Closing Gifts-Thinking ?Outside The Basket?

Print Article Print Article

Training

Closing Gifts-Thinking ?Outside The Basket?

By Kelly Kelley

Type ?closing gifts and real estate? into Google and it?s likely that the top 10 results for your search will be: gift baskets; keychains; gift baskets; cookies; gift baskets?and then more links for gift baskets.

While gift baskets are undoubtedly a very quick and easy way to show your client a token of your appreciation for their business, the chances are quite good that in the chaos of moving, your basket will be overlooked in a corner behind boxes of dishes.

So what do the nation?s top producers do to truly ?wow? their customers when it comes to closing gifts? To find out, I asked the iSucceed Mentors. They shared the following ideas:

Make it artistic

Teri Isner of Kissimmee, Florida is well known for her Monopoly-themed Web site, but she doesn?t stop there. She?s contracted a local artist to create unique watercolors for her clients, in the style of a Monopoly game board. Since Isner keeps track of her clients? interests, the board is filled with all sorts of the clients? favorite things or activities. Often the client is shown driving their favorite car down their new street, on which is, of course, a depiction of their new home.

Be unique

Eva Keagle of Harker Heights, Texas, has been providing buyers with a custom made birdhouse for the last 12 years, created by a local artist (and former client of hers). The birdhouse is custom painted with the client?s name and new home address on the birdhouse.

A charitable event

Sandra Nickel, a.k.a. ?The Hat Lady? of Montgomery, Alabama, says that in lieu of a closing gift, her office gives 1% of the commission earned on every transaction to one of 11 local charities from which the client can personally choose. This not only garners her office much praise, but allows her office and her clients to give back to the community.

Fun and functional

Rob Levy of Portland, Oregon helps his clients overcome moving day by having a rubber storage box packed and waiting for the client on move-in day, filled with essentials such as dish soap, paper towels, detergent, bottled water, plastic knives and forks, and coupons for a year of 2-for-1 meals at local restaurants. He also leaves a pine box filled with bottles of wine at the new house that sport custom-printed labels that read ?From the Private Reserve of the Rob Levy Team.?

Leave an impression

Glenda Williamson of Decatur, Illinois, presents her clients with a beautiful keyholder?a plaque with a picture of their house and a brass plate that says ?Great Clients Like You Are The Key To Our Success. Glenda Williamson and Team?Your Realtor For Life.?

In style

T.K. Bazirgan of Sacramento, California, has an antique doorknocker installed on the door of his clients? new home with their last name engraved on the faceplate.

Cozy thoughts

Ken Deshaies of Summit County, Colorado says the nights get quite chilly at 9,000 feet, so he often sends his clients fleece throws embroidered with his company logo, along with vendor certificates for free dinners for two at local restaurants, and a copy of a local book listing all the free events, tours, and trips throughout Colorado.

Think regional

Alice Held, a self-professed ?rockhound,? is an expert on the natural resources of her home state of Arizona. Upon closing, she sends her clients a unique crystal, geode or other fascinating rock or mineral, sure to find a place on many a fireplace mantle for years to come.

Get personal

Stephanie Vitacco of Northridge, California gives her clients a photo album of their new home, filled with pictures that she has taken during the marketing phase. She says she always shoots each room (?making sure to get a shot of the family pet!?) and that since most people don?t have a complete set of photos of their house it makes for a great memento.

Make yourself useful

Penny McLaughlin of Bainbridge, Washington says that in her nearly 20 years of business the best gift she has given has been the use of her handyman service for one hour. The client receives a gift certificate and communicates directly with the handyman, and any cost above the one hour is negotiated between the two, with the client usually receiving a discount.

Edible ideas

Nelson Zide of Framingham, Massachusetts often has pizza delivered to his clients on moving day. He promises his clients at closing that for any referral they send him that closes successfully, he will buy them dinner at any restaurant anywhere in the nation, at any price, and all they have to do is send him the bill.

Year-round appreciation

Steve Westmark of Wayzata, Minnesota gives the new homeowners an address stamp for their home with his company logo, coupons from local vendors such as jewelers, restaurants and health clubs, and invites all his buyers and sellers and their families to a ?Westmark Team Night? of baseball with the Minnesota Twins.

Goin? mobile

Denny Grimes of Ft. Myers, Florida bought a company limousine, and allows his clients to use it any time they want?for free!

Client for life

Galand Haas of Eugene, Oregon says all of his clients go on the ?Client for Life? program, which provides such things as a pumpkin and hay ride certificate at Halloween, a Christmas tree certificate at Christmas, a truffle certificate on Valentine?s Day and a flower basket assortment certificate in late Spring.

How about…a gift basket?

There is a good way to give them. Fill a basket with tomato seedlings and gardening supplies if your clients like to garden, or with candles, a bottle of wine, a picture frame, and romantic music if your clients are newlyweds, or perhaps a variety of playing cards, board games, and a chess set for a family to celebrate their first night together in their new home. The key is to spend some time in making it applicable and specialized to your client, something that truly says, ?I know who you are, and I really appreciate your business.?

Pay attention, give from the heart, and your clients will remember you for it. Now that?s a gift basket worth giving?and receiving.

Kelly Kelley is a mentor with iSucceed.


© RISMedia 2009. All Rights Reserved