Do you like to give your clients a closing gift? How about flowers?
When it's a first time home buyer I like to give them their keys with a flower lei, to congratulate them on their purchase. It's such a BIG EVENT for them, it's nice to help them celebrate with a gift. I will get them something else as well, but flowers are just a nice touch. When the client is a seller, sometimes they need help getting some things done to help close the sale. Other things I have given as closing gifts for buyers and sellers:
- bottle of champagne
- orchid plant
- potted plants
- set of pots and pans
- kitchen basics to get them started
- gift certificate for Lowe's
- gift certificate for Costco
- dinner out at a nice restaurant
- barbecue grill
- removal of junk from garage or under house
- hauling of new furnishings
What kind of gifts do you like to give your clients? Or do you prefer to make a donatation to their favorite charity?
I try to personalize each gift depending upon my buyers needs: For first timers I've found that a gift certificate to a local Lowe's or Home Depot is much appreciated. For those with "fixer uppers" I like to gift them with photo albums for before and after pictures and disposable cameras.
I am in agreement with Missy. I always give different things depending on the client, I've given gift certificates, wine baskets, gift baskets, dinner, house cleaning, even babysitting, etc.. If I had to contribute anything to the transaction, I don't do anything.
Kris - nice idea
Bowmans - I know that's a good one for the unorganized buyers - I'll try that next time
Missy and Laura - what kind of contribution do you make to a transaction?
Debbie and Jeffery - I agree, I think it's nice when they can pick out their own stuff that they need.
Georgina, It always depends on the client.
I have given a Spa getaway for two, Super expensive champagne w/glasses, Gift certificates to major hardware stores (done that several times), a microwave, Gift baskets (and Yolanda Heverston has a blog about Homemade gift baskets), gift certificates to a favorite restaurant. Usually I try to "listen" for suggestions from the client during our time together. Usually something gets said that gives me an idea. Beautiful flowers btw.
If you like personal gifts, please take a look at www.wevemovedgifts.com. Everything on the site is personalized with an artistic rendering of the home. I will admit to this request being self-serving as I make and sell these items. However, i have clients who purchase repeatedly, which for me is a great testimonial to how the gifts are going over.
The nice thing is that these gifts are keepers for the long haul, so as a marketing tool they provide long-term recollection of the professional help the client received from their agent.
I will be adding more gifts to the site soon, so please keep wevemovedgifts.com in mind.
Also, I sponsor a monthly contest called "I Spy" for players to win free closing gifts. It's fun and it's free!
I just gave the use of a stretch limo for my buyers wedding night. While we were looking for their new home they mentioned that they had never ridden in a limo before. I know a guy who knows a guy =) It's a bit over the top but I bet they will remember me!
Best Wishes,
Scott CowanRainier Real Estate
www.scottcowan.com
Diane - thanks for the tip, I will check it out.
Scott - I like that! They will remember you.
I agree with the comments that it depends on the client and what type of property they have bought. For some it may be a Lowe's Gift Card (they have a WONDERFUL Realtor program) OR something for the house, or a gift certificate to a local eatery. Either way, I DO give a closing gift. That is the LEAST I can do to show appreciation for their business. I have seen so many NEWBIE's that do not give closing gifts. I don't know why or if they just don't know that it is proper Etiquette. I usually also give my seller a "thank you" gift of some kind, especially if I did not have the buyer. I know not many do that either. HOWEVER, they put their faith in me and I like to show appreciation for it.
Just my thoughts.
Great tips. I also like Kathy Fisher's idea.I will try it next time.
Thanks again for all your comments.
One time the other agent gave me a bottle of wine, and that was a nice surprise!
I give them a gift album which allows them to choose any gift they want. They are priced from $25 up to $750 so I can always find an album that fits a specific client. Most of my clients have never seen anything like it and they all think it is fun.
I get them from
NoHassleClosingGifts.com
In my opinion, any closing gifts given should be simple and thoughtful. A tin of cookies, a wind chime for the front porch, even a magazine subscription would all be nice. Just something to let them know they were more than a paycheck.
Keeping up with them after the sale is even more critical. That's why as a mortgage professional, I enroll every client of mine into a follow up system that sends information our quarterly. I also remember birthdays and odd holidays (such as July 4th... who sends a card then?). One of my favorite things about the follow up system I use is that it also puts the Real Estate Agent's information on the cards and letters (even a picture of them) at no cost to the agent! This way, together we can develop a client for life!
Georgina (and everyone else), do you have any suggestions for holiday gifts for past clients (who are still around and are a good referral base)? I've done Entertainment books in the past, but the response was lukewarm (even when I added a box of cookies.)
Thanks!
Colleen Murphy, RE/MAX Honolulu
Steve - that's a different approach, let them choose their own gift!
Ed - I like that follow up technique that ties the sales agent in too.
Colleen - movie tickets to their local theater?
Amy - that sounds cool... too bad the ants would be all over them here!
Erica - I can see that point too. My sister in law who is a nurse hates to tip when we go to a restaurant... she says " nobody tips me, why should I tip them?". I think it's just the thought that counts. I'd like to think that the client really appreciates it, and will remember me for future business. What goes around comes around.
