Finding the perfect real estate closing gifts for every buyer and seller you work with isn’t easy. That said, if you get it just right, you will not only have a referral source for the next few months, but you could create an evangelist of your services for life.
The tricky part isn’t figuring out what your client wants (we include some sneaky ways to find out at the end of the article). It’s finding gifts that are personal but not too personal, have meaning but not too much meaning, and remind your clients not only that you care, but that you’re THE local expert they can rely on for years to come.
A tall order to be sure, so here are our picks for the best (and worst) real estate closing gifts for 2021:
1. A Custom House History Poster or Book
As someone who lives in a turn-of-the-century industrial space, I can relate to why so many of us put up with drafty windows, dodgy electrical systems, and plumbing from the Stone Age.
For most of us, our love of historic homes is more of an addiction than a preference.
If you’re listing a historic home, then offering your buyers a custom researched and designed house history is like giving a junky a gram of heroin. They don’t just want it, they NEED it.
Painstakingly researched and professionally designed by companies like Brownstone Detectives in Manhattan and Brooklyn and Once Upon a Home in New Orleans, house histories are the one gift your buyer will not only keep, but treasure.
Speaking of treasure, house histories are not exactly what you would call cheap. Since they are so labor-intensive to make, they start at around $750 and climb all the way to $5,000 depending on how far back you want the history to go and the production of the book or poster.
While that might be a bit too rich for many real estate agents looking for closing gifts, you can always have the book created as a marketing piece to help sell the home and chalk it up as a marketing expense!
2. A Branded Gift They Will Actually Keep
The problem with branded gifts is that most people secretly hate them. Sure, they will thank you for that cutting board with your logo on it, but let’s face it, that thing is getting shoved in a cabinet, never to be seen again.
That’s where EvaBot comes in. Using artificial intelligence (AI), EvaBot figures out what products your client really wants, then sends them a gift in a custom branded box with your logo on it. So your client receives a desirable gift (that isn’t branded)—in a branded box. No shopping, wrapping, or gift-picking stress required on your part.
To start gifting 21st century-style, visit EvaBot’s website below to claim a $25 dollar gift credit.
3. A Wishing House
What gives a lucky rabbit’s foot its sentimental value? The answer, of course, is the wishes and dreams of the person who owns it.
Wishing Houses, handcrafted by Brooklyn-based jewelry designer Brauna Rosen, allows you to send your client a gift that already has sentimental value.
Here’s how it works:
Your client gets an adorable cast pewter Wishing House along with a handwritten wish from you. They put the Wishing House in their own home and then send a Wishing House back to you, or send a new Wishing House on to a friend or loved one who needs some moral support—and who doesn’t these days?
Best of all, at only $24 per Wishing House and wish-shipped, they’re affordable enough to send out to all your clients during the holidays as a heartfelt personal keepsake.
4. A Shaggy Swag Gift Box Subscription
Let’s face it—today’s pampered pooches live better than we did as kids! Well, maybe not, but pets have slowly become a focal point in many people’s lives, and for good reason. Taking care of a pet offers health benefits for owners, not to mention possibly saving a furry little life.
So if your client is a certified dog mommy or daddy, then they’ll absolutely love the unique and fun items they’ll get from the Shaggy Swag gift box. Instead of boring old bones, their little fur monsters get high-quality toys, treats, and essentials.
The best part of these subscriptions is that even if your client deletes your phone number right after closing, you get to feel good about keeping a little four-legged friend happy for an entire year. 😊
5. An Ecovacs Deebot N79S Robotic Vacuum
While an ordinary vacuum is a downright insulting gift for most people (think of the message you’re sending!), a robotic vacuum will make your tech geek clients grin like little kids at Christmas.
The only problem, of course, is that these things were priced like unobtanium up until now. Today, you can get a well-reviewed robotic vacuum that syncs with Amazon’s Alexa, has an app, and even charges itself when the battery runs out, all for around $140.
