Do Buyers Agents Send Out "Thank You's"?

[momrek06]

Needless to say, I think it's extremely unprofessional. And, I let pretty much everyone I know hear the story. Dumbest move that agent ever made, IMO.

Can you explain what the dumbest move was the agent ever made?

 

[Becky2005]

Can you explain what the dumbest move was the agent ever made?

I would like to know too, just because of no present?

I guess I'm on the short end of the stick because I don't get gifts from my dentist, doctor, insurance agent, etc...

Of course, the flip side to this I guess is though do people get their Real Estate agents gifts for Christmas and things like they do other service people? I think the Realtors get the short end of the stick -- let's see, they have to pay out of pocket gifts for their clients for doing thier jobs yet people like my dad have their clients giving them gifts for doing thier job (he was a barber). No wonder I never know what the world is proper.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

I sold my home and boughtmy new home from the same agent. It has been a year and a half and I get mailings every month from her with area resources and coupons. She hand delivers treats on holidays and special occassions. She brought my girls pumpkins and a carving kit for Halloween. She brings a plant for Easter, she brought us a flu kit with antibacterial soaps, tissues, etc. She also had sent me a $100 gift certificate to target when we closed on this house. I told her that she didnt have to keep bringing me things, but she just does anyway.

 

[C.Ann]

My parents got a lovely wreath for their front door; I received a nice food basket; and my DD and her DH received a gift certificate to a very well known steak house..

 

[kaytieeldr]

Well, I guess I will be "forgetting" our selling agents name. She could have at least send a card, as you said, to be professional.

Even though she matched you up with the right house the very first day you started looking?

 

[kaytieeldr]

I don't send my employer a thank you every other week when I get my paycheck either.

I like that one! I'm going to start sending my boss a thank you e-mail every time I get my check!

 

[Becky2005]

I told her that she didnt have to keep bringing me things, but she just does anyway.

Now this brings up an interesting point. I know the idea is so that you will use her the next time you sell your house but what if you didn't LIKE your agent & here she is still bringing you all these little things several years later. That would irritate me.

I get recipe cards in the mail occassionally from the realtor we bought the house & of course, the standard generic type of holiday card that all businesses send to people but I highly doubt we will use him if we sell the house. Those cards don't bother me, a one time gift OK but beyond that would be going overboard as far as I was concerned.

We know other realtors we would like to deal with more.

 

[kaytieeldr]

it is pretty normal here for them to give a little gift....but just understand that unless she was also the listing agent she split that $2000 with the listing agent, then she split the $1000 with her broker and then paid taxes on her $500.....

To the OP-the SELLER of the house is who "paid" your agent, as the poster above described, YOU paid her nothing.

It would have been nice for her to send you something, but nowadays house selling is WAY. WAY down and frankly SHE simply might need ALL of that $$ for herself.

All excellent points, ladies!

 

[Magic Mom]

Well, I guess I will be "forgetting" our selling agents name. She could have at least send a card, as you said, to be professional.

Are you sure you want to dump your agent over a note card? She found you the perfect house on the first try. She must have been efficient with the paperwork or you would have surely told us all about it. It seem foolish to get rid of someone that provided you with good quality service over a thank you card. Does the lack of a thank you gift negate the fact that she did a good job for you?
Not all real estate agents are wonderful, if I found a good agent that I knew I could trust, I wouldn't worry about a thank you gift.

 

[allison443]

Are you sure you want to dump your agent over a note card? She found you the perfect house on the first try. She must have been efficient with the paperwork or you would have surely told us all about it. It seem foolish to get rid of someone that provided you with good quality service over a thank you card. Does the lack of a thank you gift negate the fact that she did a good job for you?
Not all real estate agents are wonderful, if I found a good agent that I knew I could trust, I wouldn't worry about a thank you gift.

I agree...

and to address another point brought up, when I receive holiday cards from local businesses, I usually throw them in the trash with other junk mail and marketing mail. I guess some people display them on the mantel along with the cards from friends and family.

 

[allison443]

Needless to say, I think it's extremely unprofessional. And, I let pretty much everyone I know hear the story. Dumbest move that agent ever made, IMO.

What "story" do you tell people? The agent did her job but didn't send us a gift, so don't use her? I'd rather have an agent that did a good job, and buy myself my own plant or bottle of wine or whatever. If someone told me I shouldn't use an agent only because they did not send a gift, I would wonder about that person's judgment/priorities.

 

[malibuconlee]

I think it depends on the agent...

That being said we have bought 3 houses. Two in the last 4 months of the year and the current one in April. The two from the last part of the year I got a gift at Christmastime. The one from this year we got a local Entertainment Book (that she buys as fundraisers from her sons school) and a doorknocker that funny enough we can't use on our current door.

Maybe since it's so late in the year your agent will do as ours did and give you something closer to the holidays. If not, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[chicagoshannon]

When I bought my townhouse I received a gift from my agent. When I sold it and used the same agent I didn't get anything. I think its much more common to recieve something from the buyer agent then the seller. The buyer agent doesn't have to do much, but the seller's agent has a lot to do.

 

[PaulaSue]

Got nothing from our agent.

He sold 2 of our homes and helped us buy (putting it nicely I picked all the houses out to see and he just showed up) our new home. Very disappointed with him for other things especailly with all the $ he made off my family.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Our agent gave us a lovely note and several magazine subscriptions with our new address.

She also gave small gifts while our home was on the market (a potted pointsetta, mums, a fresh bread basket, etc)

 

[Tink415]

We've bought twice, sold once. Received a decorative dish from our (buyer's) agent for the 2nd house and a small calendar each Christmas. I really like the little calendar and keep it on my desk

The community bank where we got our 1st mortgage from 15 years ago, the lender gave us a beautiful card and bottle of wine as a house warming gift. Guess it was in appreciation of all the interest we were going to be paying I thought it was a nice gesture.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We've bought 3 times:

1st time - We bought a 1-bedroom condo and the agent gave us a serving tray with our name engraved on it.

2nd time - We bought a 3-bedroom townhouse (using the same agent above) and he gave us a washer and dryer!

3rd time - We bought a 5-bedroom house (using a new agent since the old one retired). She gave us a check for $500 toward repairs and upgrades for the new house.

I'd say we made out big-time with our agents. We never expected to get anything from them. They offered it to us.