For Sale By Owner Signs: Do They Help?

Do you need one? | Potential problems | How to choose | What to say | Placement | Purchase

If you want to sell a home without an agent, using a for sale by owner (FSBO) sign can be a valuable part of your marketing toolkit, but it's not a magic bullet. Yard signs can capture attention from neighbors, passersby, and local buyers, but they're most effective when paired with an online listing and other advertising strategies.

Here's when to use a FSBO sign, how to design one that works, and where to place it for maximum impact.

Do you need a for sale by owner sign?

In an age dominated by Zillow and social media, it’s fair to wonder if FSBO yard signs are still worth the trouble. The short answer? It depends on your location, buyer profile, and how you plan to market your property.

According to the National Association of Realtors, only about 4% of buyers first learn about a home from a yard sign, but that percentage rises significantly in high-traffic neighborhoods and tight-knit communities where word-of-mouth spreads fast.

✅ When a sign can help

• You live on a busy street or corner lot
• Your neighborhood sees a lot of foot or car traffic
• You're targeting local buyers or neighbors
• You want to build awareness ahead of an open house

🚫 When it might not be necessary

• You're in a gated community or rural area
• You already have a buyer (friend, family member, or neighbor)
• You’re relying exclusively on MLS exposure through a flat-fee listing service (some restrict FSBO signs)

If your property's in a busy area, you should use a for sale by owner sign to draw attention to your home. But sellers in quieter areas may be better off skipping the sign and focusing on other ways to advertise their properties.

» MORE: How to Sell Your House For Sale by Owner

You can decide if you need a for sale by owner sign based on your buyer, location, and other advertising options.

» READ: 5 Websites That Let You Sell Your House "For Sale By Owner"

Where's your property located?

You need to live on a street with either a lot of foot or vehicle traffic for a FSBO yard sign to have any benefit.

If you live on a not-so-busy street, you can also put up directional signs on a nearby busy street to point people to your home.

But real estate yard signs don't do much good on quieter roads without direct access to high-traffic areas. If you're in a gated community, rural area, or quiet cul-de-sac, you'll have more success using online listings, local ads, and other methods to advertise your property.

» MORE: How Does Your Neighborhood Affect Your Home's Value?

How else can you advertise your property?

Selling your home for sale by owner has fewer advertising options than listing with a real estate agent.

Agents have connections with other agents who might know buyers looking for a house in your area and price range.

They also have access to the local multiple listing service (MLS), a database of all the homes for sale in your area. The MLS aggregates to popular real estate sites like Zillow, Redfin, and Trulia.

You do have a few options for advertising your FSBO property besides yard signs, including:

• Talking to your friends and family
• Posting your home on social media
• Listing on Craigslist, Nextdoor, and other local marketplaces
• Listing on FSBO sites like FSBO.com or ForSaleByOwner.com
• Listing on Facebook Marketplace
• Listing on Zillow FSBO
• Adding your property to listing sites yourself
• Using a flat fee MLS listing service

Many of these options have their own limitations for properties listed for sale by owner.

If you use a flat fee MLS listing service, for instance, you may not be able to put a FSBO sign in your yard.

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) manages many of the MLSs in the United States. If you list your property in a NAR MLS, you'll have to follow its advertising rules, which say you can only put a for sale sign from the listing broker on your property.[1]

Also, 10 states restrict for sale by owner signs to properties listed on the MLS. Those states are:

• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Minnesota
• Nebraska
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• South Carolina
• Utah
• Virginia

If your property is in one of these states, you'll need to use a sign from the broker who listed your property on the MLS instead of a FSBO sign. Many flat fee MLS companies will either give you signs or sell them to you when you use them to list your home.

» LEARN: What You Need to Know About Flat Fee MLS Listings

Common issues with FSBO signs and how to avoid them

Putting a for sale by owner sign in your front yard can bring a lot of unwanted phone calls and negative attention to your property.

