As a smart real estate agent, you have undoubtedly sought out the perfect space to accompany your buyer’s likes, dislikes and requirements. As a team, you and your clients have endured weeks, or even months together, finding the right property to start the buyer’s new life. Truly, you have gotten to know these buyers in a way that makes it special to celebrate the closing of a home.
So…what is the best way to celebrate your relationship with the homeowners that you have worked so hard to build? By giving them a personalized, custom closing gift to show your appreciation for their business! Long-lasting, personalized, and unique, the closing gift should be something you are proud to give and would be overjoyed to receive!
Why should a real estate agent choose to give a closing gift? Many reasons!
· -- A well-thought out gift can truly solidify the relationship after the deal is done, particularly if it’s useful in the home and lasts for many years.
· -- With a closing gift that works perfectly in their new home, it sets the tone for a long-lasting, quality working relationship that can also create future referrals. Every time they see your gift to them, they remember the prime service you gave them during one of their most emotional decisions.
· -- The right closing gift can also propel your reputation in the community as a business professional. If you show you care right to the end, it can solidify their confidence in the choice they made to use you as a real estate agent. Meaning, people talk! It’s amazing how word gets around about positive, and negative, service from an agent.
· -- Aside from monetary value, the perfect closing gift can also act as a stepping-stone for follow-up calls, to be used as a conversation starter with these clients in the future. Or, the closing gift acts as a conversation starter between your clients and everyone they know who may be in the market one of these days to buy a home.
· -- Giving a closing gift is not only rewarding for you and your long-term business as described above, but there are often tax benefits (Be sure to check your state laws and get a licensed tax accountant’s advice.)
So, what is the perfect closing gift? Well, several questions should be considered…
What kind of gift is appropriate at closing?
A closing gift should be well made, long-lasting, personalized, and unique. The closing gift should be chosen to fit the taste of your clients.
Consider a gift that can be used in the home daily such as a custom designed cutting board to fit in perfectly in their new kitchen. What wood is their favorite? Maple, mahogany, walnut or cherry? Are they into BBQ'ing or serving a beautiful holiday turkey? Then a platter from Black Canyon Woodworks could be perfect.
Perhaps they have children and would like to support their independence in the bathroom or kitchen by way of a personalized step Stool? With kids, consider a custom family growth ruler as a cute addition to the home to capture those heights in a sophisticated and lasting way!
How do I pick a closing gift that lasts?
For starters, gift baskets are over-rated, wine bottles overused, and generic gift certificates show a lack of personalization. Think about what you would want to have!
Give your own personal touch that holds staying power in the lives of those you work with. Would a rich-looking, end-grain walnut chopping block bring joy to your clients? Then consider something like a Black Canyon Woodworks’ personalized cutting board that realtors say is the “business card their clients keep forever”. Your logo and a special message can be engraved discretely on the back. https://www.blackcanyoncuttingboards.com/gallery/
How can a closing gift boost future referrals?
Giving a customized gift shows buyers you understand their likes and dislikes.
Each time your client uses or sees your gift, they will remember the excellent service you provided for their significant purchase of a home. But be careful not to be crass, be careful to keep your logo/contact information discrete. Many products enable engraving, and a few, like personalized wood cutting boards, can be engraved on the back with logos, contact information and a special message like “Welcome to your new home!” or “Home is where the heart is”.
Just make sure your contact information doesn’t interfere with the beauty or function of the gift. Show your clients that you are not only the best fit for their business, but have great taste in giving a gift to them.
What is the right price range for closing gifts?
It depends. The "right" price should simply mean that the item you choose says “thank you” with just a touch of class, without skimping or going overboard on the price.
Look for something that comes from a reputable company that stands behind their quality and customer service. As an example, personalized cutting boards from https://www.blackcanyoncuttingboards.com/, range in price from $65-$180, are always unique, and have been hailed as the perfect "thank you" closing gift by many realtors and mortgage brokers. There are other options too, like custom engraved knives or garden tools. Or, personalized step stools, signs or family growth charts (or rulers). So many ideas!
You’re just looking for something that will last long after the bottles of wine and gift baskets are gone and forgotten. Get creative- perhaps even pair up an engraved wood platter with a special BBQ utensil!
So…what is the best way to celebrate your relationship with the homeowners that you have worked so hard to build? By giving them a personalized, closing gift to show your appreciation. Long-lasting, personalized, and unique, the closing gift should be something you are proud to give and would be thrilled to receive yourself. Be creative! This last step in the closing process should be fun!
More closing gift tips can be found at http://insights.blackcanyoncuttingboards.com/closing-gifts.
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