Careful consideration of placement of Open House signs can benefit residents, real estate agents

Q: Last weekend, an agent put an Open House sign on each side of the road and on the street median going into our townhouse community. Inside our community, she had an overabundance of Open House signs. These real estate Open House signs have slowly been increasing to a headspinning level since we moved here to retire. On weekends, we’ll see three or four Open House signs on one busy street corner. This blight is also prohibiting pedestrians or cyclists from operating safely in and out of an intersection. This trend is even more pronounced earlier in the morning on the busiest intersections. This unacceptable behavior needs to stop before someone gets hurt or worse. I’ve complained to agents, who are utterly unapologetic. What can be done to prevent a circuslike atmosphere every weekend in our beautiful adopted city?

A: You can complain to your city officials. However, cities and counties do not have code enforcement personnel working on weekends. Additionally, looming over all the issues around Open House signs is the right to free speech. The National Association of Realtors (N.A.R.) is advising local and state associations to proceed cautiously, due in part to the United States Supreme Court case

Reed v. Town of Gilbert, 576 U.S. — (2015). The case revolved around the municipal sign ordinance adopted by Gilbert, Arizona, in 2005, regulating the manner and type of signs that can be displayed. In Silicon Valley, Open House signs were reaching a state of crisis, prompting one city to ban them and another to allow only directional signs. The Southern Alameda County, Marin County and Silicon Valley Associations of Realtors encourage best practices for Open House signage regarding their respective cities, counties, and public areas, and especially its prohibition on state highways, expressways, and our historic El Camino Real. I can’t quote from the California Association of Realtors’ 2,800-word white paper on Open House signs available to its members. But it is safe to say we have our hands filled fighting the uptick of mega-agents hiring workers to put out these mini-billboards (Open House signs) through three cities, or worse, leading nowhere.

Have a question? Know someone who is thinking of moving? Realtor Pat Kapowich provides turnkey services including relocation, staging, market analysis and strategic planning. 408-245-7700 or Pat@ Siliconvalleybroker. com. Broker License 00979413.