Unwanted calls from real estate agents

Listing agents see FSBO properties as an easy opportunity for new business. You're ready to sell and have already done some of the work. They'll see your sign and call you, hoping to convince you to list with them.

Expect calls from agents offering to help, and be ready with a polite script or voicemail message that filters real buyers from sales pitches.

Little attention from buyers' agents

While FSBO sellers save money by not paying a real estate agent's commission, they can attract more quality buyers by offering a commission (typically 2.49-2.88%) to a selling agent.

» READ: Selling vs Listing Agent: What's The Difference?

Unfortunately, FSBO sellers have a reputation for not paying selling agent commissions. Many agents will see that a home is for sale by owner and either drop it to the bottom of their priority list or steer their clients away from it.

Unqualified buyers wanting to see the property

Buyers who either aren't pre-qualified or can't qualify for a mortgage will notice your sign and want to see your property.

Unqualified buyers can cause a lot of headaches for FSBO sellers. Showing them your property is a waste of time since they can't actually make an offer right then and there. If you accept a preliminary offer from an unqualified buyer, the sale could fall through because they may not get approved for a mortgage.

Real estate agents usually filter out people who aren't actually ready to buy before bringing them to a showing by asking for either a pre-qualification or a pre-approval letter.

When you sell FSBO, you have to determine if people are qualified when they call or show up at your door.

People knocking on your door for a showing

Many people will see a FSBO sign in your front yard and come right up to your door to talk to you about the property. They could catch you during dinner, while you're working, or when your home is messy and not staged for a showing. Include “Appointment Only” on your sign to set boundaries.

Pros and cons of using a FSBO sign

How to choose the best for sale by owner signs

The best for sale by owner signs are durable, visible, and professional. Your sign should be simple, clear, and easy to read from a moving car. Avoid clutter and aim for high visibility.

Must-haves:

• Your phone number (use Google Voice if you want a buffer)
• The phrase “Appointment Only”
• Clear “For Sale by Owner” language

Optional but helpful:

• Features (e.g., “4BR / 2BA – Updated Kitchen”)
• Property address
• QR code linking to your online listing
• A flyer box or brochure tube with home details

You should avoid DIY for sale by owner signs unless you're a professional designer. The right design helps your sign stand out and look professional — which boosts credibility with buyers and agents alike.

It's tempting to make your own sign — you can save a few bucks while trying to stand out and grab people's attention. But a homemade FSBO sign could give people the impression that you're not serious about selling your property.

Color: Red and white is the gold standard

Red triggers urgency and is highly visible from the street. Pair it with white text for maximum contrast.

Size: Go big enough to read at a glance

Use at least a 24x18 inch sign. Consider larger if you're on a fast road.

Style: Professional > homemade

DIY signs may save money, but they often look amateur. Use a professionally printed sign, especially in competitive or upscale markets.

Materials

• Corrugated plastic: Affordable and lightweight but can fade or warp in bad weather.
• Aluminum: Durable, weather-resistant, and best for long listings or high-end homes.

» READ: 7 Creative Real Estate Signs Idea to Sell Your Home

You can also add sign riders above or below your sign to make it more visible. These add-on signs make announcements about your property. Sign riders that could help you sell your FSBO might say:

• Coming soon
• Open house
• Price reduced
• Appointment only
• We pay agent fees
• Under contract

What should hold your FSBO sign?

The sign holder you choose needs to be strong and compatible with your FSBO sign's material. You'll usually have three options:

Type	Best for	Pros	Cons
H-stakes	Budget listings	Inexpensive, easy to install	Flimsy, hard to see, no rider support
Sign frames	Most FSBO sellers	Durable, professional	Must match sign dimensions
Sign posts	Upscale neighborhoods	Polished appearance, good visibility	More expensive, need installation

For most properties, a sign frame will give you the best mix of quality, durability, and price.

H-stakes — best for selling on a budget

H-stakes are thin metal frames that slide into a plastic sign's corrugation. H-stakes are affordable, but also thin and easy to bend. They sit low to the ground, making them difficult to see. They also don't support sign riders.