If your client is more of a brand snob, you can upgrade them to the original iRobot Roomba for a little under $300. Still a great bargain for a gift that ticks both the useful and neato boxes that most gifts can’t.
6. Anything From Hermès
Here’s a great suggestion from Compass Manhattan luxury team leader Philip Scheinfeld. Hermès is just one of those brands that will impress (or at least satisfy) even the pickiest and wealthiest clients. Beautiful and unique enough to keep out on a coffee table or console, a gift from Hermès is a surefire way to stay top of mind. Expensive, but a big return on investment (ROI) for your closing gift budget.
“I usually go with something elegant like a Hermès ashtray, which is a great coffee table item. If it is a higher-end deal, I sometimes go with a Hermès blanket. Those are typically my go-to gifts. I also take my clients out to a nice dinner as well to celebrate once they move in.”
7. The Nest Hello Smart Doorbell
In 2021, even doorbells are smart. The Nest Hello Smart is one of the best. Buy this as a real estate closing gift for your new homeowner and they will be able to see who’s at the door from their phone and never miss a package or visitor again.
Even better, like Nest’s namesake thermostat, it’s well-designed enough to complement pretty much any exterior decor.
8. A Small (or Large) Gift From Tiffany & Co.
Another brand that will impress pretty much any client is Tiffany & Co. While not exactly cheap, you can (and should) try to buy something special for your client no matter how small your budget.
Agent Alan Levy of Warburg Realty in Manhattan likes gifting the Tiffany crystal ice bucket, which is a budget-friendly (for Manhattan) $175. Of course, the sky’s the limit here, so if you close a giant deal, go for something nicer.
9. A Consultation With a Local Landscape Designer
If there’s one home decorating area where even a lot of design snobs are at a loss, it’s landscaping. As a result, many homeowners just skip it, not realizing just how dramatic of an effect a well-designed yard can have on their home.
That’s why an hour or so consultation with a professional landscape designer can be a great closing gift idea for new homeowners. It’s something they might not think about that can have a huge impact on how their home looks and feels.
Houzz is a good place to find someone good.
10. A Turnkey Concierge Service for the Lifecycle of the Transaction
Let’s face it: We all want to wow our buyers with 5-star service, but the amount of time, effort, and stress involved means most agents just squeak by with a Google Doc of important local phone numbers.
Client Giant takes it a step further. With one click, they will send out a series of thoughtful touches for important milestones in your buyer’s transaction. Touches include a personal concierge, moving boxes, snacks, personalized gifts, handwritten thank-you notes, and more.
11. Décor, Sentimental Gifts, or Local Art
Still stuck? Here are a few great gift ideas from luxury Manhattan real estate agent Anna Shagalov to get your creative juices flowing:
“Sentimental gifts: I put together a huge shadow box of apartment photos and artifacts for clients who were selling their loft to move to Michigan for a job relocation that they were gutted about.”
“Local art: I’ve provided a session with a local graffiti artist to design a wall in a client’s new home.”
“The old faithfuls: And, of course, the basic bottles of champagne, ABC Carpet & Home gift cards, high design (Hermès, Chanel, and so forth) key chains, throws, Diptyque candles, and so on.”
12. A Fully Planned & Paid For Evening Out
While buying your clients an experience rather than an object is always recommended, sometimes your gift of a night out can be more of a chore than a welcome respite from moving.
Think about it. If they have kids, they need to hire a sitter. If they want to drink, they need to order an Uber. And so on and so forth.
If you really want to impress your former clients, set up a dinner at a local restaurant and make sure you cover ALL the annoying details that make nights out an obligation rather than a treat. You should, at the very least, make a reservation and tell the restaurant to expect them, send the restaurant a custom cake or bottle of wine, arrange for a sitter, and most importantly, arrange for an Uber XL to take them to and from dinner in style.
Trust me, your clients will be singing your praises for years if you get this right!
