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Will Hamm, "Where There's a Will, There's a Way!" (Hamm Homes)

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Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Buyers:  Get the keys to their new home

Sellers: Get the satisfaction of their home SOLD

Sep 25, 2016 01:26 AM
Rainmaker
1,543,817
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Everyone gets something from me; but it all depends on:

  • sales price
  • how good a client they were/are
  • if I gave any rebates already (military,etc.)
  • clients likes, interests or needs

Wow as I read the answers I'm surprised but not judging, how many do not. I think a thank you gift is appropriate and its apparently one of the things that sets some agents apart.

Sep 25, 2016 02:01 AM
Ambassador
1,452,819
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

I stopped many many  years ago.  Back in the day I did the Jimmy Stewart (It's a wonderful life) wine, bread and salt basket.   Now I give them the opportunity to refer my services to friends and family.  Expert service is the best gift I can give.

Sep 25, 2016 02:20 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I don't do anything except a contribution to the Children's Miracle Network and a "welcome home" card.

Sep 25, 2016 02:41 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,301
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

No longer do them because it was so difficult deciding what to get each person. I have given tool kits in the past, also home improvement guide books.

Sep 25, 2016 01:18 AM
Ambassador
6,393,404
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I always enjoy Kenneth J. Jones, SRES, SFR, SCGREA thoughts on this.  Gratitude is great, but when these become a marketing obligation, it just makes agents look a little desperate to buy that next referral.

Better to buy it with good professional service.

Sep 25, 2016 08:27 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Pearls for the Soul book of over 800 positive & uplifting sayings. Both the gift giver and the receiver benefit with pleasant thoughts and feelings from a gift of this nature. Its personal yet professional too.  All this for $10.00?

                                                      

Sep 25, 2016 03:33 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

FOr the Seller; sell them a new home.  For the buyer; shiny keys

Sep 25, 2016 02:44 AM
Rainmaker
1,661,936
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

We stopped giving closing gifts several years ago.  

Sep 25, 2016 01:21 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

buyer gets the keys....seller gets the money.... my builders get nice gifts with every holiday....

Sep 25, 2016 04:31 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Will,

We started giving them and then stopped . If we were invited to an open house, we always brought a plant. or a bottle of wine.  A

Sep 25, 2016 01:47 AM
Rainer
56,684
LeAnn Sink - Realtor Knoxville, TN
United Real Estate Solutions - Knoxville, TN
#ThinkSink when you need an agent.

I have steered away from them unless it's a special closing to me, like 1st time home buyers or retiring couples or if I became attached to my clients. It's a case by case decision now.  I no longer have a "one size fits all" gift. 

Sep 25, 2016 01:43 AM
Rainmaker
1,771,867
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

Nothing Will, I think they should be giving us a gift.

Sep 25, 2016 12:45 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I do something special for buyers and sometimes take sellers to dinner. 

Sep 25, 2016 11:29 AM
Ambassador
2,684,109
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

     I take them for dinner at a posh restaurant a few days after closing.  If it's a couple, my wife joins us.

Sep 25, 2016 07:12 AM
Rainmaker
846,475
Marco Giancola
Beachfront Realty - Miami Beach, FL
Realtor (305)608-1922, Miami Beach Florida

Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor pretty much explained my deal.

Sep 25, 2016 06:45 AM
Rainmaker
911,338
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

Zilch

Sep 25, 2016 06:41 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I seldom do a closing gift unless some exceptional reason arises

Sep 25, 2016 04:14 AM
Rainmaker
292,685
Jack Lewitz
Exit Strategy Realty - Evanston, IL

I give change of address postcards for buyers with my company advertising can be used for both buyer and seller.

Sep 25, 2016 04:00 AM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

I think I answered this question at least twice in the last two weeks.

Sep 25, 2016 03:20 AM
Rainmaker
989,652
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

I do home made baskets for buyers and sellers it depends whether they are staying in the area or leaving and what their new living conditions will be

Sep 25, 2016 01:54 AM
Rainer
15,916
Nat Wallen
BellaRuby LLC - Charleston, SC
Founder of the BellaRuby Free Real Estate CRM

I created a software and named it after my two children called the BellaRuby Closing Gift. It is a portal to help them run and maintain their home and includes access to all of the parties and documents, an insurance vault, access to all my trusted vendors, and a series of reminders like changing their smoke alarms batteries every 6 months that runs on autopilot. In the beta phase right now... people seem to appreciate it so far, and it keeps me in their life without having to really do anything other than create the gift right before the closing. 