While they are extremely common, we recommend avoiding H-stakes for your FSBO sign.

Sign frames — best combination of durability and price

Sign frames are metal or hard plastic that wraps around your FSBO yard sign. They work with both aluminum and plastic signs, but you'll need to make sure the sign and frame are the same sizes.

You can stake the frame into the ground or use a stand if you want to put it on your driveway or sidewalk. Sign frames are rigid structures that won't usually bend or twist, making them more durable and professional looking. You can also find frames with slots for sign riders.

Sign posts — best for pricey neighborhoods

Real estate sign posts are often taller and more elegant than frames or H-stakes. Your FSBO sign will hang from the post's arm, which is usually made of either PVC or wood.

While this option is pricier than the other two, sign posts can help your property look more put together and valuable, especially in more expensive neighborhoods.

What should a for sale by owner sign say?

Your FSBO sign should include a QR code, a phone number for people to contact you, and the words "appointment only."

Why your FSBO sign should say "appointment only"

Putting "appointment only" or a similar statement on your sign lets people know that they can't just pop in for a showing at any time.

Instead, they need to call first and set up an appointment to see the property. Making this clear on your sign sets expectations for potential buyers and allows you to screen people before inviting them into your home.

It also gives you a chance to prepare for a showing. You want your property to look its best before you show it to prospective buyers.

» MORE: How to Stage a House for Sale While You're Still Living in It

Other info you can include on your for sale by owner sign

Adding more information about the property can make it easier for buyers to know if it's a good option for them — but it's a balancing act. If you put too much on your sign, it will be cluttered and hard to read.

Here are some other items you might want to put on your sign:

• A QR code. Share a link to your online listing or the website where someone can find it.
• The property address. With it, people don't have to search for the house number and cross-street if they want to find the property again.
• An email address. You can field questions and schedule showings via email instead of (or in addition to) taking phone calls.
• A brochure box or flyer tube. Both are safe places to put flyers with details about the house including property characteristics and your asking price.

Where should you place for sale by owner signs?

Your FSBO signs should be visible to as many people as possible.

To get the most visibility, use strategic placement — and always follow local rules or HOA regulations.

• Front yard: As close to the road as possible, not hidden by bushes
• Corner lot: Place signs facing both streets
• High-traffic areas: Use directional signs at intersections nearby
• Flyer box: Consider attaching one with property details or QR codes

Where can you buy for sale by owner signs?

You can buy for sale by owner signs from home improvement stores, online retailers (including Amazon and Etsy), and custom sign companies.

While they may cost a bit more, we recommend buying custom signs for your FSBO property. These signs are easier to read and more professional than writing your phone number in black Sharpie on a generic FSBO sign.

Custom signs give you a lot of options for material, design, and information. You can choose exactly what you want to include on your sign and ensure it looks professional and is easy to read.

Best custom FSBO sign websites

• eSigns
• Build A Sign
• Signs.com
• Vistaprint
• Fast Real Estate Signs
• Custom Real Estate Signs

Download a free for sale by owner sign template

We made a clear and simple for sale by owner sign template that you can download for free. You can upload this design to one of the custom FSBO sign sites to create a personalized yard sign for your listing. Simply use the site's sign editor to add your phone number.

» DOWNLOAD: Free For Sale by Owner Sign Template

Final thoughts

For sale by owner signs are helpful tools for marketing your house, but you shouldn't rely on them as your only strategy. Here are some other advertising options you should consider.

Combine FSBO signs with online listings.

» READ: 5 Websites That Let You Sell Your House "For Sale By Owner"

Invest in a flat fee MLS listing service.

» READ: What You Need to Know About Flat-Fee MLS Listings

Offer to pay the commissions of the buyer's real estate agent (and advertise it).

» READ: Do Sellers Pay Buyer's Agent Commission?

Talk to a real estate agent (even if you don't hire one).

Even having a conversation with an agent about your property can give you some ideas to better market your listing.