A Realtor’s Guide to Closing Gifts
As a real estate agent, you’re under no obligation to give a client a closing gift. However, it can be a nice way to set yourself apart and show that you care.
The question is, what’s appropriate? How much should you spend? And what kind of gift do you give?
Why Give a Closing Gift?
According to Realtor Magazine, nearly 77 percent of real estate agents have given closing gifts to their clients. At first glance, this seems kind of odd. After all, is there any other service industry where the service provider gives their client a gift? (It’s not like your doctor sends you a gift card and says “thanks for choosing me” after performing a procedure.) But giving a closing gift is actually very powerful.
“The giving of these gifts serves two main purposes,” Paul Argueta writes for REH Real Estate. “One, and most importantly, it allows you to showcase your sincere and genuine appreciation for your client and, secondly, it is a subtle method that might potentially lead to generating referrals.”
Closing gifts are not a requirement, but they are a nice touch. They allow you to put a personal stamp on things and enhance the experience even more. These gifts are often unexpected, which makes them even more impactful.
Finding the Right Closing Gift
There’s no one-size-fits-all real estate closing gift. Having said that, here are several ideas and suggestions you can use to set yourself apart:
- Custom Floral Bouquet. When someone first moves into a new house, it can take quite some time for it to feel like home. No matter how excited the buyers may be, it’s a new space. There’s nothing hanging on the walls. Moving boxes are everywhere. There’s a mixture of emotions. By sending a same-day flower delivery on closing day, you can infuse a little warmth and personality into the space. This help can help it feel like home right away.
- (Tastefully) Branded Gifts. Can we be real for a moment? Nobody cares about a coffee mug, candle, or apron with your logo on it. What people do care about are useful gifts for the home. So rather than slapping your logo on something, which is a surefire way to have it end up crammed in the back of a cabinet, why not give a real gift and just put your logo on the packaging? Companies like EvaBot make this easy. They use artificial intelligence to determine what your clients want and then send them gifts in custom-branded boxes. Your client gets a good gift and it’s clear who it came from.
- The History of the House. Companies like Brownstone Detectives create custom gift books with pictures and rich history behind historic homes. This gift option obviously doesn’t work if your client is buying a newer home (or building new construction), but it’s a great choice for someone purchasing an older home with history.
- Subscription Box. From meal delivery to cleaning supplies to lawn care, there’s a subscription box for everything. The great thing about a subscription box is that it’s the gift that keeps on giving. You can order a three-month, six-month, or even 12-month subscription and it’s like you’re giving a new gift to your client every month. This helps you continue to nurture the relationship on autopilot.
- Home Warranty. A home warranty might not be the sexiest gift, but it’s a great one. It allows you to give your clients peace of mind. It also eliminates some of the headaches or concerns on your own part if the house they just purchased runs into some issues during the first few months.
As you can see, there are plenty of options to choose from. This is just a small sampling of ideas. For best results, pay attention to your clients during the home buying or selling process and make notes of what they’re interested in. Useful gifts that fit their unique interests and needs are the best.
Adding it All Up
When giving a closing gift, it’s not always about the gift itself. In most cases, it’s more about the sentiment. But if you select the right gift and deliver it in the right way, you can make a major statement. Use this article to get pointed in the right direction!
