Hi Gary-I did a post this morning and one of my suggestions was a bamboo plant.  But I think my favorite would be the rain spout bucket. 

This is a great topic.  I'm parking so that I can see what great ideas others post.

Why not contact a local arboritium or nature conservatory and have a tree planted in their name?
SK

Gary:

 How about a composting bin or system made from recycled materials.  Each time the client takes out the food waste or mows the lawns they will be using your gift, and it keeps on giving them quality soil ammendments for as long as they use it.

Bill

Ann - thanks I only did a quick search and for green and eco-friendly " I am sure that there are many of us that give our clients a house warming gift, thank you gift, etc.  Instead of a house plant, why not a bamboo plant, a hot water heater blanket, a few compact fluorescent bulbs.  While saying thanks to your customer, you are also helping the envirmont.  and a rain barrel"

Adam - thanks, both of these are available, didn't think big  "...local arboritium or nature conservatory"

Bill - composting bin didn't even come to mind and we have one!

these are all great ideas.

Gary

I remember watching a crafting show with my wife there was a guy who recycled newspaper and made it into a Canvass for painting. I liked the one about the recycle bin that Bill Fores wrote. I am a gardener and would have loved it if someone bought me one of those.

How about the gift of an experience?

http://tinyurl.com/2zl4p6

Gary    recycled newspaper and made it into a Canvass for painting

That's an out of the box idea, I'll have to see if they are painters.

Here are the proposed links above. Thanks, I will make sure I read them tonight.

Ann Guy   Global Warming Does Exist (Part 2)

  JF      Think Outside The Closing Gift Box: Give An Experience

If you really sit back and think about it, you can come up with a million different ideas.  Those posted are very good and there are many others.

Gary~

Great conversation starter! And thanks for the nod to my article. Always the researcher, I hopped on over to this linkand found some really neat ideas to add to your growing list:

Gifts for the Environment:
Buy renewable energy credits: Credits help offset the environmental costs of our energy needs by funding renewable energy sources, like wind and solar power, elsewhere on the grid.

Junk lists generate automatic forms with your client's name and address. Send aneCARD with the link to Do Not Junk site to reduce unwanted mail by 50 percent...or present the forms in stamped, addressed envelopes ready to sign and mail.

 Assemble a Turn the Tide gift basketwith compact fluorescent light bulbs, forms for getting rid of junk mail, delicious recipes and a note about how the recipients can log on to  www.turnthetide.org and see exactly how much of a positive impact they're having on the environment.

BTW...I have flagged your post to be featured because it offers so much to so many!

janeAnne,

Thanks for the additional ideas and feature.

Hey Gary,

What about a Vegetarian or Vegan Cookbook. I am sure if they are earth friendly they most likely care about the slaughter of animals for food as well. FYI I am not a vegetarian but most of my family are.

Tina,

That may be a great idea, never thought to ask.

Hi Gary:

We have a store in town that sells Natural products for the home. I give a $25 gift certificate for them at closing. I am going to check out what other products they have and get back to you. Another idea that came to me was a product made out of organic cotton or another sustainable material.    

I love to give made in NH closing baskets -- with such things as organic maple syrup -- natural organic NH honey - and pottery from NH -- clients love these types of gifts --

Bill,

I have some information on no electrical tools and supplies. A natural products store would be excellent.

Joan, I've given Michigan products to relocation customers. I do plan on trying to give something produced or made from Michigan.

Piles of paper aren't very Eco friendly. :-(  Unfortunately real estate is loaded with paper.  Then copies of everything after closing.  

One simple, yet memorable suggestion is to send your clients a digital copy of the transaction documents to save.  Burn them to a CD/DVD and give it to them.  Be sure to include your contact info on the label.

Piles of paper aren't very Eco friendly. :-(  Unfortunately real estate is loaded with paper.  Then copies of everything after closing.  

One simple, yet memorable suggestion is to send your clients a digital copy of the transaction documents to save.  Burn them to a CD/DVD and give it to them.  Be sure to include your contact info on the label.

