Signage for Property Management: A Comprehensive Guide

With the many responsibilities involved in managing commercial and residential properties, it can be easy to overlook the importance of having a strategy in place that focuses on every aspect of your property’s signage. From design, materials, placement, and maintenance, you have unique requirements to match your brand and messaging, and your signage is your tangible introduction to the audience you want to appeal to.

Understanding the Purpose of Signage in Property Design

Each type of commercial and residential sign has a primary purpose. An exterior sign may help people locate your property, advertise vacancies, or differentiate your property from others along busy thoroughfares. Inside your building, signage can direct visitors to elevators, identify rooms and spaces, or be used to restrict access.  

However, with a proper understanding of the impact your property signage makes on your audience, you can create lasting impressions and clearly establish your location from the competition with well-designed, cohesively planned property signage. For instance, wayfinding signage, used to help visitors get from one point to another on your property, also provides opportunities to establish strong brand recognition, build trust, and add elements of class, creativity, and distinction from the moment a person steps on your property until they reach their destination.

Each type of sign should also serve a purpose on its own, but be part of an overall strategy that unites exterior and interior signage. That strategy should focus on the viewer experience, whether the person influenced by the sign is a tenant, guest, staff, or delivery personnel. It should take into consideration the challenges people encounter and the apprehension that arises when trying to navigate through new places. Consistency is imperative and, to be effective, it’s vital that your signage provide the information they need, in the moment, to make their experience a pleasant one. 

There are a number of factors to take into consideration with your commercial or residential property signage. These include blending the right colors to support your brand and attract attention, signage placement for maximum visibility, how to illuminate the sign so it can be easily read any time of day, and which durable, sustainable, and cost-effective materials to make your signage from. Working with a professional sign design and installation company can make your job easier.

Creating a Consistent Brand Image With Signage

Regardless of whether you require signage for one property or many, consistency in design, color, and text matters to your audience. It gives your property a professional appearance and provides a comforting environment that sends signals to tenants and visitors that your property is well-cared for, safe, and, in the case of ADA signage, inclusive. 

The signage you deploy throughout your property should reinforce your brand at every opportunity. Consistency builds trust when your property signage provides relevant information with familiar designs, colors, and directional icons and symbols. Use your signage to project the image you want to impress upon your audience. With the wide selection of sign types and materials, there really are few limits when it comes to finding creative ways to communicate clearly in the often-brief time you have to grab attention. A centralized signage content platform helps keep signage on brand when new locations are added or signs need replacement.

Coordinate Wayfinding Signage Throughout Your Property

Effective way finding signage makes it easy for visitors to find parking, for potential tenants to locate rental and administrative offices, and tenants to get found by customers and clients. Placement is important because commercial and residential wayfinding signs should be visible from cars and along pathways and in hallways. Keep in mind that wayfinding and navigational signage must be easy to read and understand because audiences are usually on the move. That’s one reason universally recognized symbols and icons work well with wayfinding signage. The people arriving on your property may have important appointments to keep and good wayfinding signage reduces stress and worry about arriving on time. 

There are four types of navigational signage for you to deploy. 

  • Directional wayfinding guides the flow of traffic and is important at junctions where decisions are made. 
  • Identification wayfinding lets a person set their course with signage found attached to or outside buildings and in concourses and lobbies. 
  • Informational wayfinding can be used to make announcements and provide context to locations with plaques and marquees. 
  • Regulatory wayfinding protects both visitors, tenants, and workers from harm and your property from legal liabilities. It’s also important that your wayfinding signage be ADA-compliant and that it invites inclusivity and access for individuals with visual or other physical impairments.

Strategic and attractive wayfinding signage makes your property a more welcoming place and merges function with form to create memorable experiences.

Choose Sign Materials for Long-Term Investment

Your signage may send the first signal people receive about your property. If the sign material is substandard or in need of repair,  they will probably make assumptions about your property based on those perceptions. Quality does matter, and the materials you select should stand up to the weather,  endure wear and tear from handling, and hold color qualities and vibrancy for years. Your property signage is a long-term investment for brand visibility, advertising, and building trust with your audience. 

Cutting corners to save money often results in designs fading with time, cracks appearing in the sign’s surface, or inconsistent illumination that requires continual and potentially expensive upkeep. Fortunately, it’s easy to match the right material to your customized sign designs and use UV-resistant coatings, pliable plastics and moisture-resistant, versatile vinyl to keep signs looking great. Working with a property signage professional can help you find signage material that fits your budget and matches your brand’s standards of excellence.

