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Queen of Cheap: Client Gift that Saves Lives

By
Home Stager with Capital Style Home Staging

 

 PREAMBLE:   A client gift is a client gift; not necessary, but these days in Real Estate, somewhat expected.  When we closed on our last house ($715k) we received a musical refrigerator magnet and breakfast at a diner.  It was lovely.

But as much as those of us in the industry want to give gifts, how well do we really know our clients?  How can we gauge what they'd really love (that is reasonable to afford)? 

Lately, even with family and friends I've been providing gifts of service or gifts that are consumable.  I see the same great applicability in Real Estate, and here's my idea.

SO HERE'S THE BIG THING: 

For each client that purchases from you, donate $50 (or more....a percentage of the sale?) to their  local fire department.  In exchange, ask the chief to schedule a home visit to walk through with your new owners, discuss an escape plan, review the potential hazards of all homes, and the specific hazards of THIS, their new home.  

If there are children in the household, make sure they are part of the experience.  Go one step further with them to establish an off-site location to meet, should the worst occur.  Escape or rescue plans for pets can also be determined. 

Not many of us do this with our own families, even though we know we should.  Moreover, how amazing and awe-inspiring is it, to a child, to have the fire chief, in full garb, walk through your house with you?  Talking TO YOU!  Just the smell of their coat and equipment is impressive.  The experience is indelible, and could save their lives.

RESULT (THERE ARE NO MEDIUM THINGS AND NO SMALL THINGS IN THIS POST): 

A quick, no stress, easy gift for you to give.  It supports critical community services, means a great deal to the fine men and women who volunteer and risk their lives, and can save the homes and lives of your clients.  

Priceless.

 

Just my two cents, from the Queen of Cheap...

Queen of Cheap

 

Comments(26)

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Jaynee Acevedo
Capital Style Home Staging - Kensington, MD
Capital Style Home Staging

That's the idea, Mary.  That's why I'm QUEEN!  Glad you like the idea.  I think it is a gift of immeasurable value.

Thanks for stopping by, and Cheers! from DC...

     Jaynee

Oct 02, 2007 04:34 AM
Toronto's 2 Hounds Design: Decorating + Staging
2 Hounds Design + Home Staging - Toronto, ON

What great ideas! Fire escape plan, swimming lessons. Gets me thinking outside of the box. God! I get lost in the boxes all the time.

Hee hee, who wouldn't love a firefighter in smoky garb strolling through your house!

The house we live in right now is across from a fire station....

I think my first realization that I had a thing for firefighters was when I was alone in the elevator of my apartment building with 3 young very very good looking firefighters - LOVE THE SMELL! 

Thanks for the post...and the memories!

Dane

Oct 02, 2007 01:07 PM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services
Now this is a great idea!  I will have to try it out and see what type of reaction I get.  Our office is right next to the fire station --
Oct 02, 2007 04:22 PM
Jaynee Acevedo
Capital Style Home Staging - Kensington, MD
Capital Style Home Staging

Ms. Terry:  Hence my story about the magnet and breakfast.  That was the first Realtor gift we had received.

<scratches head>

Oct 02, 2007 11:20 PM
Jaynee Acevedo
Capital Style Home Staging - Kensington, MD
Capital Style Home Staging

Dane, you little whippersnapper! 

I actually conceived this idea when we had our hard-wired smoke alarm (new construction) go off in the middle of the night.  Two engines and four deliciously-smokey boys flew to our rescue.  The smell was AMAZING!  My children were rivetted!

 Thanks for stopping by....oh....and this is for you...and apparently Heather.

Oct 03, 2007 12:38 AM
Jaynee Acevedo
Capital Style Home Staging - Kensington, MD
Capital Style Home Staging

Joan:  Oh please do!  Just like any gift, you must pick what will work for the homeowner.  Can you imagine, however, how incredibly pleased some clients would be to have this gift?  You'd be their advocate for EVER.  What better way to show you really care about them?

Thanks for stopping by.  I can't wait for your results!

Cheers! from DC...

