NJ Home Seller Finds Creative Way To Skirt Sign Restrictions

Ever wonder why some developments seem to be overflowing with For Sale signs, while others seem to be devoid of them? Well, it’s because some homeowner associations do not allow homeowners to post for sale signs to advertise their homes. This New Jersey couple found a creative way to skirt around the rules.

Banner day for home rule

Planting a “For Sale” sign on the front lawn is one of the first things people do when they decide to sell their homes. It’s practically the American way.

But Joan and Kenneth Tencza, who live in the Locust Hill adult community in Hamilton, can’t. Their homeowners association won’t allow it.

So after receiving two threatening letters from the association’s management company — one for posting a “For Sale” sign in their front window and another for a sign they put on Yardville-Hamilton Square Road, just outside the entrance to the development — the couple has found an innovative way around the rules.

They’ve hung a festive red and white flag outside their home to let people know the house is on the market.

“The rule is no signs, but decorative flags are allowed. So I put up a decorative flag,” Joan Tencza said with a grin.

The white and red homemade flag says “For Sale by Owner” and has the couple’s telephone number, along with a large heart with an arrow through it.



Cupit, president of the Locust Hill homeowners association, declined to talk about why the sign ban is in place and referred calls to the organization’s management company, P&A Management Inc.

P&A President Al Pellegrino said the restrictions on “For Sale” signs generally start with builders of the developments, who do not want competition when they are trying to sell homes. The restrictions are then retained by the homeowners associations.

Sellers that decide to sell FSBO have a significant disadvantage in these communities. Without MLS exposure, it’s almost impossible to get any exposure to your home.

Caveat Emptor!
Grim

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5 Responses to NJ Home Seller Finds Creative Way To Skirt Sign Restrictions

  1. Metroplexual says:

    Grim,

    I thought that the recent NJ supreme court decision about the couple in the trenton area ivolving free speech opened the floodgates on this issue.

    I seem to recall that a legal opinion was rendered some where saying that a for sale sign is part of free speech.

  2. Richie says:

    Builders who don’t want competition? Why does that have “monopoly” written all over it?

    -Richie

  3. mjrmajor says:

    Hard to figure why a rule like this would be in place. It certainly hurts the resale value of the property if it’s harder to advertise. richie raises the question of builders influence. The residents should control the HOA, I wonder why they don’t vote to change the rule?

  4. pesche22 says:

    see cedent ,, today going to
    reduce costs at coldwell banker and others by 50 million.

    closing some offices

    seems that sales have stalled.

  5. Tru Efforte says:

    I think some associations really don’t want to see house signs for sale. Last thing they want to mess up their view is a sea of for sale sign. May make people a little nervous…

    Tru Goodness

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