Branch politics? Estate agencies slammed for nailing signboards to trees
London agency Winkworth and Welsh firm Evans Roach attract criticism from councils and fellow agents for careless use of signboards.
Agents have greeted a wayward For Sale sign ‘planted’ by a Winkworth agent on a tree in South London with a mixture of mirth and concern that it gives the industry a bad name.
Estate agent Lee Pendleton, co-founder of nine-branch firm James Pendleton, came across the wayward sign nailed to a tree by his competitor’s Wimbledon office team.
After posting the picture on social media, Pendleton says many agents saw the funny side of it, with one saying ‘wood you believe it’, but says such inappropriate use of signboards can help reinforce the often-held view that some agents are cowboys.
“I think this sort of thing is bad because it pushes local councils to begin reviewing our signage, which is a shame because I love signboards; they’re a great form of advertising for the industry,” he says.
“But when you get rogue agents nailing a signboard to a tree to get a bit of free marketing on a busy road then it sends all the wrong signals out.”
A Winkworth spokesperson told The Neg: “We have talked to the local franchisee and have been assured that they have spoken to the board company to ensure that Winkworth boards are placed responsibly.”
Nailed it
The agency is not alone in being censured about this. Over the weekend Pembrokeshire firm Evans Roach was reprimanded by its local council after a ‘for sale’ arrow was nailed to a tree.
One local councilor in Neyland branded the agency’s actions ‘vandalism’ and showing a ‘lack of respect for public property’.
The agency told local paper the Western Telegraph that it would never sanction such actions, blaming its signage contractor.
“We contacted the sign company to inform that that we wanted a boarding and pointer to be placed in this particular location, but under no circumstances did we request them to place it on the tree,” said Evans Roach’s manager, Kathy Gunner.