Updated Nov. 18, 2024
So you’ve done it: your client successfully bought or sold a house. Congratulations to you, and an even bigger congratulations to them! Experienced realtors know that this moment is only the beginning of your relationship with your client. If you’re looking to celebrate with your client, you might be thinking about getting them a nice gift to help them move or just an appreciation gift in honor of the journey you shared.
Well, gift-giving in these situations can definitely be a bit of a head-scratcher. Although you’ve probably toured many homes together, you might not know your client on a super personal level. You don’t want to give them a generic gift certificate to a restaurant they don’t love or a tacky gift that will immediately christen the junk drawer in their new home.
Well, that’s where Goody comes in. This is the complete guide to giving a gift to your buyers and sellers once you help them close. By the end, you’ll have the perfect gift idea in mind — or you’ll at least get the ideas flowing.
Why Give a Closing Gift Anyway?
Before we get started, it’s definitely worth asking: Why should you, as a realtor, give a gift to your client? After all, you’ve already sealed the deal. Why continue to invest in the relationship?
The truth is that, even though we think of home buying as a “once in a lifetime” type of purchase, nothing could be further from the truth. Homeowners scale up and down their housing as their needs and families change. The client whose home you sold yesterday could be knocking on your door to buy a home in a year.
That’s why giving a gift is a high-return way to nurture relationships and show your client that you really appreciate them. Real estate lead generation is time-consuming, and that’s not even considering the expense associated with printing dozens of flyers or sponsoring a local Little League team.
Gift-giving is about building relationships and making a lasting impression that will keep you top-of-mind for your clients. And if you build those relationships, they’re more likely to come back to you in the future and even recommend other people to come to you. Real estate referrals are all about word of mouth.
How Much Should I Spend Per Closing Gift?
Client gifting is more than a thoughtful gesture—it’s a powerful way to solidify relationships and leave a lasting impression. Celebrating milestones with a meaningful gift demonstrates your appreciation and underscores the connection you’ve built with your clients.
Closing gifts are often where agents make the biggest investment, using them to showcase their gratitude and the trust they’ve built. To choose the perfect gift, start by asking yourself a few key questions:
How big was the transaction? The value of the gift should align with the size of the deal. Here’s a helpful guide:
- Under $100k: $150 or less
- $100k–$500k: Around $250
- $500k–$900k: $500 or more
- $1M+: $500+
If you want to get more specific, the general industry standard suggests roughly between 1% and 5% of the agent’s gross commission.
What are your clients’ interests? Consider what’s unique to them. Are they foodies? Fitness enthusiasts? A growing family? A gift tailored to their passions adds a personal touch that amplifies its value.
Unsure what to get? Opt for something universal like premium food, alcohol, or a versatile home item. Using a platform like Goody allows your clients to swap their gift for something they’ll love, giving you peace of mind.
What About Gifts for Referrals?
Closing gifts aren't the only gifts that experienced Realtors should consider leveraging.
A thoughtful "thank you" gift for real estate referrals can go a long way in showing appreciation and encouraging future referrals. To make a lasting impression, consider personalized gifts that reflect the taste and preferences of the referrer, such as a high-quality wine set, luxury home goods, or a gift card to a favorite restaurant. Another idea is a gift experience, like a wine tasting or spa day, which offers a memorable experience rather than a material item. Tailoring your thank-you gift to the individual and making it a pleasant surprise adds a personal touch that keeps you top of mind, making it more likely that they’ll refer you again in the future.
So What Should You Get Your Buyers and Sellers?
In general, it’s good to focus on two things: housewarming and celebration.
Here are some ideas to inspire your next gift, tailored to transaction sizes:
- Under $100k:
- Wine Decanter for dinner parties
- Ember Mug for the home office
- Compact Air Fryer for quick meals
- $100k–$500k:
- Digital Frame to showcase all the memories to be made
- Framed vinyl of their favorite artist to decorate the new space
- Electric Kettle, something stylish you actually want to keep on your countertops
- $500k–$900k:
- Cast iron cooking set for the chef
- Espresso Machine for the coffee lover
- Family Pickle Ball Set to get everyone involved
- Pac-Man home arcade game to build out the game room
- $1M+:
- Ooni Pizza Oven for family pizza nights
- Personalized luggage for new adventures
- Caviar Set and champagne to celebrate
7 Gift Ideas That Will Make Someone's (Closing) Day:
Ring Doorbell
If your client is moving into a new home, especially if they’re first-time buyers, they might need to invest in some security equipment to keep their new place safe. And a Ring doorbell is a great way to do just that.