13. A Membership to a Local Museum or Gym
If you’re leaning toward getting them an experience, then why not consider a membership to a local museum or gym? Of course, you’ll need to take the time to know your clients, but you should be doing that already.
Agent Marilyn Blume of Warburg Realty in Manhattan tries to buy her clients experiences like museum memberships instead of traditional gifts:
“For example, if someone loves art, then I can give them a membership to a nearby museum, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art. If they enjoy physical fitness, then maybe a membership to a nearby gym or even Classpass so they can try a bunch of different places.”
14. A Gift Certificate to a Local Nursery
While most people like house plants and small trees, people who love them are generally pretty particular. Some plant lovers collect succulents while others prefer hanging plants or perennials. That makes picking out a nice plant as a closing gift a tricky proposition. If you want to make sure your plant-loving client is happy, a gift certificate is the way to go.
Like the other closing gift ideas on this list that come from local business owners, make sure to form a relationship with the owner before buying the gift certificate. If they’re greeted warmly by a store owner who speaks well of you, you come across as a well-connected local rather than just someone they completed a transaction with.
15. A Customized Gift for Children
Of course, if you do develop a more personal relationship with your client, then getting them something that they’ll personally resonate with might make sense. Isaac Rosenberg at Compass tries to get his clients gifts they’ll remember.
16. A Local Cooking Class
The perfect closing gift for your foodie clients, a gift certificate to a unique local cooking class can be a fun gift for anyone, really. Even better, if you work in a major city, you can find classes at all levels of experience and intensity.
For example, a bachelor first-time homeowner might genuinely appreciate a cookery 101 course, while a die-hard foodie might get a lot out of a butchery or advanced knife skills class.
Again, knowing your client’s interests is key to great closing gift giving!
17. A Celebratory Dinner (With You)
Greenwich Village Manhattan agent Elise Ehrlich prefers taking her clients out to a fancy dinner complete with wine (or champagne) and flowers for a true celebration.
“I believe that material gifts are so personal, and so often they are just returned. Real estate is about relationships, so a dinner for the clients with or without me always makes people happy.”
18. A Custom House Portrait That Guest Stars Your Clients & Pet
(Source: ivyillustrations on Etsy)
While a custom house portrait makes a generally pretty safe (and great) closing gift, why not go the extra mile and include the happy couple and their pet? This way, you can turn something that’s fairly personal into something they may even cherish for decades.
The trick is to find a talented artist who can really capture the spirit of your clients and their new home. Some artistic license (and some Facebook snooping) will ensure your closing gift is heartfelt and truly personalized.
19. A Decorative Fruit Bowl, Coffee Table Book, or Engraved Keychain
Since your goal here is to be remembered, you might also want to get them something they’ll keep and use for a long time. That’s why Broker Becki Danchik of Warburg Realty Manhattan likes to give decorative fruit bowls, coffee table books, or engraved keychains.
20. A Gift That Disappears Quickly …
Another strategy Manhattan Broker Sheila Trichter of Warburg Realty uses are not gifts that last forever, but instead gifts that disappear quickly. The rationale here is that most people (especially the Manhattan 1%!) have enough stuff and would be more likely to enjoy an experience.
After all, a gift they don’t like gets shoved into a closet and becomes a burden rather than something special.
21. A Well-curated Case of Wine
While wine of the month clubs are a dime a dozen these days, they tend to be a little bit overpriced, and getting a FedEx box with wine once a month is pretty impersonal. Instead, work with a local wine shop to curate a sampling of wine for many different occasions.
If you work with the right shop, they will happily provide you with in-depth descriptions of the origin, tasting notes, and pairing for each bottle they sell.
Once again, the point here is not to prove your oenophile bona fides, but to show your client that you’re a local expert who is a fixture in the local community. The owner of the wine store will love you and so will your client. What more could you ask for?
22. A Local Experience They’ll Never Forget
If your clients are a bit on the daring side, why not treat them to a heart-racing local experience they’ll never forget? Depending on where you work, you might be able to get them skydiving lessons, horse riding lessons, parasailing lessons, or something even more unique.