Maya Thomas
Kathy - I know that. We don't invite her along much anymore! hahaha
I wish someone would give me a house cleaning for a present. : )
Georgina, I enjoy giving a nice framed print with a Scripture verse or inspirational quote on it. It is nice to also put
a handwritten comment on the back, then sign and date it. It is good to remember to celebrate with your clients!
Our closing gifts vary from client to client depending on their taste/style. Some are crystal candlesticks... some are theatre tickets. In '04 we started giving bottles of wine (as appropriate) that were personalized with our label from the vineyard. A few have uncorked them to celebrate, but we've seen more that have kept them. We buy them 7-8 cases at time of wine and champagne (for Christmas/New Years) and it only costs us about $36 per bottle (shipping to Alaska is unbelievable).
Katie - that's a clever idea
Jesse & Kathy - crystal candlesticks! a nice touch for those long winter nights. Wine is always good, if they like to drink.
While all of these gift ideas are great, most of them are used up, put away or forgotten in a while. If your clients are parents of younger children, consider giving a CPR Teddy kit. CPR Teddy is a cuddly bear with a mission - to help parents and others who care for young children learn and practice CPR and choking rescue skills.
Most parents have taken a CPR course, but in an emergency it is very hard to recall what you need to do if it's something you were taught in a classroom some time ago. CPR Teddy is a gentle reminder to practice those skills regularly so you will be ready in an emergency. With its built-in audio prompts, CPR Teddy walks you through the steps of CPR then lets you practice the breaths and compressions.
If you would like to see a video demonstration, please go to www.babyandchildcpr.com/realtor.html
While at NAR this year, I found a vendor that will create a two year calendar, moving cards and business cards utilizing the picture of the new home. Buyers seem to like this because they can boast their new home to friends and relatives.
Great info - thanks!
Jack - that's a great idea - CPR teddy!
Leolinda - OK, that's a good idea too, be sure to get some good pictures.
Norma - thanks for dropping by.
I do the gift baskets with the starter items,i.e., light bulbs, paper products, bathroom tissue, etc. It comes in handy on move in day.
Latonia - that's always a good call, since you never know what they bring with them, and sometimes it's late when they move in. Nothing more annoying than running out of tp in the new palace.
It varies. I probe for what is needed or wanted. I have yet to give a bottle of wine or champagne. I like to offer more useful, memorable gifts.
We found a place that you purchas an amount...say $200. You give them a catalog that is beautifully wrapped and they have gifts to pick that they can buy in the category. Anything from nice lawn chairs to bikes. Everyone seems to love it! www.tracysoussi.com
We found a place that you purchas an amount...say $200. You give them a catalog that is beautifully wrapped and they have gifts to pick that they can buy in the category. Anything from nice lawn chairs to bikes. Everyone seems to love it! www.tracysoussi.com
Trunda - right, so soon they forget, after the hangover... haha
Tracy - that's cool, thaks for that suggestion... maybe I could make my own catalog of gifts for them to choose from.
I usally give a gift certificate for Lowe's or Home Depot if a new home purchase.
Sometimes I give a gift Certificate for favorite restaurant, ot a bottle of wine and a meal prepared by a chef in their home.
Super ideas everyone. I have lots of fun tailoring a gift for each specific client. A favorite for first-time buyers is to send in a handyman for a day of work, usually about a month after they move in. New homeowners learn how to caulk and do simple repairs, and most importantly, it makes them feel cared for, even after the transaction is over. (It's good PR, too; they tell their friends.) Sellers often appreciate a framed photo of their house; sometimes I use an over-size matte and have neighbors sign it, wishing them well, etc.
Scott - that would be unique - the chef prepared meal... especially if they are new to the area, and don't have a lot of kitchen stuff yet.
Lottie - I love your handyman idea.... with them learning a few things at the same time.
I personally never give a closing gift. Never.
A lawyer once told me he gets paid to do a service, so do I. He said he doesn't give a gift, so why should realtors?
I don't think a gift gets/keeps loyalty. Service before/after does.
I think the gifts depend upon the client, is it their first home, did they move from out of town, is it a new home, all these situations demand different gifts.
Have A Great Day
Erica, I personally don't want to be thought of in the same way as an attorney! (Sorry if there are any attorneys out there that I might offend!) My experiences with attorneys has never been for something "GOOD" and I want my clients to remember me in a FAVORABLE way and as someone they would refer friends to and not hesitate to give me a call with questions. My services are paid services, yes, but kindness for being chosen is NEVER a bad thing. Whatever happened to the good 'ole Golden Rule?
I began my career over 11 years ago with Realty Executives and THAT'S where I learned the importance of giving back to my clients. My broker insisted on it. She is still going strong at almost 80+ and is a very prominent Broker in the Sugar Land area just southwest of Houston.
Kindness never really goes unrewarded. Just something for you to ponder on.
I do gift cards to restaurants, home improvement stores, Bed & Bath, etc.
