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Kodak/ActiveRain Challenge: The Closing Gift

By
Real Estate Technology with ActiveRain

We can all remember the favorite gift we've ever been given.

Many times, the price tag on a gift has little to do with how well it is received. It's the thought that counts, or at least that's what they tell us. If you've ever been on the receiving end of a really thoughful gift however, you know this cliche to be absolute fact.

With each closing you have in the real estate business, you have a great opportunity to cement the relationship you've established with your client with the ever important closing gift. It's that custom welcome mat, inviting them into their new home, or the Kodak picture frame, preloaded with pictures from the closing that remind your client, "I'm going to treat the next person you refer to me just as good as I've treated you".

The closing gift is an opportunity to thank your client for choosing to do business with you. You do make sure to put special thought into the closing gift, right? Choosen correctly, the closing gift can continue to market to your clients friends and family long after the celebration of their new home fades.

For the March Kodak/ActiveRain Challenge, we'd like you to consider the importance of a great closing gift. Do you have a tried and true closing gift that keeps your clients talking about you long after closing? Are you searching for a great closing gift and considering a new idea for your next closing? We'd like you to write about ideas for closing gifts.

Mark, at Kodak, has written a few posts in the last few months with some great ideas for closing gifts. Of course Kodak provides solutions to help market your real estate business, we've been showcasing many of those products on the site over the last few months. However, they also have products that work well as a closing gift, especially if you put a little bit of extra thought into them.

Here is a great example showcasing the Kodak PULSE Digital Frame, and here is a great example showcasing the Kodak Zi8 Digital Video Camera. The key is, it's not just about the gift, it's about the thought that goes into the gift and how that gift can help you market to your clients long after the closing. If you haven't seen these posts, be sure to read them because they show how putting a little extra thought into a closing gift can transform it from simply a gift, to a gift that acts as a marketing vehicle long after the sale is concluded.

So the challenge is for you to share with us your favorite idea for a closing gift. Think about your closing gift in terms of how effective it is for generating future referrals from your client. Does your closing gift have the potential to be talked about in the clients home, or showcased in some way for their friends and family to see and comment on upon visiting?

The regulations:

  • 200-500 words
  • Post must be submitted by March 25th, 2011 at Midnight Eastern Time
  • In order to receive points and be eligible for prizes a link to the post MUST be placed in the comment section of this post by the deadline above
  • Share a link to your post on the ActiveRain Facebook page and via Twitter (optional).

The Prizes:

  • 1000 ActiveRain points for all submissions
  • 9 posts will be selected for inclusion in a special ActiveRain Daily Drop. Those posts will receive an additional 1500 points.
  • One post will be drawn at random to receive a KODAK PLAYTOUCH Digital Video Camera and a KODAK PULSE Digital Frame
  • One post will be selected based on the best idea and will win a KODAK PLAYTOUCH Digital Video Camera and a KODAK PULSE Digital Frame
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Comments(236)

Barb Van Stensel
Chicago, IL
Kathy Schowe
California Lifestyle Realty - La Quinta, CA
La Quinta, California 760-333-8886

My New Favorite Closing Gift--One of a Kind! 

I just discovered this challenge today-- just in time!  Thanks,  Kathy

Mar 25, 2011 01:56 PM
Andi Levine
Laffey Fine Homes, June Shapiro Division - Great Neck, NY

Click here to see my entry for the Best Closing Gift for the Kodak/Active Rain Challenge.

Mar 25, 2011 02:03 PM
Michelle Gibson
Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. - Wellington, FL
REALTOR
Dagny Eason
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
Fairfield County CT, CDPE Homes For Sale and Condo
Lindsay Pendleton
Relocating To Baton Rouge & Surrounding Areas - Baton Rouge, LA
Marketing Agent - Property Management in Baton Rou

Thanks for another great contest! Yippy!

Here's my "Closing Gift" challenge entry

Mar 25, 2011 02:44 PM
Steve Scheer
Realty Oasis - Metro Brokers - Highlands Ranch, CO
Highlands Ranch Real Estate - Denver Real Estate

Here's my entry - The Closing Gift: Personalized and Local

I've enjoyed reading some of the others, some very creative folks out there.

Mar 25, 2011 02:54 PM
Arleen Montford
KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY GULF COAST - Pace, FL
Selling NW Florida Homes in Pace/Milton/Pensacola FL
Mar 25, 2011 03:48 PM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Lots of great ideas here. It's sharing that counts and 

Here is my Closing Gift post at http://activerain.com/blogsview/2208784/closing-gifts-that-opens-the-door-

Mar 25, 2011 04:31 PM
DeeDee Riley
Lyon Real Estate - El Dorado Hills CA - El Dorado Hills, CA
Realtor - El Dorado Hills & the Surrounding Areas

It's hard to beat some of these great ideas but here is what I do for my closing gift.  Appreciation is important to any and every relationship!

 

Mar 25, 2011 04:33 PM
Sharon Alters
Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL
Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

Since I am always on a quest for a better closing gift, this may be my all time favorite contest! Here's my entry :)

Sharon

What's Your Best Closing Gift?

 

Mar 25, 2011 04:37 PM
Tyra General
240.706.7653 - Fort Washington, MD
DC Metro Short Sale & Luxury Specialist
Mar 25, 2011 04:57 PM
Mike Jaquish
Realty Arts - Cary, NC
919-880-2769 Cary, NC, Real Estate
CA COASTAL ESTATES Lauren Selinsky Perez CRS
California Coastal Estates - Aliso Viejo, CA
"Your Real Estate Broker" #oclauren

Have we got a winner yet?

Mar 28, 2011 09:23 PM
Steve Hall
RE/MAX United - San Marcos, CA
Make the Call to Hankins and Hall
Apr 01, 2011 06:55 AM
Elizabeth Byrne
Keller Williams Realty - Arlington, VA
Arlington Virginia Real Estate

Have we had the winner list published yet?

Apr 04, 2011 06:57 AM
Ray Wright
Keller Williams Realty - Riverside, CA
SoCal Realtor - A.L.C. - Company Trainer & Coach

Just curious!  Has anyone received their 1,000 points that was promised for the post?  I haven't!

Apr 07, 2011 05:32 PM
Stacey Smith
Keller Williams Realty - Aliso Viejo, CA
Your Orange County Beach Cities Realtor

I haven't... They haven't made an announcement of the winners yet.. Just be paitient.. They have a lot of entries that they are going through.

Apr 07, 2011 07:06 PM
Kelly Anderson
ActiveRain - Bellevue, WA

Sorry for the delay!  With all the excitement of RainCamp, we got a little behind on awarding points.  But, as of today, all entries posted in the comments have been awarded points and the entries are now in the judges hands to pick their favorite.  We'll be announcing our winners soon.  Thanks everyone for the extra bit of patience!

Apr 08, 2011 11:33 AM