23. A Gift Card to a Local Coffee Shop or Tab at a Local Pub
A gift card to a well-reviewed local coffee shop or bar can be a great way to give your buyers a nudge into becoming locals. First, if you have a relationship with the owners, you can make sure they are warmly welcomed, which anyone brand-new to a neighborhood will appreciate.
Second, you give them an easy way to start a routine and meet new friends in the neighborhood.
Just make sure to get to know your clients well before buying them something like this. A teetotaler will not take kindly to getting a tab at a bar as a closing gift.
24. A Gift Certificate to a Local Antique Store
If your clients are moving into a vintage home, then a gift certificate to a local antique shop is a no-brainer. Even if they don’t find that perfect piece right away, they’ll likely form a relationship with the owners that will ensure pleasant browsing for years to come.
This is a win/win in anyone’s book. You get your local shop owner a potential lifetime customer, and you show your client that you really understand what they really value.
25. Something to Make a Transplant Feel Welcome
Let’s face it—moving to a new city across the country or even around the world can be intimidating. You don’t know anyone and feeling truly at home isn’t easy for a lot of people. If you’re dealing with transplant clients, one of the best closing gifts you can get them is a local experience that helps them feel at home.
For example, if your client just moved from Chicago to Los Angeles, then get them surfing lessons. If they moved from India to Cape Cod, then a day of whale watching will help your client get excited about the unique spirit of their new home.
Just remember that closing gifts like this don’t have to be super-serious. They can be lighthearted or even corny. The idea is to provide a unique local experience that will turn your clients into instant evangelists for your services!
26. A Gift Certificate to a Local Florist
If your client loves fresh flowers, then a gift certificate to a local florist can make a great closing gift. As a rule of thumb, go for a florist that’s a little more high-end than your clients may normally buy from. This way, your gift will be seen as a treat rather than something they might have bought on their own anyway.
27. A Consultation With a Local (or Online) Interior Designer
(Source: Havenly)
If there is one luxury that even relatively wealthy people skip out on, it’s hiring an interior designer. After all, it just seems so decadent. Of course, interior designers work in all flavors and at most price points. They can also actually save you money because they can arrange or rearrange furniture you may already own to work better.
In many ways, that makes an interior designer the perfect closing gift. It’s something useful, decadent, and something most people wouldn’t dream of hiring themselves.
If you want to go local, then Yelp would be a good place to start looking. Or, you can prebook time with an online interior design consultant using a service like Havenly.
28. An Apple iPad
While generally viewed as important oxygen itself for many real estate agents, there are still a lot of people out there who see iPads and tablets in general as luxury items. Now that doesn’t mean they don’t want one—far from it. It just means that even extremely successful people hold off on what they consider personal luxuries.
Luckily for real estate agents trying to buy closing gifts for their clients, though, a high-end tablet can be a great gift. It’s useful, fun, luxurious, and something many people just won’t buy for themselves.
If you’re leaning toward a tech gift like an iPad, drop some hints during your showing to see if they already have one and gauge their interest in owning one. If they don’t have one and think they’re the bee’s knees, then you have yourself a pretty sweet closing gift.
29. A Luxury Key Ring or Key Chain
Here’s another gift where getting to know the person you’re buying for is crucial. For the right kind of buyer, presenting their new house keys on a luxury key ring, like this example from Tiffany & Co., will make a lasting impression.
Yes, they’re expensive for such a small and inconsequential item, but they help give your buyer a sense of occasion at the closing table. Just make sure that if you do decide to spend a few hundred bucks on a key ring, you know that your buyer knows what it is and has a ballpark idea of what it costs. Otherwise, they might not even notice or think they just lucked out and got a shiny key chain!