Feb 26, 2017 07:11 PM
Rainer
55,673
Joe D'Agostino
NMLS# 729950 - Manahawkin, NJ
Mortgage Officer 46 years!

My wife for her buyers and sellers has their house Professionally cleaned. I also noticed that many other agents give nothing. I have no idea if it's a good or bad idea, but I do know that my wife sells over 50 homes a year. She is currently closing on 52 and 53 this week.  Also being an Irish Lass, every St. Patrick's Day she goes door to door and hands out Irish Soda Bread. So she must be doing something right. Her clients love it! In marketing it is called "keeping your name on the your clients brain." Many buyers forget their agents name within 9 months,but will remember the company. It happens even faster in my business. 

Sep 28, 2016 12:04 AM
Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

depends on lots of factors.  It's not an automatic thing

Sep 26, 2016 02:06 PM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I don't typically give closing gifts to my sellers.  Buyers will get something for the new home.

Sep 26, 2016 03:21 AM
Rainmaker
2,362,948
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

cutco usually

Sep 25, 2016 11:57 PM
Rainmaker
5,216,398
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

I like the answer Kathleen Daniels gave. Think I will adopt it!

Sep 25, 2016 11:30 PM
Rainmaker
4,572,183
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

It depends on the client.  

Sep 25, 2016 11:07 PM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

I think it is a good idea to give a gift and also stay in contact after the sale.

Sep 25, 2016 10:42 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Kathleen Daniels nailed this one!

Sep 25, 2016 09:31 PM
Rainmaker
7,836,134
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

A smooth settlement is an excellent gift.

Sep 25, 2016 08:45 PM
Rainmaker
634,482
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

Occasionally I give gifts (something crafted here on Kauai), but more often my clients give me a gift.

Sep 25, 2016 06:22 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Will Hamm - the best gift I can give is a home warranty. For seller, the pencil drawing of their home and a Cd/digital photo frame with the pictures of their home.

Sep 25, 2016 04:06 PM
Rainmaker
2,224,473
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

I generally don't give closing gifts to the seller, but I the buyer. I like to give something with shelf life. Two recent buyers were given gift certificates to a local greenhouse, because they want to add some fruit trees to their yard.

Sep 25, 2016 10:43 AM
Rainmaker
5,005,642
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

How about sending something to the other agent if they did a great job? I've gotten baskets ot flowers from the Listing agent when I've represented a buyer..goes a long way in wanting to do business with them again!

Sep 25, 2016 09:53 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

I don't.  So far I've only received a thank you gift from my bodyshop.  When my dentist, lawyers, tax guy and auto mechanic does too, then I'll join in!

Sep 25, 2016 09:22 AM
Rainmaker
1,525,616
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

I sometimes give a gift basket with food for buyers or a gift card to a home improvement store.

Sep 25, 2016 09:02 AM
Rainmaker
1,617,916
Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

I am looking into gifts.

Sep 25, 2016 08:57 AM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

I'm usually on the receiving end of the gifts.  I have two important works of art from clients, one a buyer and one a seller.  They are both precious to me.

Sep 25, 2016 08:39 AM
Rainmaker
679,404
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Really depends on the client. But usually a buyer gets a Thank you card and a gift appropriate and the sellers are just so happy I got the house sold.

Sep 25, 2016 03:18 AM
Rainmaker
1,751,129
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Will, we handle it several ways. I try to pay attendion to buyers to see if something they want to do is something I can participate in after closing. I.e., are they putting in ceiling fans, new light fixtures, etc. In that case, I can send in one of my electricians to do it for them as a gift. If they are painting, I can give them a Lowes card. With my sellers, I tend to give them gift cards to dinner. The first year of a purchase or sale, I send the clients a gift basket at the holidays. 

Sep 25, 2016 02:48 AM