Gift for Real Estate Agent ? (movers, mortgage, broker)

[isoinfo]

Hi Everyone:

I am expecting to close on a house soon and wondering if there is some 'etiquette' or other people's experience on giving your real estate agent a thank you gift. I am the buyer and this real estate agent has been heaven sent. She's gone above and beyond anything I had ever expected and no matter how tough things got at times, she always was positive, always had a smile. On occasions, when I had personal things going on, she'd even check in and see how things were going. She's probably the most ethical person I think I've met since my house hunt started.

I am wanting to give her a thank you gift at closing and not sure if that's a typical thing to do. Also any suggestions (other than referrals, of course) on gift ideas would be great.

Thanks very much.
Kay

[SweepTheLeg]

I think a thank you card to her and her broker (maybe a bottle of wine) is good enough. You're already giving her thousands of dollars.

Also, maybe saying what the agent's name is here might be good as well. She was referrals, especially in this market.

[seven of nine]

Originally Posted by isoinfo

Hi Everyone:

I am expecting to close on a house soon and wondering if there is some 'etiquette' or other people's experience on giving your real estate agent a thank you gift. I am the buyer and this real estate agent has been heaven sent. She's gone above and beyond anything I had ever expected and no matter how tough things got at times, she always was positive, always had a smile. On occasions, when I had personal things going on, she'd even check in and see how things were going. She's probably the most ethical person I think I've met since my house hunt started.

I am wanting to give her a thank you gift at closing and not sure if that's a typical thing to do. Also any suggestions (other than referrals, of course) on gift ideas would be great.

Thanks very much.
Kay

Why not dinner at your favorite place? Any working parent especially would enjoy that. I think we underestimate the amount of massaging the agents have to do especially now to get the deal done, your one classy client.

[paddy205]

A note to her boss or the company owner is a nice thought too.

[isoinfo]

Originally Posted by SweepTheLeg

I think a thank you card to her and her broker (maybe a bottle of wine) is good enough. You're already giving her thousands of dollars.

Also, maybe saying what the agent's name is here might be good as well. She was referrals, especially in this market.

Thanks for the suggestion.
I am not paying her anything as this is a place that she is splitting the commission with the listed agent and the seller is paying the commission, not me. Therefore, she is only getting 2% of the total transaction whereas the listing agent will get much more.

[SweepTheLeg]

Originally Posted by seven of nine

Why not dinner at your favorite place? Any working parent especially would enjoy that. I think we underestimate the amount of massaging the agents have to do especially now to get the deal done, your one classy client.

But... that's what they are paid to do.

Dinner for 2 is at least 50 bucks... I think it's a little overkill.

[SweepTheLeg]

Originally Posted by isoinfo

Thanks for the suggestion.
I am not paying her anything as this is a place that she is splitting the commission with the listed agent and the seller is paying the commission, not me. Therefore, she is only getting 2% of the total transaction whereas the listing agent will get much more.

So then... what work did she actually do?

How long was she working for you?

Did you see a lot of houses?

Let's say your house was 300000.

She gets 6000.

Let's say she dedicates 80 man-hours to your transaction..

That's 75/hour.

[isoinfo]

Originally Posted by SweepTheLeg

So then... what work did she actually do?

How long was she working for you?

Did you see a lot of houses?

Let's say your house was 300000.

She gets 6000.

Let's say she dedicates 80 man-hours to your transaction..

That's 75/hour.

We started the process in Feb this year. We must have looked at 50-60 homes before we eventually found a decent one in June . However, there were many many issues with the seller and the seller's attorney along with the listed real estate agent especially in regards to the contract and she was key in getting some really hot issues cooled off. In addition, she basically did Mortgage Training 101 with me (I'm a 1st time buyer), taught me all the key things to look for, attended the inspection, went over page by page of the inspection report and explained everything. Any time there was a document that my attorney couldnt answer right away because the attorney was traveling or in court or who knows what, this agent was there. She worked very well my attorney too, offered many suggestions when things were haywire. She even suggested calling and helping me find movers if I wanted but I didnt take her up on that since I had already done my homework. In addition, she still calls often and emails often to check in, make sure everything is ok as we wait for the closing date. I know that if I have any question at all, even on weekends and late nights that I can pick up the phone and her friendliness transpires over the phone. My boyfriend and I got so lucky finding someone to work with like this.

[SweepTheLeg]

If you're a first time homebuyer, you have enough expenses coming out of pocket. Bottle of wine, thank you note to her broker and the agent herself, and putting her name "out there" on this forum. Referrals will mean a lot more to this agent than a dinner.

[SweepTheLeg]

And yes, I'm bitter. I'm not having a good experience.