i helped a buyer close on their first home on march 30th, but i knew they werent moving in until may 1st. so i went to the cheesecake factory restaurant and purchased them a $50 gift card and i also purchased 2 movie tickets walking distance from the restaurant. i will give it to my buyer this week and state something like "i know you are probably burned out from moving and unpacking, so here's my gift to you so you can take your girlfriend out to a dinner and a movie."

what do ya'll think? good idea?

its ok, but you have to think how the gift will benefit you in the future.

I get mine a bottle of champaigne and some unique or fancy champaigne glasses. That way, every time they see them they will remember that their Realtor gave it to them. It may also help bring you into a conversation, for example:
Friend: Oh, i like your glasses, where did you get them from
Buyer: My Realtor got them for me as a gift
Friend: Realtor? Was he any good? I'm thinking of selling my home soon
Buyer: Yes, he was great - want his number?

And bam - you just got a new lead.

OK, it may not work like that every time, but if it works just once that could be a few extra thousand in your pocket.

Gifts vary. They should depend on the service you give. if you're a great agent and your gift sucks, you'll still get leads. Bad agent but great gift and you lost big time. I think your gift is great. You are giving them a night out. Would be nice if you get tie the gift to something they won't forget like a picture.

Those all sound great--I give gift certificates for dinner and a movie and I get a photo of their new house done on photo software that looks like a watercolor painting (looks great), in a 5x7 frame with a mat and stand--something they can keep. Also a keepsake i give sometimes are brass door-knockers with their name engraved (if they have the right kind of door)
I have done, on moving day, had pizza delivered with drinks, plates, etc. They loved that.

I sometimes don't give closing gifts. It depends on the client. Lately, I haven't been giving gifts at closing since I'd usually treat clients to lunch or send little gifts regularly. By the time we get to closing, the clients are usually very thankful and may treat me to something.

My suggestion is to give a gift that they'd remember if you prefer to give them at closing. Your idea seems fine, especially if they have a favorite place to shop or eat.

In my area you have to have satellite to get decent internet. I have been considering paying for their satellite installation if they are computer users so that they will think of me everytime they go to the web.

Sorry agent007 didn't mean to deter from your original question. Your gift is great.

agent 007

Good topic.

I think many clients have come to expect some sort of gift on closing, as so many agents do this as a means of retaining business, and hopefully generating referrals.

You can do this two ways:

Give a tangible gift item (such as the ideas noted in this string - champagne set, picture of the new house, etc) - in the hopes that the gift will be used/displayed by your clients and will generate some conversation.

Give a memorable experience - sending someone to dinner doesn't have a lasting presence in the client's home, but if the experience is memorable enough, clients will talk about it.

I think that's the part that is easy to miss. A nice dinner is great, but it's over in an hour and unless it was memorable, it's not really worth talking about to friends and family the next day.

To counter this, I usually recommend to agents that they partner with a good local restaraunt (preferably not a national chain). You are good for their business because you frequently buy gift certificates and introduce new area residents to the restaurant, and in return, the owner or manager goes the extra mile whenever a client redeems one of your gift certificates by putting on a real show for them (maybe he has the best table in the house reserved with their names on it when they arrive, maybe the chef vists their table, whatever - there are a bunch of ideas that could work) And of course, the owner/manager makes some mention of the fact that you arranged all of this for them.

In this scenario, everybody wins.

If the non-tangible gift that you give to your clients is worth talking about, your clients WILL talk about it, and they will certainly remember who gave it to them.

I've always tried to give my clients something personal, that is from me to them and can be used in their home. During Inspections, etc. I look for ideas for the home that will fit into the color scheme of the home. A nice Vase, or platter or similar.

Recently, I've given several clients products that are non-traditional, several I have given in-wall safes to, another I gave a home alarm to. The wall safes allow me to put a sticker with my contact information in it, the alarm is for a recently divorced woman that will sleep better knowing her alarm is active.

I've used home warranties as well, as they can be given at closing and give a new buyer piece of mind should something fail unexpectedly.

I think something personal after the transaction is over allows you to say "Thank You" in your own way, and helps bring closure. I tend to not spend too much, and preferr to find small items to bring as gifts later when I visit for coffee or a glass of wine. It allows for continually expanding the relationship after the transaction is complete.

what about a car lease for a year or two? or a Vacation to Vegas?

Mike in Knoxville

or how about a 25% rebate for their closing cost?

The closing gift we have gotten the most response out of is to leave a basket of usefull goodies in the house the day before the closing. We provide light bulbs, toilet paper, paper towels, plastic cups, trash bags, chips, moving men furniture pads and a candle. We need to put something branded and long lasting in there, but the response we get is fantastic. I think it really makes an impression.

ok, what kind of paychecks are you getting? thats a little too much of a closing gift!

We really give deep thought to each gift. One couple was going to their first home and were getting married soon. We had a door knocker inscribed with their name and a embroidered throw. The last one I went to we gave a plant and a gift certificate. The one before that we took a very nice old lady (family friend) to a very fancy restaurant and then we sent her flowers. But she wanted to buy us lunch because we had spent more time in her home with repairs and inspectors, expeditors and such, than we did our own home. So it depends on the circumstances and the people involved.

Oh and as for lasting impressions, we have made mugs with our company logo ( and contact info and website) and it says Barbara and Frank are our Realtors. We give that when we go to the listing appointment.

I agree that your client gifts need to be a reminder of you and your service. I have a RE friend that does a magazine subscription to her clients. Usually some home-type magazine, Southern Living, Better Homes, etc.
I give a pencil or watercolor drawing of their new home by a local artist that specializes in this. He is about $50 for a pencil and $75 for the watercolor. It usually gets a great response from people. The best thing is that when they sell and buy another one from you that client gets another one so they can hang their home art in a gallery.
Meredith