Sign Site Survey Checklist: What to Check Before You Quote or Install
A practical site survey checklist for sign shops, covering measurements, wall type, power, access, permits and photos to collect before quoting so installs don't run over.
Tool for this: SignAcctPro — Sign shop software: estimating with supplier prices, true-scale mockups and drawings, proofs, jobs and invoices.
Many sign jobs that lose money lose it on install day: the wall isn't what the drawing assumed, there's no power where the sign goes, or the crew needs a lift nobody booked. A good site survey before you quote catches most of these problems while they are still cheap to fix.
Use this checklist on every survey, and keep the results with the job.
1. Basic job details
- Customer name, site address and the on-site contact person
- Landlord or property manager contact, if the customer is a tenant
- Any sign criteria from the landlord or shopping center (size, color, lighting, mounting)
- Business hours and the times when installation is allowed
2. Measurements
- Overall wall or fascia width and height available for the sign
- Distance from the ground to the bottom of the sign area
- Any architectural features in the way: windows, awnings, lights, cameras, downspouts
- For freestanding signs: setback from the property line and distance to the road
- For ADA and interior signs: door widths, latch side, and wall space beside each door
Measure twice and photograph the tape where you can. One wrong measurement can mean a remake.
3. Wall and mounting surface
| Surface | What to note |
|---|---|
| Brick or block | Condition of the mortar, and whether anchors go into brick or joints |
| EIFS / stucco | Thickness, what's behind it, and whether backing or standoffs are needed |
| Metal panel | Panel type and what structure is behind it |
| Glass | Whether the sign is a window graphic or needs another mounting method |
| Wood | Condition and whether it can take the load |
If you are unsure what's behind the surface, note it as a risk on the quote.
4. Electrical (for illuminated signs)
- Is there an existing power supply at the sign location, or a junction box?
- Distance from the nearest circuit, and whether a new circuit is needed
- Location of the timer or photocell, if any
- Whether a licensed electrician is required for the connection in that area
Electrical work you didn't plan for is one of the most common reasons an install runs over.
5. Access and equipment
- Ground conditions under the sign area: sidewalk, parking lot, landscaping, slope
- Whether a ladder is enough or a lift or bucket truck is needed
- Parking for the install vehicle and any need to close lanes or sidewalks
- Overhead power lines near the work area
- Any building rules for working at height or after hours
6. Removal of old signs
- Is there an existing sign to remove?
- How it is mounted, and whether it is lit
- Wall repair needed after removal (holes, paint shadow, old raceway)
- Disposal of the old sign
7. Permits and approvals
- Does the city or county require a sign permit for this job?
- Landlord approval needed before you submit?
- Any historic district or special zoning rules?
Our sign permit drawings checklist covers what usually goes into a permit package.
8. Photos to take
Take photos you can use for the quote, the drawing and the permit:
- Straight-on photo of the full wall or site, from far enough back to show context
- Close-ups of the mounting surface and any obstacles
- Existing electrical connections
- Views from the road, in both directions, for freestanding signs
- A night photo if lighting conditions matter
A straight-on daytime photo is also what you need for a realistic sign mockup on the building. See true-size sign mockups on a building photo.
9. Turn the survey into the quote
Everything you found should show up in the quote:
- Extra install hours or a lift rental, if access is difficult
- Electrician costs, if power isn't ready
- Removal and wall repair, if there's an old sign
- Permit fees and drawing time
- Any risks you could not confirm, written as assumptions
When the survey and the quote match, install day goes to plan, and the job keeps the margin you priced into it.
Keep surveys with the job
A survey on paper in a truck gets lost. Keep the measurements, photos and notes attached to the job so the designer, the estimator and the install crew all work from the same information. SignAcctPro, sign shop software made by AMZE Studio, keeps photos, files and notes on each job from quote to installation.