Thursday, 21 April 2011

I Wish I Was Special So Very Special

Homeowners: did you tip your Realtor? Or buy him or her a small gift to show your appreciation for a job well done? I need help deciding if this is creepy or not.
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13 comments:

  1. Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks21 April 2011 at 11:46

    Personally, I've never even considered buying a Realtor a thank you gift. Mostly because, as you suggest, they make a hefty commission off selling our place.

    That said, if you feel yours went above and beyond the call of duty. And you want to give a gift. I see no reason why you shouldn't. It's a nice gesture.

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  2. Tia21 April 2011 at 11:55

    As I said on the other blog, I wouldn't do it. She's making thousands off of you. Referrals and repeat business are a very nice thank you gift. In fact, in my case, every time I've been the buyer the realtor has given ME the gift (Home Depot gift card, champagne, new ladder, etc).

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  3. Amy21 April 2011 at 11:56

    We didn't either. I don't think it's creepy to do so though. I guess it felt like spending eight consecutive weekends carting our asses around the suburbs while we complained about house after house was gift enough.

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  4. Lemon Gloria21 April 2011 at 11:58

    We liked our realtor and he's an old friend of Nick's but it never occurred to us to give him a gift. In fact, I've liked all the realtors we've dealt with and never tipped. It sounds very nice of you, though.

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  5. Unknown21 April 2011 at 12:00

    My boyfriend and I just referred her to people and she will be selling our home when we decide to move.

    But yeah, she's making commission off you. Maybe just a card saying thanks?

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  6. troubledcaregiver21 April 2011 at 12:25

    Our realtor worked with us for months looking at more than 500 houses. Literally! I sent her a flower arrangement after our closing, just because I really appreciated all the hard work she did for us. It was our first home purchase, and we don't expect to look again for at least 10 years.

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  7. Non Sequitur Chica21 April 2011 at 13:06

    I have never given a realtor a tip or a gift- in fact both of my realtors have given me a gift. They earn a large commission after the sale of a place and I do a lot of legwork researching places on the internet anyway. I just try to refer them as much as possible- that earns them more money than a gift card, flowers, etc.

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  8. Mermanda21 April 2011 at 13:08

    I'm voting no too. Commission is plenty. More than enough, even.

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  9. Anonymous21 April 2011 at 14:37

    Well, I've been in the "business" of real estate, and a gift is never expected but it's always always nice. It means that your client appreciated you and it makes everything worthwhile. At the same time, do NOT give a gift just because you feel you should! If you feel that you're realtor deserves a $25 starbucks card, or a body shop gift card , or a restaurant gift card(things I've received as a realtor), go for it. No need to be fake though. Don't do it unless you feel you want to.

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  10. Swistle21 April 2011 at 14:53

    I used to be a receptionist in a real estate office. The chunk of money a real estate agent gets upon closing is such that THEY are celebrating YOUR contribution to THEIR lives. Meanwhile you are now up to your eyebrows in debt and stress. The agents at my office had a little tradition of buying the buyers a bottle of extremely expensive liquor (like, $100 liquor) and giving it to them to christen the new house. That's definitely the direction the gratitude was expected to flow---I mean, calculate the HOURLY RATE the agent made for working with you.

    HOWEVER. I am never ever opposed to people expressing gratitude for a job well done. I'm sure she'd love a card with a heartfelt note written in it. And a gift card for Starbucks or something sounds really nice, too, though I'd go for the $25 range Margarita suggests, rather than the $50-100 range of furniture/stationery gift certificates. Not that the higher range OR the furniture/stationery would be WRONG, at ALL.

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  11. Swistle21 April 2011 at 14:55

    (Also, my "hourly rate" thing was a flippant/exaggerated visual aide--of course real estate agents spend many more hours working on selling houses than they spend working with the actual buyers. But still. It's a good visual.)

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  12. Anonymous25 April 2011 at 08:15

    Hm, this is an interesting one! I might give them something small if I really liked them and felt like I had a personal connection- but their commission isn't small. I wouldn't feel obligated at all- but I'd consider it as a nicety.

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  13. k25 April 2011 at 11:06

    My realtor came to my housewarming. I really ended up liking him, as he helped me for over a year and a half. In the end, he got me a great gift and amazing card and I would absolutely refer him! He made $$ off me, so I think that's fair.

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