New idea for trainwrecks

[resolution]

We're looking for houses to paint. In fact, paint is an understatement. We're looking for homes to turn into billboards. In exchange, we'll pay your mortgage every month for as long as your house remains painted

I have seen this type of promo for cars but this is the first time for houses. Apparently they have gotten a much larger response than they expected. Is this something you would consider? I am sure this would absolutely mortify the neighbors and is not something that i would normally do, but if I were losing my house I might consider it. Would you do this for your house or car?

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

I wonder what local ordiances would have to say about this?

[CarolinaKat]

HOA's would hit the proverbial roof

[Wisconsin Beth]

I would bet this is going to vary based on the Ordinance of your area. I'm pretty sure there's something about eyesores in ours. Although that didn't stop the Vietnam Vet from painting his house a lurid shade of purple. It was pretty much a landmark "if you get to the purple house, you've gone too far" type thing. But every once in a while someone would bring up the City Ordinances about it.

[midjd]

I would consider it, but I think it would entirely depend on what the proposed advertisement was (and I doubt you get to choose) and how often they'd be changing it.

[zibazinski]

Car, yes, my gf who didn't even smoke advertised some cigarette brand on the side of her vw. said it made the payment and insurance on said vehicle.

[TD2K]

Offering to pay your mortgage is going to get a lot of people's attention I would think. I wonder what factors they use in selecting whether to use your house? I bet houses on the end of a cul-de-sac need not apply.

I know one house that they painted pepto bismal pink and even after seeing it many, many times, it definitely still catches my eye when I drive past it.

[Deleted]

If I was losing my house and Ordinance had nothing against it, I would do it in a hearbeat ;D

Heck, just because I am a cheap guy I would do it... except I think my wife response would be :"Over my dead body"

[TD2K]

That does sound a little extreme Cawiau just to get free rent

[RoadToRiches]

Hell yeha I would do it! In a year, that would make me 12k!

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

Of course, there are income tax consequences. Depending on your mortgage payment you'd be looking at having to add $12 to $30K to your annual income.

I defer to the tax genius' here though.

[Deleted]

I bet they only take homes on really busy streets or fronting highways - places where the neighbors are unlikely to complain.

[busymom]

I'd have no problem driving in a car with advertising on it. However, the house.....I don't think so.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Forget HOA's - most local ordinances prohibit or severely limit signage-- I think you could call this a "sign"-- in residential zones.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Apr 8, 2011 9:18:42 GMT -5 Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ said:

Of course, there are income tax consequences. Depending on your mortgage payment you'd be looking at having to add $12 to $30K to your annual income.

I defer to the tax genius' here though.

Yeah, but think of the depreciation / loss you could take...

[thyme4change]

Awesome! I love it!

In fact, I might buy a bunch of rentals in key locations and sign them up. I could make money all over the place!

[Clever Username]

You might have hit on something with the signage rule.
But eyesore are often completely valid (hoa's being an exception).

Most everyone I know has heard of a "spite fence" in their neighborhood.
One guy put up an ugly, backwards, multicolored fence.
His neighbor started with a sign on the streeet pointing it out to drivers, to hopefully ridicule him into fixing it.
Later, when that didn't work, he put up a larger fence. Nice on the inside, safety orange on the neighbor's side.

[Tiny]

I don't know... I'd have to see what the extra income does to my taxes.... I'm also curious what part of the "mortgage" they will pay - PI only or also TI? Makes a difference to me cause (when I had a mortgage) the PI part was a pitance and the TI was killer...

If your mortgage is 1K - that's extra income of 12K for the year... ok, yes, there's still some actual 'income' after the tax hit on the 12K but I'd have to make sure I had the money to cover the Fed/state taxes I'm gonna owe come Tax Day...

[Tiny]

Most everyone I know has heard of a "spite fence" in their neighborhood.
One guy put up an ugly, backwards, multicolored fence.
His neighbor started with a sign on the streeet pointing it out to drivers, to hopefully ridicule him into fixing it.
Later, when that didn't work, he put up a larger fence. Nice on the inside, safety orange on the neighbor's side.

Where do people get the time, energy, and emotional energy to engage in these kinds of things and still have time/energy/emotion to do the important stuff in life??? I must be doing something wrong - I don't have that kind of time/energy/emotional energy.... Now I'm bummed...

Also Makes me wonder why people let themselves be so controlled by others... I don't want to be a puppet on a string...

[oreo]

When I saw this info on the news the other night, it was the first time in my life I wish I lived in a neighborhood with a HOA.

It seems strange to me because I know businesses have to get special permits to put up signs for their stores. Considering that, it seems like this wouldn't be allowed in most neighborhoods. But then again, people park trailers on their front lawns so what do I know???

I'm with most others here. I wouldn't mind it on my car but no way would I do this to my house.

[Sum Dum Gai]

Let's see, would I turn my house into a billboard to save $23,898. I gotta say, it sounds pretty tempting.

We've got a corner lot on one of the main intersections in our neighborhood too... *starts wondering how much of the savings he'd have to use to bribe the wife into agreeing to this*

[Loopdilou]

Done!

[midjd]

Around here some companies have taken to advertising by parking garishly-painted semi trailers in the cornfields on the sides of the interstate... by comparison, a few painted houses wouldn't be so bad

[Deleted]

I can't do anything but laugh at this!!!!

[Sum Dum Gai]

*starts wondering how much of the savings he'd have to use to bribe the wife into agreeing to this*

Done!

You seriously need to start working on those negotiation skills!

[Deleted]

Apr 8, 2011 8:24:51 GMT -5 TD2K said:

That does sound a little extreme Cawiau just to get free rent

FREE RENT bro!
I would do it in a instance.
Now that some folks mention cars, I am googling it right now

[Sum Dum Gai]

Now that some folks mention cars, I am googling it right now

LOL! I did the same thing. Might as well put my commute to work for me.

[Deleted]

Apr 8, 2011 20:23:42 GMT -5 Sum Dum Gai said:

Now that some folks mention cars, I am googling it right now

LOL! I did the same thing. Might as well put my commute to work for me.

Tell me about it... I do 2 hrs commute 5 times a week, might as well get paid for it ;D ;D

[resolution]

Hmm the page is still working for me although I haven't tried to fill out the submission form. www.adzookie.com/paintmyhouse.php

[2kids10horses]

Hey cawiau,

get 'm painted, and you CAN have two Smart Cars for that one parking place!