The WORST Closing Gifts for Buyers & Sellers 2021
Now that we’ve gone through some thoughtful and memorable closing gift ideas that have the best chance of turning clients into lifetime evangelists, let’s look at some of the gifts that send the opposite message, or maybe worse—no message at all. 😕
1. A Bottle of Wine (or Anything) With Your Face on It
Here’s a little secret about wine. Study after study has shown that even so-called “experts” can barely taste the difference between expensive wine and two-buck chuck. That means that branding and presentation play a huge role in how people perceive the quality of the wine.
How do people perceive the quality of “Jane Realtor: Congrats on Your Move!” wine with a poorly designed label with your headshot on it? Unless you’re personally well-renowned for running a winery, chances are lower than supermarket wine.
That is if they ever even drink it. Seriously. Do you think they’re going to break open free wine with your picture on it for dinner with friends? Can you imagine a scenario where you do that without feeling cheap or laughing?
Worse, this is the most obvious and desperate-looking strategy to stay top of mind on the planet. Was your deal so dull and uneventful that you think your client is actually going to forget your name?!
2. Kitchen Gadgets: Wine Openers, Cutting Boards, Knives & So On
As I’m writing this, I can think of at least a dozen dubious kitchen gadgets, cheapo knives, and extra-useless kitchen stuff collecting dust in my kitchen cabinets. I have never—and will never—use any of this stuff except maybe as trade goods after the zombie apocalypse, but I just can’t throw it out.
So there it sits. Ignored. Sadly collecting dust.
I hate to break it to you, but if you think your kitchen gadget or branded knives closing gifts are going to suffer a different fate, you’re sadly mistaken.
3. A Home Depot or Lowe’s Gift Certificate
While a home center gift certificate isn’t the worst gift you could give someone, it does subtly signal that you’ve kind of given up. This is the equivalent of your uncle giving you $100 for Christmas as a kid. Awesome, but your parents got you that thing you REALLY wanted.
4. Furniture or Anything BIG
Just stop and think about this one for a minute. What are the odds of you picking out something your clients will both love, and not already have? Yeah sure, that end table is REALLY adorable, but what if your client thinks it’s cloying and cheesy? The same goes for pillows, ottomans, lamps, or anything else that won’t get hung on a wall.
How to Figure Out What Gift Will Convert Your Client Into Your Evangelist
Five-star Zillow reviews are great and all, but your goal as an agent is to build a referral network that will eventually eclipse your lead generation efforts. That means you need to really get to know your clients.
Not easy, of course, but putting in the effort can have a huge return on investment (ROI) and can even be fun. Here’s how to (strategically) figure out the best closing gift for your buyer or seller client.
Stalk Their Social Media Accounts
OK, I know. You feel a little creepy snooping around on your client’s social media to figure out what gift they will respond to best. Don’t! First of all, it’s 2021 and everyone from grandmas to school teachers check people out on social media. Second, your client will be much happier if you get them something they actually want!
Have the Gift in Mind, Then Ask Strategic Questions to See If It Will Fit
Getting to know your clients personally is great and all, but remember the goal here is to figure out how well they will respond to a specific gift. For example, you might get your client talking about how nervous they are to move to your city. That means a gift of a unique local experience might be ideal to help them get acclimated and become part of the local community.
From there you can drill down further and see what their hobbies and interests are to get even more specific with your gift. If you’re thinking of buying them a skydiving package, then it would help to know that they’re afraid of heights!
Ask One of Their Coworkers on LinkedIn
This strategy can kill two birds with one stone. First, you can find out what they want from someone they know, and second, you showed one of their coworkers that you’re actually putting thought into their gift.
P.S. If you need some pointers on generating leads on LinkedIn, check out our ultimate guide to LinkedIn for agents here.
Our Take on Great Real Estate Closing Gifts
Great closing gifts are personal, thoughtful, and remind your client that you are the local real estate expert they can rely on for years to come. Choose carefully by getting to know your clients well, and you just might help create an evangelist for life!
what about cutco closing gifts???
