There was a time recently when others knowing my plans and not moving quickly enough cost me.

I found three contiguous pieces of property for sale, all legal for a billboard—a small island of county land in a sea of city jurisdiction. All three were listed with the same agent but owned by two separate owners. I put a contract on the one with the best visibility, making it contingent upon permitting. I finalized the agreement on a Thursday night and was all set to walk the paperwork into the DOT office the following Monday.

That Monday morning, I stopped by the site to make some final measurements and stake the location before heading to the DOT. To my surprise, I noticed a new stake on the neighboring property in a spot too peculiar to be a survey marker. I rushed over to the DOT office, only to learn that someone else had been there no less than 20 minutes earlier, submitting their own permit application next door! I had been spaced out and somehow outmaneuvered.

I called the realtor to get answers. Had another billboard company been working with his other property owner? As it turned out, the realtor had shared our intentions with the second property owner. Evidently, not choosing their property for purchase had spurred the other owner to act swiftly to apply for a permit to block my efforts.

In the permitting of outdoor advertising, being first to apply is critical. Who knows what, and when they know it, can make or break a deal. In this case, the real estate agent broke the confidentiality of the agreement and should be liable, but this experience underscores the importance of keeping things close to the vest and of moving as quickly as you can to secure permits.

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