Plan for Repairs and Maintenance

Your signs are performing their duties 24/7 and sometimes under extreme variations in temperature and weather conditions. It’s inevitable that the constant handling and exposure to sunlight, moisture, and wind can cause your signage to lose a little of its luster. That places an importance on regular scheduled maintenance and working with sign repair companies that can get parts and match materials quickly and promptly from a network of suppliers. Budgeting for routine upkeep can help you catch small problems before they grow into large ones that impact your business advertising and customer relationships or create potential liabilities. Suggested maintenance and repairs you should budget for include:

  • Regular cleanings to remove external surface dirt and grime
  • Inspection of fittings and hardware
  • Checking on the integrity of the surface due to cracks or damage
  • Replacing and upgrading lighting fixtures and bulbs
  • Inspections for damage to due pest infestation
  • Design touch-ups to keep colors consistent and vibrant

Planning ahead and keeping your signs in great shape can avoid expensive surprises in the future.

Use a Professional and Experienced Property Sign Installation Company

Save yourself headaches by working from the start with a professional sign installation company that understands the challenges that can arise throughout signage installation. Some of the problems a professional can help you with include setting goals, budgets, and timelines and determining the ideal location for your signs based on visibility, traffic, and local regulations. A professional sign installer will guide you through the licensing, permitting, and insurance requirements for your sign’s installation.

Look for a company that has extensive experience with a track record of successful installations and that provides excellent customer service. Improperly installed signs not only reflect poorly on your property, they also pose serious safety issues if they should fall and result in expensive liability insurance claims. In fact, because proper sign installation is so important, many cities and towns require hiring professional signage installation professionals. 

Your commercial and residential property signage is too great an investment and commitment to go it alone without the guidance of trustworthy, professional sign experts. YESCO solutions incorporate the finest materials, manufacturing techniques, and installation expertise to make your exterior and indoor property management signage stand out. Contact YESCO today to find out how.

Utah company builds, maintains iconic Vegas landmarks

Utah company builds, maintains iconic Vegas landmarks including Allegiant Stadium

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A company rich with Utah roots is responsible for some of the most popular and recognizable signs and displays in Las Vegas.

“My grandfather started selling signs in Vegas, before Vegas was Vegas,” said Jeff Young, Executive Vice President for Young Electric Sign Company. “He started selling signs in the 20’s and 30’s and then after the war particularly in the late 40’s and 50’s Vegas just exploded.”

YESCO first illuminated in Ogden, Utah in the 1920’s.

With a factory in Salt Lake City and others around the country, including Las Vegas, YESCO is seemingly everywhere around you.

“We integrated the exterior screen on the sphere,” said Young. “Allegiant Stadium of course with the Super Bowl is a massive project for us, it’s been done for a couple of years. We put nearly 4,000 signs in and outside the Allegiant Stadium.”

*Note that YESCO was one of many skilled contractors and companies who worked on the Sphere. YESCO's primary role in the project was to integrate SACO LED's technology on the exterior of the structure."

The Allegiant project helped YESCO stay afloat during the pandemic. The project provided some much-needed work during a time of uncertainty.

“My first journey into Allegiant you know after it was done someone said you know 4,000 signs how could it be? We got at the top of the escalator and well we did a 360 and we counted nearly 50 signs,” said Young. “The Allegiant spans 564 feet, that’s 188 yards long. It doesn’t look like that from a distance, but they are massive, massive signs.”

YESCO is also responsible for part of the recent signage revamp of the Delta Center.

“You take signs for granted in some respect but every single one has to be meticulously designed and installed in a perfect way,” said Young.

Vegas is home to some of the most photographed signs in the world, including the iconic ‘Welcome to Las Vegas’ sign.

YESCO maintains the sign along with hundreds of others in and around the Vegas strip.

“We have our eyes on every sign in Las Vegas at least once a week, in some cases in constant where we have cameras installed on some of our large digital displays some of which are massive,” said Young.

YESCO is virtually everywhere. From Maverik gas stations to local restaurants and billboards, there’s a chance the sign you’re looking at was made from a company deeply rooted in Utah history.

Read the full article written by by Brian Schnee on kutv.com

Maintaining Lit Signs: Things to Consider to Ensure Your Message Stays Illuminated

When it comes to making a lasting impression, few elements are as influential as a well-maintained illuminated sign. Beyond mere aesthetics, lighted signs play a pivotal role in defining your brand's identity, especially after the sun sets. In this blog post, we'll not only unravel the intricacies of maintaining illuminated signs but also shed light on the undeniable benefits of LED technology. Additionally, we'll underscore how maintenance programs can be the cornerstone of ensuring your brand message remains illuminated.

LED technology. Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) have revolutionized the signage landscape, offering not only unparalleled visual appeal but also significant energy efficiency. Unlike traditional lighting, LEDs consume less energy, translating into cost savings for your business. So, when your sign shines bright, it not only captures attention but does so in an environmentally conscious and budget-friendly manner. Let’s get more into the details of how LED works and why it makes sense for business owners like yourself. 

