I struggle with closing gifts. And therefore, unfortunately, I usually have not given a closing gift to my buyers.
Partially, it is due to not wanting to unload an
unwanted tschotske on them that will clutter their move or their lives. Sometimes that is how I feel when given an article that I would not purchase for
myself.
But that mindset is "all about me,"
and is something I have determined to focus on, to consider it sincerely from my clients' perspectives.
It seems closing gifts may be either memorabilia or practical items, and I am more practical in nature.
So, I have a list of possible items that may delight my clients, depending on their personalities, and needs they may have as homeowners.
For a recent closing, I will definitely be
providing pizza for the family. That choice may seem banal, but for the back back story. The Buyer was worried whether the appraiser
would see the value in the property that we did. And I said, "Mr. Buyer, if that home does not appraise for $8,000 over the contract price, I will buy you
all pizza." And we laughed.
And the appraisal came back $18,000 over contract price. I'm off the hook, which is probably the very best time to
buy a gift, when there is no expectation or commitment.
Pizza it will be. For a bonus, we are going to lay a new plastic ground vapor barrier in the crawlspace.
Practical. My kind of gift.
My wife and I are real fans of the North Carolina Zoological Park,
a gorgeous facility 80 miles west of Cary. We get out once or twice a year. The Zoo is very popular with kids, and features some magnificent habitat
areas.
Another great closing gift would be a Zoo Membership for a young family. Or an old family. I would be delighted to
receive a membership to the zoo.
A couple of years ago, I told my wife I should
build blue bird houses for closing gifts, particularly for buyers who end up in rural areas. That project remains on the proverbial "back burner."
Never happened. I might have to fix that. It is a simple structure and we have a couple at home that need to be replaced.
Particularly after seeing Pamela St. Peter's blog that mentioned blue bird houses. It reminded me. And with the survival struggle our
beautiful Eastern Blue Bird population endures, seeking safe nesting places,
it is a gift that will appeal to folks who have a little space, a love of nature, and some "green" orientation.
And for folks just moving to town?
I'm thinking there is no better catalyst to relocatees getting out and about than a coupon book for local dining, entertainment, shopping, and
recreation.
The Entertainment Book and CitiPass Book come to mind.
Learn about Cary offerings at a discount!
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