I usually start with a quart of our homemade maple syrup in a breakfast basket, and depending on the clues I have from working with the client, I add additional items like:
pre-cooked bacon, fruit, jam or jelly, pancake or waffle mix, griddle, waffle iron, coffemaker, breakfast dish set, Greenridge mugs, starbucks or other specialty coffee, tea, etc.
Depends on the sale & the client. Some require sugar-free store-bought syrup, so I try to pay attention. I usually put something in that is a lasting gift that will remind them of me for a while!
Well, I'm sort of in agreement with Erica about "gifts". I think the idea is old and can be thought of as phony. I've been a broker for 33 years and I've given just about every gift imaginable but that gift isn't what makes them remember you...it's the followup and continued "friendship" and staying in contact that does. I used to peg 20% of my commission for a gift to be super impressive just to find they forget my name 5 years later when they sell.
I started "doing things" that seem to make a major impression like when they started painting, I was there with a paint brush in hand to the end. Usually I always unloaded my lawnmower on the day of closing and was out there cutting the grass or helping make minor repairs inside.
But I found that creating a friend turned into a client and remaining a friend,...kept them a client. I have nothing against the gifts and I think it's a nice thing, it's just I believe most agents think more of it than the client does. As they say..."the magic is in Giving".
Erica - when you go to a friend's housewarming party, do you take a gift?
Doris - you're right, each one needs thought to make the right present for the ocassion
Kathy - thanks for seeing things my way
David S - thanks for commenting
Lynn - glad to see you're paying attention to your clients needs
David B - you're right about keeping in touch - that is very important
I have never quite found the right gift...I gave a bottle of wine to a client only to find out (after four months working together) that he had been sober for 6 months. Go figure!
We have not tracked a single referral in five years to a closing gift...and we track pretty much everything! We re-focused our efforts on monthly "added value" follow up and our referrals doubled that year.
If someone has a strong closing gift suggestion with proven track record for referrals, I'm all ears!
A gift at closing won't bring referrals. Only good service, developing a strong relationship, and doing an EXCELLENT job will. And after the closing, you have to put them on a email or mailing list to keep in touch. Post cards, magazines, newsletters... I touch my past clients a minimum of 8 times a year.
I have never seen an attorney, title person, or mortgage person show up at closing with a gift. Why do realtors feel obligated to show their thanks with closing gifts>
I am invited to a housewarming YES I bring a gift. But to come to the table or send a gift afterwards just because it's routine--no.
I will show up on moving day and help out, or send a contractor to complete minor things if there's an issue, but those are part of doing business. Not "gifts".
Erica...although we're in the minority here...I still agree with you.
This thread reminds me of something my EX husband once said to me:
"Do you mean to tell me that you give gifts to people without expecting anything in return?!"
Maybe that's why I think it works so well.
I think we can all agree that we don't all agree. What works for some does not work for others - in all aspects of real estate.
I think perhaps it also depends on your type of clientele. The majority of my clients are businessmen/women. I deal with them in a very professional manner--perhaps even brusque style for some that would NOT work for "regular" homebuyers/sellers. I am quick on the phone, to the point, and don't do a lot of hand holding for most (not all) of my clients. But that's how they like it--and it works for me. I called one businessowner at 7:30 am this morning (saturday). He was at the airport and the conversation lasted probably 90 seconds. I told him the number we were at, he shot back a counter, and that was it. Those clients expect me to get the job done, not take up a lot of time. They're not looking for flowers at closing.
For first time buyers (when I work with them--which is rare), I'll spend more time on them and will spend money making sure things are taken care of properly at the house before/after close (money out of my pocket). But I still don't sent them gifts. I refer most of my buyers out to agents in my office who can spend more time with them.
Kimberly - oops - at least they can regift the bottle to someone else. I'm getting the message that the gift is less important than the contant contact.
Erica - thanks for your valuable input - it's nice to hear both sides of the "debate". And I agree that the gift totally depends on the client, what's appropriate for one doesn't always fly with the next. I think it's important to put some thought into it, and have a meaningful gift, or what's the point?
David - I get it too, but old habits die hard.
Lynn - maybe the gift giving makes us feel better, and therefore we still do it
Georgina--You're right. Canned gifts are like form letters... don't make an impression at all. Personalize it, if you do it! To their tastes, hobbies, etc.
For my first time home buyers, gift cards to Lowes or Home Depot. For my new home buyers, I buy the thick beautiful towels that match the master bath, and usually include my favorite bars of soy soap. I have sometimes included towels for the kids if they have their own bathroom too. Towels are generally something we hate buying for ourselves, and with all the other expenses they go through, it is the last thing they generally want to spend money on. I have clients tell me they are still using the towels years later! And some have contacted me wanting to know where they can order that soap!
Erica - next time I buy them a barbecue grill, I'll have it etched with my name and number... haha
Sherry - nice touch with the towels and soap.
Thanks everyone for your great suggestions.
Thanks everyone for sharing your wonderful ideas! I won't have any problem what to give to clients!
Jeanice - thanks for finding this oldie but goodie!