Did you give a gift to your real estate agent when buying a house

[chri'stina 190]

I don't know what the etiquette is for giving your real estate agent something at closing...whether some people just give a thank you card or a gift, etc. I really like our agent, I had already known her but didn't know it at first. Her daughter was in the preschool I worked in last year and we had seen eachother every day. Then she was referred to me by my parents, and after talking on the phone with her a few times I figured out who she was. Anyway, she has been great and really sweet.

So what do we give/not give her? What's appropriate?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I didn't give him squat.

He gets a healthy commission, that oughta be enough.

[chri'stina 190]

Yeah...if we give something it's going to be very inexpensive. But she was awesome...not the typical agent. Very personal and always was available even at the drop of a hat (even though she only does it part time).

Edited March 21, 2006 by stina&suj

[m_and_m20 0]

Hmmm....i think a thank you card would be appropriate, and maybe a gift certificate to a nice restaurant somewhere......

I agree with agent smith though......she's already making a boatload off of you!

[raymaga 25]

I personally never give the real estate agent anything. They get their commission (which is WAY more than they deserve)!!!!!!!

It used to be quite common for the agent to give the buyer a gift, but that seems to have gone by the wayside.

Keep in mind that they are just doing their job. Most people don't get gifts after doing what they are getting paid for, right?

I think a thank-you card would be sufficient.

Edited March 21, 2006 by raymaga

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Yeah...if we give something it's going to be very inexpensive. But she was awesome...not the typical agent. Very personal and always was available even at the drop of a hat (even though she only does it part time).

Yeah our agent was great too. I plan to call him when I'm ready to sell. I don't like the idea of giving out a gift... the commission and future business is reward enough. JMHO.

[chri'stina 190]

Good points.

My parents just bought a house through her last summer, but because they were referred to her by a friend of ours who knows her well...she gave them back all the commission she would have made except $500, because of who they knew. That was really awesome of her to do. She only made $500 off of them. They ended up giving her back though a little more as a thank you.

I'll give her a card and maybe a cute mug with coffee or something.

[anya-D 8]

Yeah...if we give something it's going to be very inexpensive. But she was awesome...not the typical agent. Very personal and always was available even at the drop of a hat (even though she only does it part time).

Yeah our agent was great too. I plan to call him when I'm ready to sell. I don't like the idea of giving out a gift... the commission and future business is reward enough. JMHO.

the referal is the great gift u could give to the real estate agent... i have to say though that the they didnt get the full commission from the sale price.. depends on how much they have to split with other agent(and his firm) and their firm... and they dont sell house every month (depends) i'm studying real estate right now and dang!! it's hard

[Jasman0717 9]

The agent made 3% on the transaction, I think that was a pretty good 'gift'!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The agent made 3% on the transaction, I think that was a pretty good 'gift'!

Exactly!

[anya-D 8]

The agent made 3% on the transaction, I think that was a pretty good 'gift'!

not always though - the split to other agent normally is 50/50 you are right but dont forget the agent have to split again to their firm which can be 50/50 too.. and because most of them is self employed so they dont get any other pay from their firm so their part of the commission is what they should get from working for the client... for me a "gift' is something like a 'bonus' which is not included in the salary.

Edited March 21, 2006 by anya-D

[bettenan 1]

I don't know what the etiquette is for giving your real estate agent something at closing...whether some people just give a thank you card or a gift, etc. I really like our agent, I had already known her but didn't know it at first. Her daughter was in the preschool I worked in last year and we had seen eachother every day. Then she was referred to me by my parents, and after talking on the phone with her a few times I figured out who she was. Anyway, she has been great and really sweet.

So what do we give/not give her? What's appropriate?

I had an awsome agent. As far as giving a gift.....I didn't (again the commission was healthy) but I sent an email telling them (husband/wife team), what a great job they did yada yada yada and then shortly after referred my girlfriend and she used them to buy her house. BTW They gave us a present

[m_and_m20 0]

Where's our resident real estate agent, lisaD?! She would probably give some good ideas from an agents point of view!

[cmartyn 0]

Yes, it is 50/50/50 with no bennies.. so At a 500K transaction and full 6% comis, the agent would see 7500 bones. Not too bad but you got to sell a couple of houses a month to do well. We got a gift from our agent. It was a artsy vase thing. From Pier 1 imports. Value was about 20 bucks.. lol.

[chri'stina 190]

Thanks for all the input!

Well even though she's making a commission I still like to personalize things. Especially since I had already known her for awhile and she was always nice to me when I worked at the school her daughter goes to. So as I said, probably will think of a small cute gift to give along with the thank you card--nothing extravagant. It's easier thinking of a small gift for a woman than for a man...most men don't care about a cute coffee mug,etc.

Edited March 21, 2006 by stina&suj