Real Estate Views from St Pete

I am hearing more and more about this and it does make sense.  Agents will be more incline to work with you when you show your appreciation.

I really like this idea and it is an change from the norm.

Hi this does make a lot of sense, but I would be inclined to do both. I also have a tradition to present all my clients with a custom 26' wreath at Christmas. It is spectacular. I start delivering the end of the first week in December. A few years ago I included  my immediate neighbors in those presentations all the way around me and it started a gift exchange that gets bigger and bigger and bigger each year. It is almost out of control but I love it so. I have attended no less a half dozen parties already this year and by New Years there will be at least that many more. I think the world hungers for these old traditions and it gives special joy and inspires the true meaning of the holidays and builds friendships.

Other than a nice bottle of wine, what other gifts might be appropriate for (or appreciated by) a co-operating agent?

Danielle Kennedy says you should deliver a color TV to the agent that sells your listing and deliver it during that agents weekly office meeting.  Makes agents WANT to sell your listings.  You can find a color TV for $200...who knows?

I have given small closing gifts to cooperating agents...usually a starbucks gift certificate for the guys and a real estate themed charm bracelet (i got these from e-bay) for the ladies.  I never thought of them as a closing gift tho...it was more like a thank you give and was put in with the 'thank you card' I always hand  deliver to the agents office.

Sharon - I like hearing this. I am delivering cupcakes from a gourmet bakery to the co-op agent next week. I like what David said but can you imagine what the response would be if it was an I-Pod?

I don't know about you, but there are some cooperating agents who aren't too cooperative. I'd rather slap them around then buy them a gift!

The more I think about it I would also gift both Agent and Buyer.  The Seller give them good service and wine.

I may give to the cooperating agent, but I still feel the need to give one to the client also.

Best closing gift I ever received was a cleaning service arranged and paid for by my agent. They did the windows and shampooed the carpets plus the normal cleaning.  It was the most wonderful thing! It's been many, many years but I've never forgotten this.

It was so nice to move in and start putting away our things without having to clearn first.

 

 

Sharon - That's a great idea! I'll have to admit that most of the cooperating agents I've worked with have been very nice to work with. 

That is a great idea.  I send thank you  notes to the agents that I loved working with.

Nice post Sharon. That is the first time I've heard about an agent giving the other agent a closing gift. Novel idea.

Sharon- We give a give a small box of Godiva Chocolates to the cooperating agents. (costs about $12.00) When I first began in RE a man that I had known to be an agent learned I was with Audu Real Estate and stated... " I know her she gave me a box of Godiva Chocolates....only time I ever received a gift!" 

I'd say he was quite pleased and that a good lasting first impression had been made.  :) 

I wrote a blog post about how fabulous one of my colleagues was during a transaction we had.  She was pretty wowed.  Gee, I should do that more often!

Sharon,

Interesting...not sure if I agree to that one...who knows what that agent is thinking. Nice gesture though...

That is a twist but I also think that the clients should get a house warming gift because they too can be a great referral source for you in the future. When I moved to NJ we all used the same realtor over and over again and referred her to many others.

Phyllis Pafumi

Sharon,  I received a gift from a listing agent several years ago.  I have given agent gifts myself.  Believe it or not the last gift I gave the agent of a buyer was a home warranty to the buyer.  For their agent?  He lived next door.  I did it so they wouldn't pester him for every lilttle thing that went wrong. He thanked me unreservedly.

I love the idea for giving the selling agent a gift.  You know how agents love to talk negatively about each other- this may help turn it around. 

Sharon, I like this idea. I do give closing gifts to my clients (most) of the time. But, not the ones I have referral fees on to relocation companies, or those I want to forget about me and me them. But, since you were at a Luxury Conference, I can see how this would make a lasting impression.

Since in my area it in about 3-4 Realtors that sell all the luxury homes. I sold one this year and learned something from the listing agent.

His sellers took the refrigerator, and I pointed it out at the walk though. He whipped out his check book, gave me a blank check and said fill in the amount they need to buy a new one and let me know. I was impressed.

That's sounds like a good idea! I just stopped making closing gifts myself, after hearing Mike Ferry coach, I have to agree that we are hired to do a job - my job well done is my appreciation and payback to my clients.

