Give or Not Give a Closing Gift

Back in the early 1900s before brokering real estate required a license, real estate sales people would give closing gifts to their clients not only to show their love and appreciation, but also so that when the buyer was ready to sell the home, they would remember the salesperson because they would still have the gift. That meant that the gifts had to be long lasting as people did not move as often as they do now days. 

Since during this time real estate salespeople were not bound by laws, they would make a lot of money and sometimes help to buy appliances for their clients as closing gifts. Some ideas would be buying a plow, iron, saw, and wood stoves and other valuable home items to help the buyer with affordabilty. 

Today the same custom of giving clients closing gifts happens but in a much different manner. As real estate agents are bound by ethics and laws now, the gifts have changed. Here are a few good sample ideas of closing gifts realtors use today.

• personalized door knockers
• coffee table book
• gift card
• bottle of wine
• health club package
• handyman services
• knife block
• cutting board
• scotch
• lawnmower
• grill
• dinner
• meat smoker
• gardening
• icee machine

Some gifts are not really good to give and not all gifts fit all clients. You must use your discretion. Only you would really know what suits them after learning their personality through the transaction. Here are some gifts not to give:

• houseplants
• exercise machine
• automatic gun
• puppies
• car bra
• expensive jewelry

Not every client deserves a gift, and no body is required to give a gift. You can simply choose to make the professional decision to not give any clients gifts whatsoever. And that would be fine. Clients shouldn't really expect gifts because doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers, dentists, etc don't give gifts. But then again none are as rewarding as real estate either! 

Peace.