We use the Ribbon Gift Album program.

Visit http://www.giftandincentinve.net to see items.

You chose the price of the gift album and your client chooses a gift from the album you choose. Prices range from $25 to $500.

Your client gets something they want and they will think of you everytime they use it.

We are an affiliate.

Sorry I misspelled the link:

www.giftandincentive.net

HI MICHAEL,

I LOVED SOME OF YOUR IDEAS. MY SLOGAN IS SIT BACK AND RELAX, LET ME DO THE WORK FOR YOU. AT CLOSING I CONTINUE THAT THOUGHT BY GIVING MY CLIENTS A ROOMBA ROBOTIC VACUME. EVERYONE SEEMS TO LOVE IT. THEY RUN AROUND 300 DOLLARS AND THEY THINK ABOUT ME EVERYTIME THEY TURN IT ON.

KIM MEECE

CORNERSTONE PROPERTIES

AND INVESTMENTS INC.

FORT MYERS , FLORIDA

Vacuum is a good idea.  I like it.  I usually use a combination of gifts, I buy a visa cash card that they can use anywhere (usually $50 dollars ... it is branded with my website address on it), and also provide a tool kit (around $30) that has my compliment of label on it, which I try to make sure I hand to the female and proclaim that it is her's for the house not his for the garage, and then also a yard plant like azalea or rhody or bag of bulbs.

For new ideas look no further than your own home... give the same type of gifts that you have received from your attorney, accountant, doctor, mechanic, yardman, hair dresser, etc.

Tim and Susan, I love your comment.

Thanks Howard.

I don't want to come across as a snit and if it works for you, Kim, then I say 'Bravo!'  However, if my doctor sent me a $300 vacuum as a gift I would think "If he can afford to send these gifts to his patients then he's charging WAY too much for his services."

If we really want to be viewed by the public as the professionals that WE ARE, then we should conduct business in a professional manner. (Heck, I don't even give $300 gifts to my immediate family members on Christmas. LOL)

LMAO @ Tim!!

Mike,

Brass or bronze plaques with the new address or name of the family for the front of the house.

I agree with Tim & Susan, I don't give gifts. I give postcards at closing with a picture of their new home so they can mail to their friends. I want people to remember me for my service and not for a gift.

George

We give a door knocker (usally).  A really nice door knocker from Restoration Hardware.  It comes gift wrapped from them and looks great for about $50.  It reminds the client each time they walk into their homes that we helped them to get it.  

We give presents to our home buyers as a house warming.  Not so much to home sellers, unless they are also purchasing a home from us.

Shelly

We are limited to $25 so sometimes it is just a gift certificate to the grocery store. I think maybe a tank of gas would be great if we could keep it under $25, good luck with that.

I don't always give gifts depends on the people. Some I expect one for all I had to put up with.

Great post Michael! Well, I haven't done this myself, another agent in my office did this for a young, growing family, and I thought it was pretty creative. The family had a 3 year old and were pregnant with twins at the close of escrow. The agent gave them a really nice (expensive) swingset and had it installed for them also. About 6 months later, the woman called the agent and thanked her for it again and explained that whenever they had  friends over for a BBQ and the friends asked where they got it, they were proud to say that their thoughtful Realtor got it for their family! The kids absolutely loved it, and every time the adults saw it, they thought of her. They will no doubt have that thing for years to come. Like Pete and Theresa said, try to give something that isn't going to be used and forgotten about in 6 months.

>> Heather

This may be the single greatest comment I've ever seen on a blog, anywhere, in my life:

For new ideas look no further than your own home... give the same type of gifts that you have received from your attorney, accountant, doctor, mechanic, yardman, hair dresser, etc.

-- Tim Fennell