REALTOR® Magazine online will be featuring an upcoming article about closing gifts, and we want to hear from you! Please answer our two poll questions below and, if you’re interested in sharing your thoughts for the article, send us your comments to our two extra questions below or just share your comments on this blog.
<a href=”http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/1806038/” mce_href=”http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/1806038/”>How much on average do you spend on a closing gift for your customers?</a><span style=”font-size:9px;” mce_style=”font-size:9px;”>(<a href=”http://answers.polldaddy.com” mce_href=”http://answers.polldaddy.com”>answers</a>)</span>
<br /> <a href=”http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/1806040/” mce_href=”http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/1806040/”>Has the average amount you spent on a closing gift changed in the last five years?</a><span style=”font-size:9px;” mce_style=”font-size:9px;”>(<a href=”http://www.polldaddy.com” mce_href=”http://www.polldaddy.com”>survey software</a>)</span><br />
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
Comment on the blog or send your responses to these questions to writer Erica Christoffer at echristoffer@realtors.org.
- Do you think closing gifts are important and why or why not?
- What kinds of gifts have you found success with?
Comments 25
Thanks for posting about this, I would love to read more about this topic.
times are tough
I do a GREAT job and do not feel spending lots of money on an expensive gift is expected or will reap any rewards
My service people (lawn/ Air conditiong/ pool/ etc…) do not reward me or even cut me a break for my loyalty or referral business. They do a GREAT job and I keep using them. Gifts are not expected.
I make my own wine and customize a label with a photo of the buyer’s new home (or the home they just sold if not buying with me). I tell them “Congratulations – 123 Main Street is YOURS (or SOLD if not buying)!” Everyone loves it – especially since it is homemade. The cost to make my own wine ends up being about $5/bottle, which includes the label and gift bag. Most agents don’t give closing gifts at the table – so it sort of sets me apart from the rest of them. When I visit my clients a year after they closed – they are still displaying their wine bottle proudly for all of their friends and family to see!
I am thinking of not giving anymore gifts
“Closing Gift” amounts are set by the state at a $25 dollar value. My gifts “float” depending on the needs my client. For a seller, often a framed picture of a value vision (large advertising) board or virtual tour of their house. For buying clients, usually something practical like gift card to hardware outlet or (more recently) paying for their credit score.
I always give a gift. It floats a little according to transaction and source of business. I normally give home buyers something permanent that will remain in the home and be seen to remind them of me and inspire others to say “where did you get that.?” Hopefully the say “my Realtor!”
I don’t give closing gifts to every client. It varies from client to client.
For my First Time Home Buyers I have a slate roof tile painted with a picture of the house and the address, I have an artist that does these for me for $25.00. My “Firsties” still display their slates even in their second homes!
Kim said: “Most agents don’t give closing gifts at the table – so it sort of sets me apart from the rest of them “. I hope all Realtors will keep in mind that giving clients gifts at the closing table is not considered courteous any more. It’s inappropriate as it puts the other Realtor in an uncomfortable position in front of their clients. They may plan to give a gift when they get back to the car after the closing or at the new home later. Or, like me, they may have paid for a Home Warranty for the buyer or seller or may not want to give a gift as their superior service and attention to detail are considered enough. I hope everyone reconsiders giving gifts at the closing table. It sets you apart alright, but not in a professional way.
QVC has a door mat that they offer usually. It is a nice size , great thickness, doesn’t slip and traps a lot of dirt or snow. I get it with the clients initial on it. I hope they think of me everytime they enter their home. Last year I had some initials that were not available so I sent live spruce wreaths from QVC. These are VERY nice and they ship to whereever.
Whether I represent the selling or buying side of a transaction I always give my clients a closing gift. Working so closely with a client we develop a connection. My closing gift is always a personalized basket that conveys the message “I know you and, after working together so closely, we have a connection”.
My personalized gift basket tells my clients that I have taken the time to get to know them on a personal level and not just as another transaction. I assemble my own gift baskets rather than buying a pre-made generic basket. If my client likes horses I include a book about horses. If my client is not handy, I may include a book about simple home repairs. I always include goodies for the children and I may even put a special treat in the basket for the family dog!
The majority of my clients are clients for life because I am a top-notch professional and I provide unsurpassed service. For the money I spend on a basket, I feel that I am solidifying the bond that I have developed with a client and leaving the relationship on a high note. I look at the closing gift basket as just one more thing that differentiates me from the countless other real estate agents.