Sharon - I agree with this post!  However, I like to give a small token of thanks to of course the client and both realtors that are involved in the transaction.  They definitely are surprised and I always get a call later thanking for the gift.  A great way to start a relationship with a realtor.  

Bravo Sharon!

This is what way too many agents don't do these days - show appreciation for the agents in their area.  The term "cooperating agents" seems to have been totally forgotten.  Thank you so much for this timely post!

This does make great sense, and depending on the sale, would set the amount of what you would like to spend. Since this is not the norm I am sure something, whatever you give that other agent will make a difference!

Judi Downing- www.Downinghomesales.com

Simple and to the point!  Absolutely good manners, build better working relationships. Well said.

Never heard of this. I have given a card before to another agent but not a gift.

Maybe should do both since you also hope to get past clients business and their referrals

Hi Sharon, I love this idea!!

Alisa, I love the idea of having a Cleaning Service come to your home....that's such a great gift and very beneficial, like you said, because every new homeowner has to move in and start cleaning before they can place furniture and all and it's such a hassle to do it with everything else that's already going on.

Hi Sharon - this is a very nice gesture.  I send thank you cards to the other agent in my transactions most times, but I've never given a gift or gotten one to or from the other agent.  What a refreshing idea this is, since the other agent can, many times, make or break a transaction.  There certainly are some agents I'd love to do business with over and over, and what a great way to show them that.

Thanks for this idea!
Ann

What a great idea. Like Ann above stated ..I've never gotten or given a gift from or to a co-broke. I have received wine, flowers and stuff from their brokers as a recruiting attempt.

I just posted a blog about closing gifts...wow!! We must be on the same wave length!!

That is a different twist on things.  I send a thank you note to the cooperating agent but never thought of giving a gift.

Interesting idea.  I would still want to give a gift to the client.  Giving a gift to the other agent makes great sense when you work in a relatively small market.  In 5 years of doing business, I've never worked with the same agent twice...our market is just too big.

Now this is indeed an unusual idea and it makes sense!

Hi Sharon,

Thanks for the idea I love it, and some of the other comments along the way. One of the agents in my office sometimes does a little something for the other agent, but I'm behind the curve on the gesture. Another to add to the list.

Personally I love working with repeat clients andrepeat agents. I'm ready to do back flips when I hear from a "repeat" agent who has an offer one of my listings and I think sentiment is returned. I've has other agents say something like "I told my seller we've worked together before and how smooth things went..." doesn't get much better than that for me.

A color TV back in the day might have been a nice touch... now, if the letters LCD or HD aren't on the box, it is garage sale inventory.  I get the idea, but the result wouldn't be so great.  What I'd think of as the best closing gift would be to have a professional experience dealing with the other agent.  I have worked with some that I would jump at the chance to work with again.  Others... not so much.  I'd rather that $200 for the cheap TV go to my client to spend at Lowes or Home Depot or Target or wherever.  

Of course, here in Atlanta we have 45,000 agents (according to Jim Crawford... and I believe it).  With the turnover rate, one may never seem the other person twice.   

Good Idea!  That is right our peers are needed 2.

Take care!

RJH

Sharon, you're right...that is a twist on gift giving. Never thought about doing that. I do write a note but never thought about a gift. Thanks for the thought.

Sharon, Great idea, maybe the agents will want to work with  you again and show your listings.

I have never heard of this before but it is a really good idea.  I think it will help to foster a spirit of teamwork among colleagues.  I really like this idea especially for those when agents really have to work to pull a deal together.

Sharon, another thought here is that with so many homes on the market, I would think it would be a good idea to foster this all the way through a transaction since one little slip up on  a deal and there are 50 other possibilities waiting to be had.  I totally agree that our fellow peers are who we really need to make sure and foster good relationships with from the get-go.

Thanks for the great post- we send thank you notes to EVERY AGENT that shows our properties, and look forward to the closing gift idea.  Great post.

Interesting twist indeed Sharon, I like it!

Great point, Sharon. I've never given another agent a closing gift, but I always send them a hand-written thank you card, which seems to make them feel appreciated. Thanks for sharing the idea!

