Gift from agent for buyers- What would you want?

16 years ago

I always get my buyers a housewarming gift when they close, usually a basket with some easy-to-eat-while-unpacking food and a sampling of items and coupons from the local stores, farms or businesses. (My sellers have all been getting sent out for a massage after they close, 'cause lately they've needed it!)

I have some young first-time buyers that I've been working with for a really long time now who are getting married and closing on their first house in a few weeks. I want to get them something especially nice/useful, so I'm canvassing all of you in a similar mindset for new ideas- What would make you really happy to receive upon closing on a new house (that an agent could give you)? Something else to add to a basket? Something besides a basket? What have you gotten in the past that you could really use, and what is maybe not so great to get?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Jane

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Comments (30)

triciae
16 years ago
Jane, when we purchased our first home our Realtor gave us a big bundle, all tied up with a huge bow. In the bundle, was the results of a shopping expedition he must have done on a Saturday morning at Sears. There was a Craftsmen rake, shovel, hoe, long-handled pruners, & tied into the bow were two pairs of work-gloves & hand-pruners.

As new home buyers & only 21 years old, we had zero yard maintenance equipment. Heck, we didn't even have a proper chest of drawers for our bedroom yet.

I am still using those tools from 1971 & have never forgotten the Realtors' name because of the thoughtful gift. It may not have been the most glamorous but it sure was the most useful housewarming present we received.

Tricia
cordovamom
16 years ago
Actually the gifts that I appreciated the most as both a seller and a buyer were gifts that were picked out personally with my tastes and needs in mind. The generic goodie basket just never seemed special. One agent we bought and sold with picked out a beautiful piece of art for us when we bought through her and then again when we sold through her. I still have them up in my home and that was back in the early 90's. Another purchased a beautiful vase, filled with flowers, but the vase was so striking that I continue to use it to this day. Another actually sent us prints of the President's birth homes, I have them framed and mounted in my guest room, although I'm sure they weren't expensive, they still are interesting for guests to see. Another agent that knew my love for photography and displaying my photography gave us some beautiful frames. As long as you know the tastes of the young couple, young people are always in need of things to fill their walls, look for a piece of art etc. that would be my suggestion.
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theroselvr
16 years ago
triciae, what an awesome gift!

To add to that, maybe some house tools, Sears has a great small pliers set that is great for not only the man but the lady as well. I can't count the number of times I've used the 3.

A gift card to Home Depot, Lowes or even Walmart would be nice. I'm sure there will be the day when one needs a few necessities but is low on cash. Walmart is great for that.
Linda
16 years ago
Jane, for first time homebuyers I usually buy a gift card to one of the Home stores (Home Depot, Lowes, etc). They are usually short on money after a closing and there are things they want to do, paint, curtains, decorate. Also, just to add something more personal with the gift card, I include a door knocker engraved with their last name.
theroselvr
16 years ago
I include a door knocker engraved with their last name

We were given one by my Ex MIL as a house warming gift. My Ex didn't want to advertise our name on the house so he never hung it.
Adella Bedella
16 years ago
I like the idea of a few tools like hammers, screwdrivers, etc., for the house or some gardening tools. Another good, but not fancy option would be cleaning supplies.
blue_velvet_elvis
16 years ago
We got a blanket with our last name embroidered on it. Not our taste in blankets (country blue) but we keep it because it's special to us anyway.
kathyg_in_mi
16 years ago
DD and DDIL bought their house in the winter. The realtor got them a gift card to a restuarant and a snow shovel!
I like the HD and Lowe's gift card ideas. Great idea for newlyweds.
Kathy G in MI
minet
16 years ago
We've received gift cards to nice restaurants and also ... nothing. I hadn't thought about this, but on our recent purchase we didn't receive a gift from our agent. But that doesn't bother me, really. I hadn't even thought about it until now.

As a buyer, I'd most like to receive something I can use, such as a gift card to Home Depot or Lowes (make sure there's one close to the new address), or a restaurant, or something similar.

Tastes in art and decorating run the gamut so I wouldn't send something that might end up being one of those things that is put into a closet and eventually gets sent to the thrift shop. Most people have enough clutter already.
theroselvr
16 years ago
Had a few minutes to find the set I was talking about. I have the 3 piece, while hubby has the 5 piece.

I've used it to trim my birds beak, trim a small plant, work on computers, my daughter has the small cutter to cut Qtips if she only uses one side. Very handy set to have, so many uses.
graywings123
16 years ago
Gift card.
saphire
16 years ago
I would not get art unless it is something they have admired. I really hate when people that are not family members get me things that I feel obligated to hang on the walls. This happened when I had the Twins. Someone got me Two wall hangings that while cute are not my taste. On the other hand SIL made a cross stich with their names on it. However that is SIL. The only exception is someone used our announcements and made a collage with it. I love that but it is personal. It is also someone who was very talented

Unless you are extremely talented or family, I would stick with Home Depot. Either the tool set or a gift card. Our broker got us a small (cheap) vase from Tiffany, it was one of the really small ones and was less than 30 12 years ago. It is nice but useless
jane_d
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. I don't like useless gifts either, so I appreciate the feedback!
jperiod
16 years ago
Ditto on the yard tools or home store GC! My Dad got us a lawn mower and weedwacker! Much needed since the sellers moved out of state right after our signed offer!
johnmari
16 years ago
I'd be darn grateful for a GC from a home improvement/hardware store - maybe a card to the regular (Ace, True Value, etc.) hardware store that is closest to their home, the one they'll be making all those emergency trips to when they don't need to go all the way to Home Depot/Lowes? A gift certificate for a house-cleaner would be a fantastic present too, as many houses require a good scrubbing before you can settle in, and after the move who has the energy?