I’d beg to differ– Cutco knives and a bamboo cutting board have been a hit for us as a mortgage firm. It really depends on your customer. Have a few other options for plan b and c.
Julie, just my 2 cents here, but I happen to think that Cutco knives are a bit of a gimmick especially considering how much more seriously amateur cooks take their kitchen equipment these days. If you’re going to go with knives, I think you’d impress much more with a Shun. They are handcrafted in Japan and are something of a status symbol for home cooks. They’re also beautiful, which can’t be said for cutco. Again, just my 2 cents!
We just bought a house (900k!). Our realtor insisted we go with a local mortgage company which cost us an extra 11k. He then gave us $80 total in gift certificates to huge awful corporations of Uber & Amazon
Yikes! Send him this article, LOL.
I just sold my house. I am the seller not a real estate agent and I want to buy the buyers a gift for when they first walk into the home. What would be a good idea for my situation? The wife is pregnant so alcohol is not an option. I want to buy them something nice.
Set them up with a good photography studio to take their family portrait in their new home.
What about a gift certificate for a move-in-night pizza party?
Great post and will save it for the ideas, but I have to disagree on one thing: I think kitchen knives are a good gift IF you know your client will use it. When I closed on my home (before my real estate agent days), my agent gave me a quality Cutco knife with a subtle engraving his name and contact info into the blade. After 3 years it’s still my favorite knife, it’s the perfect size and the blade never goes dull. So I’d say, if you know that your client cooks a lot, a high-quality knife IS a good idea.
One exception is clients whose cultural traditions see knives and other items as bad luck. For example, many Chinese believe that giving knives or clocks as gifts symbolize “giving death” so do your research before giving something that may unintentionally make the recipient uncomfortable.
Hmmm interesting point! I didn’t think of cross cultural gifting issues.
Hey Kata, I suppose kitchen knives could be a good idea if you’re knowledgeable about knives and can get something both high quality and useful. For example, Shun knives are expensive but will impress even die-hard foodies.
Are Realtors the only ones giving gifts? Do you get a gift from accountant, financial advisor , car dealer….?
Something very simple and inexpensive but thoughtful gifts at closing are appropriate. Going over the top with designer gifts make it look like you are feeling guilty getting paid!
BUT, staying in touch with them…remembering special events, sad events, babies, with small thoughtful gifts ..being a friend…that is worth much more.
I’ve never gotten a gift from my accountant now that you mention it. Maybe it’s something that comes across as desperate in other industries? Good question!
A local PNW company is putting together local handmade items for closing baskets for realtors. It includes “dry soups” (add water, boil, simmer, ta da dinner is ready!), locally roasted coffee, local regional coffee mugs, locally designed and made coasters, small “home” sign for a desk or counter and a couple other small items. Does this kind of gift say tacky or welcome to the local neighborhood? Seems to have a combination of memorable items (mugs) and is also helpful (quick homemade dinners). Thanks for your time!
Sounds great! Best of luck!
Curious to get the writer/reader’s thoughts on my local startup out of Boston. This is not a sales pitch, so I’ll avoid mentioning the name of my startup, or the website.
Our startup is a tech-enabled service that brings property management concierge services to owner-occupied homes. Nobody likes spending hours dealing with finding contractors, negotiating prices, and conforming schedules, so we do it for them.
We are offering this as a subscription service, and have planned on speaking with brokers on buying the service wholesale for each of their buyers to get a free year of concierge services. (Annual cost ranges from $300 – $1000 a year).
We’re new to the real estate space, so we’re looking for as much feedback as we can get. Thanks ahead of time!
I think there are a few services like this already, but I do think it’s a good idea as long as you have deep local connections and can actually get people good deals with qualified contractors.
Wow, what’s with the no Home Depot or Lowes gift cards, but other gift cards are ok??? Home Depot and/or Lowes are great gift ideas for first time home buyers that need lots of stuff fast.
I mean, it’s not a very thoughtful gift… It’s like getting socks for christmas.