This is a wonderful idea. I have been in the Real Estate business for many years and have received a few hand written notes but never a gift. Pay it forward.... I enjoy the notes and can even remember the names of the people who sent them years later. I am definitely going to give a gift to the agent I am currently working with right now.

I don't agree with Clients come and go... they do, but the idea is to build a relationship and earn referrals. So, I would do both!

I already send a thank you card, but I think I will start to incorporate a small gift in appreciation too - Great Idea!

I recently did this for the first time, and it came from the heart. The listing agent is a hands off kind of guy but his assistant was wonderful. I wrapped some special chocolate up with a little note. Three days later she called to thank me. She said it had been the best part of her week!

Sharon,

A very different, but novel idea. Only a few in the business would've thought of that. It does make sense, though. I'm already thinking of how it can be productively employed in the lending side.

Sharon - what a great idea - just got in from 3 days on the road - so sorry if I missed it - but did she say what she gives them?  

Good idea, that makes sense! I'm gonna start doing this! Thanks!

Hello Sharon,  I have always given gifts to my clients, usually something for the home so if they look it they'll remember me (finding the home isn't enough) Anything ediable, or liquid will be gone in days.

I have never thought of giving a gift to the other agent, what I do is send a personal note thanking him/her for their perfessionalism in making the transaction go smoothly. I've been fortunate and most of the agents I deal with are a cut above.  I have seen letters that I've written as part of their testimonials.

Sharon, great idea. Thanks for sharing. I'd probably do gifts to clients and agent. There was a Seattle agent that gave agents who sold her listings a dozen red roses. I guess maybe spa certificates for the ladies and maybe gift certificates to Lowe's for guys?

Thank you very much for this blog. You just gave me a great idea to recruit real estate agents. God bless your soul woman. And you are right,that is definitely a new twist. I have never heard that before. Great post.

Hi Sharon: It was great seeing you & Tami at the Leaders in Luxury Conference. I loved Dee's idea also. I usually write a handwritten note to the other agent but I think I will start sending a gift as well. Take care!

Now, that makes much more sense! I personally think that if you did your best and made sure that you did what was right for your clients, that's really the best gift. A door knocker won't really change the client's impression if you were a terrible realtor, just like those fridge magnets won't make me call a realtor either.

Cheers,

Cindy 

I love this post Sharon! This is what it is about. Since most of us agents here know each other, we usually go out to lunch or dinner together after a closing. Sometimes we go get a massage together to just relax and chat. My clients give me closing gifts! And I deserve them! But I do give all my clients and my fellow agents Arbonne skin care products for Christmas gifts. Katerina

Thank you all for your comments - I've been out of pocket traveling for the past few days, and apologize that I haven't commented, blogged or responded - and with fifty plus comments, won't attempt to answer each one individually - but I do appreciate each and every comment.

There have been some great ideas in the comments. Along the way we send anyone who has gone "above and beyond" a card, a note saying "Thanks a Latte" and a Starbucks gift card. That could be an opening Thanks for the Contract for those so inclined.

Yes, we DO do different things for those we want to do business with again.

The wonderful part about sharing is that we can each add something, and the whole gets better. 

 

What a GREAT idea Sharon..........thanks for posting it.

Sharon, what a concept! I have received an occasional thank you from another agent, but a gift? Not!!

That said, I don't think I've ever done a resale transaction twice with another Realtor in the Phoenix Metropolitan area. New homes? Well, yes, many times I've worked with the same new home agent!

Great idea.......

Very very interesting twist!  I always thank the other side of the transaction, wish them well and (if it was good for me) express how I cannot wait until we do another transaction together.

Nice way to seal the deal! 

Barbara - you're welcome.

Teri - that's odd to me that you've never had resale transactions with the same agents - we do that a lot. On the new homes, it does help to have them on your side!

Renee - I wouldn't use it for every agent, but selectively, I think it's a good idea. 

I always give a gift to the client, and write personal thank you notes to the cooperating agent (well, when they have been sooperative, which is generally most of the time), but have never given a gift. Intriguing idea. Thanks for the thought, Sharon.

Jeff

Jeff - it's always nice to have more arrows in our quill - you never know when you'll want to use which one.