Piles of paper aren't very Eco friendly. :-(  Unfortunately real estate is loaded with paper.  Then copies of everything after closing.  

One simple, yet memorable suggestion is to send your clients a digital copy of the transaction documents to save.  Burn them to a CD/DVD and give it to them.  Be sure to include your contact info on the label.

 "I am sure if they are earth friendly they most likely care about the slaughter of animals for food as well."

Tina, assume nothing.  I am "earth friendly" and am a confirmed carnivore (we raise our own beef and have chickens for eggs), and I know many people who are confirmed environmentalists who likewise are confirmed carnivores. 

The two are not mutually exclusive.

I love these ideas!  Keep 'em coming - I'm always looking for something different in the way of a closing gift, and with the green connection, all the better!

Michelle, yes I do create a CD from my Relay Transaction Managment System. All notes and everthing are stored and backed up online. The only paperwork kept are those with original signatures.

Tricia, thank you for sharing. Everyone celebrates life in their own way. My physician is a strict vegetarian. 9if you look at my photo, we have some conflicting views. ;}

$25 Gift Card to Starbucks and a Gift Certificate to a FREE Plane flight on Al Gores Private Jet. ....Ok, Scratch the Gift Card Idea. :)

Robert. Too funny.

Gary, I just posted re: a Green closing Gift I started using recently

It's a really great way to get someone converting their new home to non-toxic cleaners.

Hi Gary. I saw this on Oprah.

Seventh Generation is one of the leading brands of nontoxic household products. For more information, visit www.seventhgeneration.com.

Gary,  I'm glad someone brought this post back up.  I was thinking about this the other day.  There are some great ideas here.

Nina, Thanks I'll ad that to my list of sites.

Ilyce, http://www.seventhgeneration.com/ products are my favorites

Stephanie, I'm also glad this was revived! Some great ideas

Check out my blog for a few closing gift ideas (Shaklee, trees, cards).  Here's a couple more. 

I've researched my local energy company to find out what they charge for an energy audit.  Here is what I found posted on their website-

Home Energy Audits BudgetSmart from Xcel EnergySM helps you add comfort and save money on energy bills with a Home Energy Audit! When you're planning home improvements or settling into a new home, it's a great idea to consider adding comfort and energy efficiency.  Whether you're thinking about major remodeling or slight enhancements, the Home Energy Audit program makes it easy to discover the most cost-effective ways to save energy (and money) while making your home more comfortable. Energy Wasters Xcel Energy's Home Energy Audit identifies your home's energy wasters, such as: Drafty windows Insufficient insulation Humidity problems Inefficient appliances Poor ventilation Your home audit includes: Inspection of your home's attic, insulation, doors, windows, furnace, appliances and other key areas. Analysis of how you can make your home more comfortable and maximize savings on your energy bill. Recommendations for the most cost-effective, energy-saving improvements that will add to your home's long-term value. How it works Xcel Energy covers most of the cost of the audit (a $150 value). We'll bill your shared cost of $35* on your Xcel Energy bill following the audit. (To qualify in North Dakota, customer must be a natural gas customer of Xcel Energy. Electric only customers in North Dakota do not qualify.) The audit usually takes about two hours and is conducted at a time convenient for you.  To sign up for your audit, call Xcel Energy anytime at 1-800-895-4999.  Some restrictions apply.  Call for a free brochure.

Home Energy Audit Brochure

With this information, I emailed the energy company to find out if there is a way that I can contribute the $35 on behalf of my client as a gift to them.  I am waiting for a response.  I may just have to give them a gift card or something like that to pay for it.  But that is one option.

I am also going to do some follow up "gift giving" to my clients by sending them a radon testing kit every 2-3 years.  Using the coupons brings the price of the short-term test to $7 and the long-term test to $20.  It's another way to show you are thinking about your clients and that you care about their health and well being and another reason/chance to "get in front of them".