I am about to close on my first place. My realtor’s commission will be over $13,000. I do NOT want a bottle of wine, a few cases maybe.
Hoping he is like a previous poster and listened (12′ overhead garage door opener installed).
Ha, we hope so too! Maybe you can drop a hint at the closing that you’re expecting a nice gift. Send them this article!
My custom home paintings have been so popular as closing gifts that they’ve become my bestselling product! I love being able to create such a special gift for new homeowners that they will hang and cherish for years to come. (Etsy: JennysNoodleShop)
Awesome. Thanks for posting Jenny!
An agent sold my home in 2000 and she gave me the gift of a beautiful stainless steel tea kettle that to the this day sits on my gas stove top and is used every day. So twenty years later my realtor at that time comes to mind with fond memories. It is still as beautiful as ever.
That’s the idea!
What would you give to someone who just bought a $3M condo on the beach? Elegant & thoughtful for someone who lives a high-end lifestyle?
Is this a second home? If so, I think there are a lot more options. Think local artisans, sign makers, and anything else that works for your local community.
One of the best gifts I have seen is a potted plant. It’s more creative than a gift card and clients often display them in prominent spaces. I usually use online service so I don’t have to do the potting my self. Got to keep those hands clean for the next showing 😉
https://startplanted.com/info-page/closing-gift/
Love it. Always nice to send your former clients something living as a closing gift.
How do you feel about a water bottle with your logo on it? Will the client appreciate and use it because it is functional or will they treat it like an add and not use it because it is branded?
Hi Brandon, frankly I think handing someone a water bottle after a six figure transaction that will most likely be the biggest in you client’s life is a little bit insulting. That, and I generally think that giving them anything with your logo on it is a little bit rude. Think about it. How would you like it if your dad bought you a birthday present with his face on it? A gift should be about them, not you.
What price range do you think the price of the gift should fall in? Does the price of the home matter or the usefulness of the gift?
That’s going to depend a lot on the price point of the listing and your relationship with your clients. That said, I would more than likely put a limit of $500 for a closing gift. It should be a small token of appreciation, not a major gift!
I agree that a branded gift can come off as tacky, however unbranded gifts aren’t 100% tax deductible. How do you guys deal with these things, tax-wise?
Hey Laneya, I haven’t heard this rule before, but for the most part, I would consider the few dollars you might save on taxes not really worth the drawbacks of giving a branded gift. Of course this is just my 2 cents, so if you’re having success with branded gifts then keep it up!
Emile, I like your article. There are many things I agree with and a few I don’t. I am a gifting strategist to the real estate industry, so this is kind of in my wheelhouse.
What I tell my own clients is, “Think about WHY you are giving a gift. What is your goal for the relationship after the transaction has closed. If you simply want to say ‘Thanks’, any ol’ gift will do. But, if you want to express gratitude, generate referrals, and earn repeat business you gotta be strategic in your gifting.”
So what does a good strategy look like? It’s pretty simple really. You must Surprise and Delight. When I receive a present for my birthday or a card at Christmas I am most appreciative, but hardly surprised. A lot of realtors are what we call ABC Gifters. That is, they only give gifts on Anniversaries, Birthdays, and Christmas. Where’s the surprise? Your gift is mingled in with about 100 others your client just received.
Think about this however…grilling set on Labor Day. What?!?!? You’ve NEVER given a gift on Labor Day? Guess what, nobody has!
Would that be a Surprise? Now kick it up a bit and get that bad boy personalized with custom engraving. Now we’re hitting the Delight Button!
But there is more to strategic gifting than simply impressing the client. You want a return on your investment too. You want those gifts to work for you. Realtors, if you’re going to spend the money, spend it wisely.
How do you gift if you barely know the client? If they bought the 1st house they saw and the entire process went so quickly that you couldn’t get a good feel for the client, then how do you gift? Seriously going nuts over these gifts for them because I can’t figure out a good gift that anyone would enjoy.