It’s a doorbell that starts recording any time it senses movement, and it sends the footage directly to their phone via live stream. This can help keep your client’s front door safe and let them know when packages have arrived. Come Halloween, it can also alert the new homeowners to incoming trick-or-treaters.
Not for nothing, security systems increase a home’s value too.
Rooted Baby Furry Friends Box + Planter Set
What better way to warm up a new home than with some beautiful, bright green houseplants? The Baby Furry Friends Box + Planter Set from Rooted is a fantastic way to bring life and a positive mood into a new home right from the start.
It comes with three easy-to-maintain plants and three terra cotta pots, and 1% of the sale goes to a charity of your recipient’s choice. If they’re a charitable person who loves to make an impact, this is a superb housewarming gift.
The Duo Olive Oil Set by Brightland
If you know that your client is a big home cook, help them bring their new five-star kitchen to the next level with the Duo set from Brightland. This set of California-sourced olive oils is next-level delicious.
Not only are these extra virgin olive oils of the highest quality, but these bottles are absolutely gorgeous! If those counters look a bit bare during the move-in, these beautiful bottles will liven the cooking space right up.
Drinkware and flatware by Year & Day
Your clients just bought or sold their house. Let’s be honest: they’re probably going to be drinking to celebrate.
Year & Day makes stylish, sophisticated drinkware and flatware that will be a hit in any kitchen.
Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut Champagne
Bring on the bubbly: It isn’t a celebration without Champagne, and this Champagne is one of the best out there. It’s strong yet silky. Each glass has a beautiful aroma that awakens the senses before every sip.
A bottle of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut Champagne is an effortlessly classy way to spoil your clients and make sure they have a little extra fun as they celebrate closing. (Just maybe include a warning about popping the cork next to the Swarovski chandelier.)
What’s unique about giving Champagne via Goody is that your recipient can swap your bottle for an alternative option if they prefer. So if your client prefers tequila — or is one of the 30% of people who don’t drink — they can swap this bottle for dozens of equal or lower-priced gifts, including non-alcoholic options.
Craighill Wilson Brass Keyring
If you’re looking for a more affordable option, an attractive keyring is a great way to go. This brass keyring has a stylish yet highly functional design, and, after all, your client just got some new keys that need a home!
Tasty Ribbon Italian Essentials Box
For the client that knows that shared meals are what makes a home, this Italian Essentials box is the ultimate thoughtful gift. It comes with high-quality pastas, tomato sauce, basil pesto, sweet and savory cookies, and an assortment of chocolate treats.
There’s something special about a beautiful pasta dinner in a new home. This gift gives them all the ingredients they need to have just that — no need to do a last-minute grocery run in a new neighborhood.
How Is Gifting Different on Goody?
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- Nadia Nejaime, Esq., Vice President, Compass
If you’re a realtor, you know how rewarding it feels to help someone find or sell their home. Well, with Goody, you can channel that energy into a beautiful, meaningful gift to give to your client to help them celebrate one of the biggest moments in their lives.
Goody makes gift-giving easy with only a few clicks. All you need is their cell phone number or email. No address is required (even though we know you have that). Simply pick their gift, and it gets sent to them digitally, along with a beautiful card of your choice.
Your recipient then chooses the color, variety, or style of the gift, puts in their address, and it gets sent right to them. Gift-giving has never been easier.
The best part about gifting with Goody is that recipients can swap gifts if they prefer. When they accept your gift, they’ll have the option to choose from a selection of equal or lower-priced gifts. And guess what? 50% of the time, recipients do swap gifts. It’s a great feeling to know that the gift you chose is one that your recipient really wants.
Plus, you can search for brands by values, allowing you to buy from companies that you or your clients care about. Filter for “BIPOC founded,” “female-founded,” “sustainable,” or whatever you or your recipient is passionate about.
To get started, simply sign up for Goody. It’s free to create an account, and you can start gifting right away.
Sources:
The Benefits of Plants on Wellness | Chapman University
Giving Gifts that Build Relationships | Healthy Relationships Initiative
How Much Do Home Alarm Systems Affect Resale? | Realty Times
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