The end of the year is a great time to ramp up your gratitude practice and show your favorite clients and vendors how much you appreciate them!
One of the most effective ways to demonstrate gratitude is through a handwritten thank you note. They are personal, heartfelt and always fun to receive. Not only will you make your client’s day, but you’ll also illustrate your commitment to high-quality care and service, and, as a result, write your way to more referrals down the line.
It’s not always easy getting started! If you find yourself putting off the process because of writer’s block, you’re not alone. Here are a few tips to help you craft a genuine thank you note every time!
– Open with a general “thank you.” Acknowledge overall why you appreciate this person.
– Describe specifically what that person has done for you. This might be recognizing the multiple referrals one of your vendors sent, or acknowledging a first-time buyer for entrusting you with their real estate needs!
– Give qualities that stand out to you about that person. Ask what specific traits that person has that makes you relationship with them especially enjoyable.
– Wrap it up and wish them well for next year!
For some more inspiration, check out this example of a thank you note you might write a client toward the end of the year:
Dear Julie,
I wanted to send a quick note thanking you for all of your kindness this year. I am so grateful for the multiple referrals you sent my way. It’s an absolute pleasure to guide your friends and family through buying or selling a home. Your positive spirit is delightful, and if there is anything I can do to better serve you, don’t hesitate to call me. Wishing you an incredible holiday season and all the best in the new year!
Warmest regards,
Joanna Smith
Remember to attach your business card in the note, in case the recipient wants to give you a call or an email back. When you convey a message that is heartfelt, genuine and sincere, your relationships will always appreciate the thought!
For more relational real estate marketing tools and resources, check out the Referral Maker® PRO kit from Buffini & Company. This monthly marketing kit provides you with notecards, items of value and other assets to show your clients you value and appreciate their business. Sign up for a free business consultation to see how Referral Maker® PRO can revolutionize your real estate marketing!
Don’t start a letter with “I”. That puts the attention back on you when the whole point is to focus on them.
I ;Ike the individual references. Maybe even use the name or fun fact with the referral to warm their heart and seem less like a statistic. I am trying out and just initiated my first follow up call with a multi referral client by giving them Twins tickets for a game in 2021. Hopefully it will work out but come to find out they are big baseball fans and they were excited. The nice thing with these tickets is they have a flex plan which allows the recipient to use the voucher I give them to choose available seats from different sections at the park and the date they want to plan for verses getting actual tickets and the worry that a specific date doesn’t fit. With COVID I wanted to give the hope of getting out in 2021. I think even just a good note as shown in your article is the most important though. Great example, thanks.
The letter to Julie was heartfelt, and I myself am pretty gushy. However, the superlatives were overdone and if the person had sent the agent some referrals, that person is pretty impressed and does not need to be warned to not be afraid to hesitate to call. Some people have said to never include a business card in a hand written thank you note as it counteracts the intention of warmness and implies the writer is looking for business above all. The article overall reminds us of things we knew but let slip. It was worth the read!!!
Mike, I agree with you…. we teach our agents a better way to connect with making it all about the client…period!!!!…and attaching a business card is a NO NO…this now smells of a solicitation and not a sincere gratitude card…
Totally agree… make it about the client – no biz card. They already have tour contact info