Hey Jason,
This is a tricky one. One way to tackle gifting for people you don’t know very well is to buy something that’s regional. Local maps or paintings/drawings of their new home are pretty safe bets. You can also try using something like Evabot, but that can come across as a little impersonal when they might think you should know them better!
Hey Jason,
I think you hit the nail on the head there. “Surprise and delight” is great gift giving advice when buying for pretty much anyone.
During one of our property tours my client asked if the balance-ball chair would come with the house because he loved it so much (we wound up not getting that property, found a better one). So, I’ve ordered that same balance ball chair as a gift to him as a closing gift. Just like gift giving to family and friends, it’s important to listen to get clues. My client also mentioned how he wanted to find a massage place in the area so I’m also considering giving a certificate for a massage as well…but frankly, worried if that would come across as an inappropriate gift. Seems more like something to give to a family member/spouse. Your thoughts?
Yeah, that’s actually pretty great. You should think of buying a gift for a client as if you were buying a gift for a friend with just a little more thought. The chair is a great idea because it shows that you are not only paying attention to your client as a person and not just a dollar sign, but that chair will more than likely turn into a talking point for your client if they haven’t used one before. “I just started using a balance ball chair that my Realtor bought for me”… Great idea!
I have to disagree with the Home Depot gift card, purely because I sold a 100+ yr old home to first time homeowners and they are over the moon to renovate (the spouse is pretty much the equivalent to Bob Vila). I purchased a HD gift card and then had something custom made for their front porch. I went to the historical society to see if their home had a file, as my “Plan A” was to get a copy of the original exterior of their home and have it framed for their wall. No such luck. 🙁 This gift was my “Plan B”. Home Depot cards aren’t terrible, especially if they are doing the renovation themselves and plan on living in the home as their primary residence. (my opinion)
I love the Home Depot or Lowe’s Gift Card idea. If nothing else, they can purchase lots of flowers for their new home, help pay for parts in making repairs or changes. I love both stores and spend too much time in both.
I agree, my only concern is that it’s not very memorable…
Oh I agree 100%! A Home Depot card is not a bad idea at all, but it’s also not the BEST idea as far as making an impact and offering something memorable. One way to make a gift card work better is to offer a nice heartfelt letter along with the card. This can be an amazing gift if you know they are trying to get renovations done on their own!
Yes the Home Depot card seems to be loved by all clients stressed about their post-closing bank accounts who have to do work to their home. I have put it in a gift bag with a fire extinguisher (safety first) . They may forget about the gift certificate but they’ll see the fire extinguisher every day in their kitchen pantry and be thankful we got them something they needed.
Melissa, this is a great way to make a somewhat impersonal gift personal and memorable!
I disagree with the cutting board. I’ve give one a few times that was personalized and custom etched with their last name, initial and short house warming quote. It’s displayed on a stand. Looks beautiful and the clients loved them.
Same here. The personalized cutting board was a hit for me!
If it ain’t broke…
A semi local store sells Monogrammed cutting boards, some with shiny copper handles and a copper and brass cutting knife for cheese. They cannot keep them in stock, everyone loves them including me. I have a couple different shapes. Also a handled tray is amazing for keeping drinks from spilling( while sitting on sofa in front of tv, or late night romantic wine in bed (mosaic trays are glamorous and useful).
Hey Cheryl, we’re not saying something like this can’t be a great closing gift, just remember to keep it about them and not you!
Hey Jim,
If it works for you then at the end of the day you should make that decision for yourself. If you know your clients and their tastes then you can and should get something like a custom cutting board if you think they’ll enjoy it.
Excellent post as always. I really like the way you explained how the good closing gifts are good and how the bad ones are bad. And yes, I agree with you that maintaining a good relationship with clients definitely goes a long way.
Hey Paige,
Glad you liked the article and hope your fall is off to a great start! Gift buying can be tricky business, but getting it right can go a long way toward getting a referral.