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| A Monthly Publication of the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS® |
May 2008 Issue
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| About
Us May Dates to Remember
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Thank you gifts Perhaps Shakespeare summarized gratefulness best when he said: “I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks.” If Shakespeare found it difficult to express thankfulness, is it any wonder the rest of us find it challenging?
A spirit of gratitude is essential in real estate because we rely so heavily on referrals and word-of-mouth to remain productive. After all of the showings, meetings and negotiations are done and the last paper signed, many REALTORS® believe that sending a thank you gift helps show their appreciation for the client. Of course, a gift alone is inadequate. We should demonstrate gratefulness on a daily basis by letting our clients know through words and actions that we exist as REALTORS® because of them; we are here to serve. OK, maybe that’s on our best day. Maybe more frequently we show or at least think frustration: “You’re asking for what as a concession!?” Or impatience: “You want to see how many more houses!?” But when all is said and done, we want our clients to feel appreciated for the business they have given us and more practically, to remember us when real estate services are needed again. So how are some Raleigh-area REALTORS® doing this? The answers are as varied as we are. What to send to whom Mandy Becker, a REALTOR® and owner of Swagger Gifts in Cary promotes functional items as the most likely to be appreciated. Many of the gifts her company supplies are taken to closing and hand-delivered. A personalized cutting board, set of wine glasses or a Christmas ornament are all popular choices, as are monogrammed soaps, note cards, stamps or embossers. “The key with items like this is to provide something unique and useful,” Becker says. “The most successful gift of this type will be something the recipient uses again and again and hopefully, thinks of us when they do.” Becker adds she knows a gift has made a positive impact when the recipient actually calls her to say how lovely it was and this has happened on more than one occasion. One year, a REALTOR® client of hers gave Christmas ornaments personalized with the address of their new home to all of her clients. One of these clients called Swagger just to say how much she enjoyed the ornament. Many agents select a particular gift to be sent to all of their clients, Becker says, but what can make each one unique is personalization or engraving. Others feel that a decadent gift for the sweet-tooth carries the most clout. Phyllis Brookshire of Allen Tate Co. Inc. sometimes uses Whimsical Cookies in Cary to handle her gifts. “Whimsical cookies have become my trademark and who doesn’t love a delicious homemade cookie?” Brookshire asks. Traci Glass, owner of Whimsical Cookies, can pair an agent up with a signature treat that can be sent for all of his or her significant events. “I order everything online with Traci,” Brookshire says. “For birthdays, I send her the list at the beginning of the year. For appreciation gifts, I email her whenever I need to send a gift.” Yet another option is to give a client an “experience,” such as gift certificates for a spa, pedicure or restaurant, or tickets to a show or sporting event. “I like to do this for special occasions when I can,” Brookshire says. “I think it reminds them that I care about the relationship and that I like to have fun.” The amount spent on thank you gifts varies as well. The most common estimate is between $25-50 per gift, but there are options both below and well-above this figure. REALTORS® say the dollar value is less significant than the thought involved and appropriateness is everything. Some gift recipients may be uncomfortable with a gift they feel is too expensive or elaborate, and they may question our motives or even worse, our commission rates. Mollie Owen of Hodge and Kittrell Inc. Realtor likes to give truly personal gifts. “Most of my clients are either friends or referrals from friends. I shop for each gift individually and make it special.” She recalls selling a home to a couple who were about to have a baby. One parent was a Carolina fan, the other pulled for State. Owen bought two baby outfits, one from each school, to give as closing gifts and the couple adored them. When to send a gift Grayson Hodge and others at RE/MAX Preferred Associates take a slightly different approach to thank you gift giving. They all make a charitable donation in honor of a client at closing. “Every agent contributes to the Children's Miracle Network on every closed transaction,” Hodge says. “The gifts are in honor of our clients and range from $5-35 per closing. They go to Duke Children's Hospital in our area.” Yes, gift-giving can become a job in itself. With our busy personal and professional lives, it’s sometimes difficult to set aside time for things like gift-giving. So, some REALTORS® choose to use an assistant to help manage, select, purchase, wrap and deliver their gifts. This assistant can be someone you hire on your own or possibly an employee of the gift company you chose. Many gift vendors will organize your recipient list and calendar for you and delivery your gifts in a timely manner. You’re probably not going to believe this, but my doorbell just rang and it was the package delivery woman. I signed for a small box and opened – to my delight – a beautifully packaged box of Jacques Torres chocolates sent by a client as a thank you gift. I must say that at this moment I feel truly valued. Excuse me while I indulge
in a moment of sugary bliss. |
