offer iron supports and fittings sets according to your needs.
Their board styles vary greatly, offering 4 different types of commercial boards, reflective residential boards, and unique suction-based window signs that can be fixed within the property. The only downside is that they don’t provide design or installation services, so you must look elsewhere for this.
Discount Displays offer a huge variety of signage, taking a pick-and-mix approach to estate agency boards. You can buy boards, posts, fittings and slips separately, and the more boards you buy, the lower the cost per board. They also allow for a range of bulk buying deals where you can buy posts, boards, and everything you need for a lower price.
They allow you to upload your board design – or you can let them create it. That way, you can easily control how much (or little) you spend on your signage. Their range includes T-boards, flag boards (which can have a customised shape), and V-boards.
Creative Solutions Direct is a print, signage, and exhibition specialist based in Axminster, covering the South West of England. They offer a wide range of services tailored to help create impactful visual displays for estate agents – and many other businesses too.
Amongst a very large selection of services, they have regular and shaped estate agency boards in twin-wall polypropylene – both of which are recyclable and PVC-free. Their ‘direct print’ feature ensures your signs won’t fade, and you are able to get your signage within 5-7 business days.
The standard pricing for sign boards is £15.18 (VAT included), however, after 10 signs it is possible to access their custom pricing options – and potential discounts – for larger orders.
Signboard.co specialises in estate agent boards and related signage solutions. They position themselves as a one-stop shop for all property-related signage needs, and offer all the sizes and shapes of signs you’d expect: T-signs, flag boards, swing signs, window signs, mini v-boards and custom shaped signs too.
Signboard.co’s signs are solid, working upwards from 850-1500 gsm correx panels, which are able to withstand a lot of punishment from the elements. Wherever necessary, boards come pre-drilled or pre-eyeletted so that they can easily be affixed to the posts which suit your size dimensions.
Pricing is disclosed on a contact form basis, and is not readily available on their website.
Where The Trade Buys or now known as WTTB, are a holistic residential board design service, which can produce many different design materials according to your needs.
Uniquely, they have partnered with Canva (an online graphic design service) to help you create the design which suits your estate agency boards. They also provide downloadable templates and guides for sign creation.
While they only sell flag and T-boards, these can both be customised. Estate agents can choose the orientation and order different versions of the sign. The pricing is also clearly displayed, and adjusts with the quantity/versions of the boards you choose to purchase.
The downsides are that they do not supply fittings and posts or create commercial property boards.
The Board Printing Company offers a simple range of residential estate agency signage with a clear pricing system. This is advantageous if you’re on a budget, or don’t feel you have the time to discuss a bespoke quote (which many other suppliers request).
Their product selection is easy to use, allowing you to quickly adjust the size, orientation, type of sign and quantity – with precise costs attached depending upon how many you choose to order.
This company also allows you to submit your artwork, send it in an email, or let them create the whole design for you.
However, the selection of signs is much more basic. You can only select flag or T-boards, which all come in a standard size, and in the typical Correx material. Equally, they do not supply the posts for the boards, so you will have to purchase these separately.
Sign World offers some interesting variations on top of the usual signage, allowing you to create bespoke or eco-friendly boards.
They offer a large selection of signs (flags, T-boards, V-boards, shaped signs), which come pre-drilled to accompany and posts/slips on sheets of Correx.
Their prestige service and ink treatments are the most notable feature, with boards which are UV protected, non-staining, hydrophobic and fade resistant. The ink is specially treated to withstand more than the usual Correx sign. The sign quality would prove helpful for homes which are highly exposed to the elements and prone to damage.
Boards are also created with 20% recycled materials, and are fully recyclable. So, Sign World is a good choice for eco-conscious brands and estate agencies. They even provide a service which recycles old Correx boards.
Snaith Signs offer commercial and residential property boards with a significant level of customer support.
Another feature which sets them apart is their focus on commercial signage. They offer several options upfront (unlike many suppliers), including floor and ground-mounted V-boards, and wall and ground-mounted flat boards.
They also focus on commercial sign safety, high-quality materials, and durability. For example, they have £5m public liability insurance, and use heavy-duty 3” x 3” posts for their signs.
Additionally, once you commission a sign, you are given a dedicated account manager and gain 24/7 access to their online management and support system.
If you’re looking for a service to help you to design your estate agency boards, then Vistaprint is a great place to start off. You can design your board within the site itself, or you can choose to upload a design you’ve already made. This is a great option if you want free guidance and inspiration for the design, as well as sign printing services.
Unlike other services, Vistaprint doesn’t force you to order signs in bulk, so you can quickly test a design before ordering more. However, since it is a printing service, you must buy the post and fittings separately.
VC Print is a London-based company that produces estate agency boards using durable 4mm fluted Correx and UV-cured inks, helping your boards stay clear and weather-resistant in all conditions. They offer a range of formats, including standard boards, T-boards, Flag boards and V-boards, so you can choose what works best for your properties and local area.
All boards meet UK size regulations, and you can customise the design to reflect your own branding. VC Print also provides artwork checks and template support to make the process as smooth as possible. If you’re looking for a reliable supplier with quick turnaround times and clear communication, they’re a solid option to consider.
Adverset Display, based in Scarborough, produces estate agent boards using durable 4mm Correx with double-sided, fade-resistant printing. Boards come in the standard UK size, but you can also request custom shapes, sizes and drilled holes to suit your specific requirements.
They provide artwork templates and proofs to help you get the design right, and there’s also the option to have your artwork professionally designed for an additional fee. With in-house production and personal support throughout the process, Adverset offers a straightforward, flexible option if you’re looking for custom signage you can rely on.
Their local presence means quicker communication, and their experience ensures the boards meet industry standards while helping your listings stand out.
Finally, whichever service you choose, the most important thing is to shape it around the needs of your business and priorities. Many of the services above suit some agencies more than others, depending on your budget, stock of signs and the time you have to spare.
If your property marketing is falling short of the leads and sales you expect, then why not book a call with one of our team? We can help you identify the steps you need to take to move your estate agency business forward.
If your website isn’t converting the extra visibility your boards generate, take a look at our estate agent website design services.
A For Sale or To Let board must come down within 14 days of the sale or letting completing. Leaving it up longer breaches the Town and Country Planning Act and can lead to prosecution.
Residential boards are limited to 0.5 square metres. Commercial boards can be larger, up to 2 square metres, or 2.3 square metres where two boards are joined together.
Most boards are made from Correx, a lightweight corrugated plastic that is weather resistant and cost effective. Some commercial boards use Foamex instead, which is heavier duty and more durable.
Standard For Sale and To Let boards within the legal size limits generally do not need planning permission. Some councils restrict or ban signage in certain areas, so it is worth checking local rules before ordering boards.
Pricing varies by provider and service level. Buying boards in bulk without posts or installation is the cheapest option, while full management services that handle printing, fitting and installation cost more but save agents time.
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