My no-nos - No wines/spirits (we have an alcohol-free household, and many people do nowadays) and nothing that decorates my house unless you know me VERY well (I'm picky about what gets displayed, and rarely am I given a gift that works well with what I own already). When we bought this house our realtor gave us a BIG, country-style salt-glazed pottery plate that had been painted at a local shop with a sort of iffy likeness of our house and our names and the date of purchase around the rim. It goes with absolutely NOTHING that we own, can't give it away or donate it. We're going to be schlepping that around for a long time. *sigh* It was thoughtful of her to give a gift, yes, but something a little more useful than another tchotchke would have been nice.

Our mortgage broker gave us a box of candy from the verrrrrrrry good confectioner right near her office, Byrne & Carlson. Just to die for chocolate and non-chocolate candies. I can usually take or leave chocolate and so I stole all the marzipan, the candied fruit (made in-house), crystallized nuts.... mmmMMMMmmm. But a supermarket box of chocolates would be tacky.
kec01
16 years ago
I wouldn't give a gift card to a specific store/location. If going that route, I'd get an American Express or Visa gift card - one that isn't store specific. Near us, the Home Depot is awful while Lowe's is great. And we usually end up at the local hardware store anyway because it's closest to home.

We once received a magazine subscription to the magazine for the area the house was in - that was a great gift as the area was new to us and the magazine helped us learn our way around.

The only "gift basket" type gift I'd go for is one that is loaded with painting supplies. Who moves into a new house and doesn't end up painting something?!?!? Roller handles, an assortment of roller covers, brushes, drop cloths etc could be quite appreciated. Just an idea!

Janed, it's great that you are thinking about this and trying to avoid something frivolous/useless.
yiannab
16 years ago
Depending on your budget, how about a GC from your local Home Stager/redesigner that offers "move in services".

After the couple moves in (or right before), the Stager would come in and either help them arrange furniture, pick colors etc. Just something different:)
turnage (8a TX)
16 years ago
How about a nice wall clock - Seiko makes them in all price ranges and styles.
reno_fan
16 years ago
I too dislike "generic" gifts. My gifts to buyers are always based upon their circumstances.

One couple bought a new construction house where garage door openers were not a standard. I bought them a garage door opener.

One lady bought a house where she'd asked for the very cute shower curtain to remain. The sellers wanted to keep it, and my buyer was really sad because it matched everything else in this bathroom. I tracked down the manufacturer and bought her another one.

One couple had been married for years, so they had all the "stuff", so I just bought them a gift card to Lowes.
jgirl_2007
16 years ago
Jane,
I think the best gift we got was from our current agent last year. She gave us a HD gift card. I think one can always use that.
The worst (from another agent) was a little Lenox figurine. WHY? Not my style. I've since just given it away.
I think the massages are a great idea. Next thought would be a gift card to a nice restaurant.
dgo1223
16 years ago
If I were on the receiving end, I wouldn't mind something along these lines:

http://www.homegardenandpatio.com/curb/address.htm

http://www.addressnumbers.com/Arch_Address_Plaques_s/26.htm
triciae
16 years ago
Oh, I think a basket full of painting supplies is a great idea!

Tricia
jy_md
16 years ago
We got toys for the kids and a Home Portfolio - a notebook that organizes all the house/home information - warranties, receipts, decorating ideas, closing papers, floor plan, etc. It is a great way to organize all the information that tends (for me) to scatter all over the place - you know, like the phone number of a recommended painter or the people who maintain the furnace.

In our old subdivision, the home owners association usually welcomes new residents (renters as well as owners) with information about the neighborhood and county and a gift certificate from with Lowes or Home Depot.
trying2buy
16 years ago
Large (elegant) chip and dip platter and bowl that matched the colors in our new kitchen. Very pretty and we used it immediately. A friend of mine received a picture painted by a local artist of the house they purchased - (not sure what this cost) but what an outstanding gift!
huggle002
16 years ago
The agent that we used to both sell our home and buy the new one gave us the home warranty....
~Dawn
piper1014
16 years ago
Our agent wanted to give us a birdbath, so she bought us a gift certificate to a local cement/yard art place. It turned out that I didn't like the birdbaths they had, so we used the certificate to buy 2 large cement urns for flowers. They're something we actually got to pick out according to our taste, and something we'll keep on and on -- and remember her too!
quirkyquercus
16 years ago
It's the thought that counts, a gift basket is a nice idea.
easternmoon
16 years ago
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christopherh
16 years ago
I am a crafter. I do craft shows for a living and I make house numbers. I have a number of realtor associates that know when I'm gonna be at shows in their state and they come with at least 4 or 5 different orders.
Everybody needs a readable house number so the pizza guy can find them.
lkplatow
16 years ago
On the engraved house number thing...our locksmith friend told us that engraving makes the brass tarnish faster by interruping the seal formed by the laquer. So if it's a shiny brass one and you want to keep it that way, don't engrave it.

Our first realtor bought us a gift certificate to a restaurant we'd never been to for a gift. We took about a year to use it, and when we went, we were way underdressed - he should have warned us about how formal the place was. Yummy dinner, though.

The second realtor (for our current house) gives all of his clients a gift of a BBQ housewarming party at their house. I mean, he lets you pick a date and then he brings the hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad etc. to your house and grills for you all afternoon. Now that's THOUGHTFUL! And we loved it, since we both got to mingle with our guests and give tours of the house instead of slaving over the food all day. Course I guess if you've got a lot of clients, that could quickly eat up your available Saturdays, LOL!

Gift from agent for buyers- What would you want?

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Gift from agent for buyers- What would you want?

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