Gary, What a great idea, giving an eco-friendly closing gift.  These days most people are into energy savings.  You could give home buyers a copy of the new 8th edition of the Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings by Wilson, Thorne and Morrill.  It is full of great info on all sorts of informtion about equipment, systems, windows, etc.  Very helpful.

Katherine, I'll have to see if DTE provides something similar

Eva,  I think this is the book you're referring to  http://www.amazon.com/Consumer-Guide-Home-Energy-Savings/dp/0918249384

I'll have to go to Borders to check it out

What wonderful ideas!!! I feel myself heading to the store in the morning!!!! Thanks!!!

Great links! Worth recirculating again! I bookmarked it this time!

B & BJ,  Sorry I'm so late. thanks for your comment.

Mary,  Thanks for bookmarking.  I've been pouring over AR the past few days trying to find information and bookmarking lots of posts myself.

What a great site...

I have actually built a website for green closing gifts....  www.greenrealtorgifts.com

It is in its infancy and will be more user friendly soon...with lots of options.

In the meantime....please go to   www.shaklee.net/susangates    for great ideas on GREEN closing gifts.

As seen on Oprah...and one of Oprah's Seven Favorite Things of 2007  .....

The Get Clean Starter Kit  ($167.15 retail - $146.60 member price)  and

the Healthy Home Pack  ($85.15 retail - $72.50 member price)

These are thoughtful and caring closing gifts for your clients (self, friends, and family too)

These products are non-toxic and safe for children . WHAT A GREAT WAY TO SHOW YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR CLIENTS, THEIR HOME, AND OUR PLANET.  They can be shipped directly to your clients and in a box with instructions for the many uses of these great and powerful, yet safe products. The product packaging is beautiful and current.

One 16 oz $11.95 bottle of Basic H2 makes up $400.00 of the leading (toxic) cleaning products. The concentrated starter kit is equivilant to $3400.00 of other products ..and works better. No streaks with the Basic H2 ...2 drops in 16oz of water ..works better than Windex.

Your clients will appreciate your thoughtfulness in keeping their new home healthy. Your clients will want to continue to buy these once they try them. If you become a distributor ($39.95) you can place the order yourself even through your own website and earn commission... and if your clients want more, you can sell to them and earn commission. One more great benefit. Your clients benefit, our planet benefits, and you benefit!

Also available is a superior air purification system and a water filtration system.

I hope I don't sound too pushy...but I am really excited about this idea and the great GREEN alternative to giving yet another wine basket or gift certificate to a restaurant, or candlesticks!  I have given these kits to my clients and they are thrilled and grateful....especially those with children.

Please email me with any questions:  FresnoRE@hotmail.com   I really look forward to hearing from you and spreading the Go Green and Get Clean word.

Susan Gates.............................   Oh to be a member and get the member price it is only $19.95  go through my site  www.shaklee.net/susangates

Susan,  Thanks. I also received information from Russell Johnson. His website is www.GreenClosingGift.com

Hi Gary..

So, have you sent any of the great GREEN and non-toxic Shakee products to your clients? 

 I am glad to see that more and more people are participating in the GREEN movement.

If you are considering ordering (or becoming a distributor) please visit my sites  

www.shaklee.net/susangates

or

www.greenrealtorgifts.com

I promise you will be thrilled with what you receive...or your money back!!!!

I will check back often to see what other ideas people have...and may include those links in my GREEN REALTOR GIFTS website.

Thanks,

Susan Gates, CRS  Realtor

Fresno, CA   559 360-9400

Instead of having to purchase multiple green cleaners for every application, you can give Enviro-One Green Cleaner for everything. It can be used for General House Cleaning, Industrial/Janitorial cleaning, and personal care all from one solutions. Get this, it is so safe it is recommended as a vegetable wash and brushing you teeth. Enviro-One Green Cleaner is 100% non-toxic, biodegradable, and uses only natural plant derived ingredients. Gift certificates are available online. http://www.enviro-one.com