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are semiconductor devices that produce light when an electric current passes through them. The operation of LEDs relies on a process called electroluminescence, where electrons recombine with electron holes within the device, releasing energy in the form of photons. This phenomenon occurs within a semiconductor material, typically composed of gallium arsenide, gallium phosphide, or gallium nitride, which determines the color of the emitted light. Unlike traditional incandescent or fluorescent, neon signs and more,  LEDs do not rely on heating a filament or gas to produce light, making them far more energy-efficient and durable. Which is perfect for your next business sign. LED has transitioned to be one of the main lighted signs in the business industry and it's easy to understand why.

The concept of LED technology dates back to the early 20th century, with initial experiments conducted in the 1920s. However, it wasn't until the 1960s that practical applications began to emerge. The first practical LED was developed by Nick Holonyak Jr. at General Electric in 1962, using gallium arsenide phosphide to emit red light. Subsequent advancements in semiconductor materials led to the development of LEDs capable of emitting green and blue light, enabling the production of full-color displays and lighting solutions. Over the decades, improvements in efficiency, brightness, and lifespan have made LEDs ubiquitous in various applications, from indicator lights and electronic displays to architectural lighting and automotive headlights. Without Nick Holonyak paving the way with LED we would not have the amazing LED signs we have today. 

The widespread adoption of LED technology has been driven by its numerous advantages over traditional lighting sources. LEDs offer significantly higher energy efficiency, consuming a fraction of the power required by other types of lighting sources such as neon signs. LED signs are producing comparable or even greater brightness compared to neon and other technologies in the sign industry. Additionally, LEDs have a longer lifespan, typically lasting tens of thousands of hours, reducing maintenance costs and waste. This means LEDs are environmentally friendly, containing no mercury or other hazardous materials found in other lighting sources and emitting less heat, thereby reducing cooling requirements. As a result, LED technology has become integral to modern lighting solutions, revolutionizing industries and contributing to sustainability efforts worldwide.

While LED technology has come a long way it still needs to be maintained regularly. The importance of regular maintenance is paramount to maintaining your business and branding. Consider this scenario: a potential customer strolls by your establishment, drawn in by the promise of your vibrant sign. However, instead of a dazzling display, they're met with flickering lights or, worse, an unlit sign. The consequences? A potential customer lost and a tarnished brand image. Regular maintenance isn't just about keeping your sign aesthetically pleasing; it's about safeguarding your brand's reputation and ensuring your message is always on display, day or night.

Maintaining LED signs requires regular attention to ensure optimal performance and longevity. Firstly, it's essential to clean the sign's surface regularly to remove dust, dirt, and other debris that may accumulate over time. This can be done using a soft, non-abrasive cloth or brush and a mild detergent solution. Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive materials, as these can damage the LED display. Always inspect the sign for any physical damage such as cracks or loose components, and address any issues promptly to prevent further damage.

Secondly, monitoring the LED sign's functionality is crucial for maintenance. Regularly check for any malfunctioning pixels or segments and replace them as needed to maintain optimal visibility and clarity. Keep an eye on the brightness and color consistency across the display to ensure uniformity, adjusting settings if necessary. It's also essential to inspect the wiring and connections periodically to ensure they are secure and free from corrosion or damage. Conducting routine maintenance checks will help identify any potential issues early on, allowing for timely repairs and minimizing downtime. Finally, consider implementing a maintenance schedule to ensure these tasks are performed regularly and systematically, helping to prolong the lifespan of the LED sign and maximize its effectiveness as a communication tool. If you’re not sure how to or don’t have the time then YESCO can help you.

This is where YESCO’s expertise comes into play. As a business owner, your focus is rightfully on core operations. YESCO’s maintenance programs are tailored to shoulder the responsibility of keeping your illuminated signs in impeccable condition. Our  team of experts understands the intricacies of these dynamic displays, ensuring that potential issues are addressed proactively, preventing downtime and safeguarding your brand's visibility.

Now, let's delve into the undeniable advantages of partnering with YESCO for your illuminated sign maintenance. The intricacies of LED signage demand specialized attention, and YESCO is equipped with the knowledge and experience to provide just that. Our proactive approach ensures that potential issues are identified and resolved before they impact your signage performance. Moreover, with our comprehensive maintenance programs, you can be confident that your signs will consistently reflect your brand's brilliance, leaving an indelible mark on every passerby.

In a competitive market where every interaction counts, your illuminated sign becomes a 24/7 ambassador for your brand. Don't let it falter. Illuminate your brand story and let YESCO’s maintenance programs be the backbone that ensures your business shines bright, always ready to make a positive and lasting impression.