I used to faithfully give a closing gift when I paid a visit to my clients new home a week later, once they moved in. But recently I haven’t given as many for I give so much of myself and superior service that I feel they appreciate that as much if not more.
Thank you Jill – DITTO.
Some of the personal touches mentioned here by real estate agents probably work best.
I always giving closing gifts. Usually a gift certificate for a local business. I work hard but in this market, I also really appreciate the business and want to let them know. As good as I am, there are tons of agents out there – my clients are thrilled to get a gift certificate that they can use to buy stuff for their new home.
Like so many of you…it has changed over time. I now give champagne & a gift card to a home store. So many are barely getting into the home that the gift means quite a bit. I know we don’t need to….but it was done for me and I never forgot it!!
I found the best closing gifts ever! I give a Scentsy Deluxe candle and 1 bar of wax (about $35.00). The first one I gave out, I called the client a week later to make sure everything was going good in her new house and she told me that she loves the candle and thinks about me everytime she turns it on, so that is what I give every client now. I have had clients call me up to ask about getting more wax and say “oh by the way here’s the number of someone that is thinking about moving” so it is also building my referal business. You can find them at http://www.Scentsy.com/BrittanyBandor When they give me a referal, I give them a bar of wax $5.00.
My normal closing gift is a gift card to the local home improvement store. The Welcome Home portfolio to hold all of their new home documents is a nice touch too. I also attempt to personalize the gift. A plastic laundry basket with a set of towels to the bachelor or 1st time homebuyers and bbq grills (priced on sale) have been my most popular gifts so far.
My logo has a key in it and I found a keyholder that looks like a key in a decorative wrought iron looking finish. I bought all they had on the shelves for about $10/each. New homeowners love it and I hope that they remember me every once in a while when they see it. I have often visited the homes of clients during housewarming parties, etc and I love to see it hanging up by the door. It’s a practical gift and it works with my marketing message.
I present my buyers with a personalized new home binder book. It is a three ring thick binder with folders, pictures and business card holders. Everything about their new home goes into this book from the day they purchase to the time they pass it to the new buyer. It does several things – everytime they enter info it will remind them of me and when they sell all info about the home is recorded for any potential buyer to review. I accompany this book with a gift certificate or if during inspection they see something they would like to purchase from the owner – ex. kitchenette set I purchase it for them.
It’s against the law where we live!
The best gift is one that my client will talk about with their friends. I work in an island town and hire our local seaplane or helicopter pilot to take my buyers up for a half an hour to see their home from a different point of view. They also get an idea of the islands surrounding us and how their new home relates to the overall topography. They can take pictures, and love to talk about their experience. It opens the door for referrals and conversation about my services.
We are launching an exclusive, simple, on-line marketing and gift-giving service called “A Real Gift” designed SPECIFICALLY for busy real estate professionals. The website should be up and running in early February.
Focus groups of real estate professionals are excited about the concept!
For less than 40 cents an impression for over a one year period, a thoughtful gift that your client will reference time and time again…reminding them of your thoughtfulness and professionalism.
If you would like more information, you can email me at cheryl@samustudios.com.
Stay tuned!
A great closing gift that looks like it costs more than it does is a custom personalized wood sign from http://www.heartcaptions.com Check them out! they start at only $14.95 and can create a conversation piece about YOU in your clients homes for years to come.
Thank you Jason, I came here looking for good ideas and how much other Realtors spend on gifts, and came away with that awesome wood sign gift idea. I’m totally going to use that for this client and maybe many more, great idea! I would think a custom sign like that would be $60-100, so $30 is very surprising!
Another idea I’m doing soon is a flash drive with my contact info on it. At the home inspection I bring my camera and snap a picture of everything the inspector talks about. I will upload the pics to the flash drive and give it to Buyer at closing. I’m getting flash drives with my name, contact info and “Referrals are my greatest compliment” on it. I always keep a flash drive in my pocket, hopefully my clients will keep mine.
I was told that 1% of the purchase price was appropriate when I got my license in 2005. I’ve spent that on all of the clients but times are tougher now and my next closing is on over $400K. I’d be thrilled to only spend $60 on this closing gift and all future closing gifts!