When I first started working the Commercial Real Estate Industry back in 2000, real estate signage was a mess. There was no easy way to track installs, proof designs, or even confirm when a sign was actually in the ground. We were juggling multiple vendors, using spreadsheets to track orders, and relying on phone calls and faxes to move projects forward.

Fast forward to today, and I can confidently say I sleep better at night thanks to InstallMySigns.com.

The Early Days — A Game Changer

I still remember the first time I logged into InstallMySigns.com. It was simple, intuitive, and solved the biggest pain point we had as a marketing team: visibility. We finally had a centralized platform to track every order, view live updates, and communicate with our sign installers across Michigan. My career started with Grubb & Ellis, where we utilized InstallMySigns.com to install thousands of giant circular signs across Metro Detroit over many years, then to Friedman Real Estate Group where I was really able to hone in my organizational skills (and provide great suggestions to the development of the platform)… and as I’m approaching 15 years with Colliers International as the Marketing Director for Michigan I can truly say I am powered up with InstallMySigns.com in my day to day responsibilities managing dozens of brokers and 100+ signs every month.

I’ve been using the platform for over 25 years now—and I can tell you with zero hesitation: It’s the most important tool in my marketing toolkit.

Why I Recommend InstallMySigns.com to Every CRE Marketing Director

Whether you’re overseeing 20 listings or 2,000, here’s why you should seriously consider bringing IMS into your workflow:

1. It Keeps Me Organized Across Dozens of Brokers

Colliers has a fast-moving team of brokers. At any given moment, we’re marketing dozens of properties, each with its own sign requests, revisions, installs, replacements, and removals. IMS allows me to keep every single sign request in one place, assign it to the right team, and track progress—without the email chaos.

2. It Saves Me Hours (Every. Single. Week.)

Before InstallMySigns.com, we were chasing paper trails and following up on orders manually. Today, I can submit a new sign request in less than two minutes, and I get automatic updates as it moves through the design, permitting, production, and installation process.

No more calling a sign guy to ask, “Did you put that sign up yet?”

3. It Simplifies Communication Between Me, Designers, and Installers

Every order has a built-in communication thread. I can upload sketches, branding guides, property photos—you name it. The installer sees exactly what they need without a single email from me. It reduces miscommunication and speeds up approvals. All of this for one simple monthly subscription!

4. Full Audit Trail = Full Peace of Mind

Whether it’s for internal reporting, billing, or answering broker questions, IMS tracks everything: order dates, artwork approvals, install photos, and invoices. I’ve used this data more times than I can count to solve disputes or quickly confirm that something was done correctly.

5. It’s National – Just Like Us

As Colliers grew, so did our commercial real estate sign needs across the country. InstallMySigns.com scaled with us. Whether it’s a high-rise listing in Chicago or a land parcel in Metro Detroit, we use the same platform, the same process, and the same visibility. I can manage signage across all our markets without switching systems or hunting for emails.

6. Incredible Support from Real Humans Who Get It

I’ve known the IMS team for two decades. They’ve worked with every major CRE firm, and they understand the speed and standards of our industry. I’ve called them in a pinch, and they’ve jumped through hoops to make installs happen when a sign needed to be up yesterday.

Favorite Wins Over the Years

• The 50-Sign Blitz: In 2015, we rebranded 50+ properties in Southeast Michigan in less than three weeks. InstallMySigns.com managed every design and install across multiple counties. I don’t think we could have pulled it off without the platform.
• No More Broker Micromanaging: Once our brokers saw install photos and order timelines posted in real-time, they stopped asking for updates. That freed me up to focus on strategy instead of fielding status check-ins all day.
• Proofing Made Painless: I’ve managed dozens of high-stakes campaigns for corporate clients. With IMS, we can loop in the client for approval, store their brand standards, and ensure every sign looks exactly the way it should—on time and on brand.

Bottom Line

If you’re a marketing director in commercial real estate and you’re still managing sign orders by email or spreadsheets, it’s time to upgrade.

InstallMySigns.com has revolutionized how we operate at Colliers Detroit—and I wouldn’t run our signage program without it. It’s smart, fast, scalable, and backed by a team that cares.

After 25 years, I still consider it one of the most impactful platforms I’ve ever used in this industry.

Trust me: you’ll wish you started using it sooner for your commercial real estate sign orders!

By Amy Schiffman
Marketing Director, Colliers Detroit
Find me on LinkedIn!