    Jaynee

Oct 03, 2007 12:40 AM
Jaynee Acevedo
Capital Style Home Staging - Kensington, MD
Capital Style Home Staging

Heather!  BABY!  PUT THE MATCHES DOWN!  Better; walk by the fire station and faint when you are overtaken by the smell of uniforms.  Much more effective, you have a virtual buffet of firefighters from which to choose, you get to be closer to them, and it saves gas.

Count on me to help you through the tough times. Wink, wink.

   Jaynee Jo Lu Bob

Oct 03, 2007 12:44 AM
Billnulls Blog Florida Realty Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
AHWD
what a wonderful idea!!! thanks
Oct 03, 2007 01:00 AM
Jaynee Acevedo
Capital Style Home Staging - Kensington, MD
Capital Style Home Staging

Bill/Barbara Jo:  If you try this, please let me know the reaction!

Cheers! from DC...

     Jaynee

Oct 03, 2007 01:43 AM
Lori Hakeem Oxley
Charles Rutenberg Realty, Inc. - Tampa, FL

Great idea!!  I love the thought of having the fire department coming over, especially with children.  What an impression that will make!  Thanks for sharing!

 

Oct 03, 2007 03:30 AM
Jaynee Acevedo
Capital Style Home Staging - Kensington, MD
Capital Style Home Staging

Thanks, Lori.  Glad you like the idea.  If you decide to give this gift to your clients, I'd love to hear back from you on the result.

Cheers! from DC...

     Jaynee

Oct 04, 2007 01:19 AM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)
Jaynee - I liked this idea a lot.  Very creative, and helpful, too!  I need to check with our local department and maybe we can do this with our older kids soon.  My wife is very safety-conscious, and we even looked into having a full sprinkler system installed in our home to prevent fires.  My father-in-law is a safety engineer, and he said that it basically eliminates the possibility of a fatality in a fire if you have one in your home.  Thanks for sharing this one!
Oct 04, 2007 03:24 AM
Jaynee Acevedo
Capital Style Home Staging - Kensington, MD
Capital Style Home Staging

Well, Jason, then it sounds like the perfect match (if you'll excuse the expression) for you and your family.  Don't forget about your clients, also.  How many families have you placed in new homes who would have loved and been comforted this?

Thanks for your comments....and keep on "daddy-in'", like you do!

Cheers! from DC...

     Jaynee

Oct 04, 2007 04:12 AM
Adam Waldman
Westcott Group Real Estate Company - Hauppauge, NY
Realtor - Long Island
JAYNEE:  Interesting idea.  Thanks for sharing this.  I'll look into it further.
Oct 04, 2007 04:26 AM
Tom Plant
WINEormous.com - Murrieta, CA
Jaynee - That's a fabulous idea. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I'll use this idea at my next closing.
Oct 05, 2007 07:37 AM
Jaynee Acevedo
Capital Style Home Staging - Kensington, MD
Capital Style Home Staging

Adam and Tom:  Please keep me posted on your success with this idea.  It clearly is not for everyone (and I'm just guessing, but I bet not all your clients receive gifts from you!!! LOL), but for that special and loving family.....priceless.

As my old friend Bill used to say (we each ran B&B's in Virginia in the 1980s):  All of my guests give me pleasure: some when they arrive; some when they leave.

Cheers! from DC...

     Jaynee

Oct 08, 2007 06:24 AM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

I love your B&B quote too, by the way.

Jaynee - you are not the queen of cheap , you are the genius of queens. 

Oct 08, 2007 06:56 AM
Jaynee Acevedo
Capital Style Home Staging - Kensington, MD
Capital Style Home Staging

Gorsch, Kathleen.....thanks!  You're makin' me blush!

Cheers! from DC...

    Jaynee

Oct 08, 2007 07:47 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Jaynee, I like to give them a carbon monoxide detector.  Then every 6 months or so, send batteries.

Beats a violin playing music refrigerator magnet.  Tho the breakfast was a nice touch. 

Oct 10, 2007 12:04 PM
Jaynee Acevedo
Capital Style Home Staging - Kensington, MD
Capital Style Home Staging

I love your idea, Patricia.  Along the same lines really.....like donating blood.  The gifts of life!  Good for YOU!

Thanks for sharing your ideas.   Cheers! from Kensington...

     Jaynee

Oct 11, 2007 02:26 AM