Holiday Gift Ideas for Your Real Estate Clients

Ho! Ho! Ho! What is the Realtor® Santa Claus bringing this year?

Some agents like to gift their clients with tokens of their appreciation for business around the holidays. A few of the local association presidents gave insight to their annual traditions.

“Every year, I try to do something a little different,” said Montgomery County Association of Realtors® President Kathy McGuriman, noting that she has offered baked goods and candy in the past. “This year, given the 2020 woes, I am making limoncello, kahlua and Baileys Irish Cream. Of course, I have clients that don’t drink, so I am putting coffee, tea and hot cocoa baskets together. I give to my clients who have completed a transaction, are close to closing or are in my sphere of influence. I write handwritten happy holidays cards to everyone else.”

Another idea is to keep it local.

“I have given tickets for local amusement resort, Knoebels, which both adults and children enjoy. I have also implemented small business gift cards, and give a variety of smaller amounts for various businesses to one client to spread the word of those businesses. Another idea is a canvas print of the buyer on closing day in front of the house,” said Aimee Buehner, president of the Central Susquehanna Valley Board of Realtors®.

Tony Molnar-Strejcek, president of the Realtors® Association Westmoreland, Indiana and Mon Valley agreed on keeping your gift local, especially this year.

“We have been using virtual gift certificates and sending gift baskets purchased from local businesses,” he said. “Door Dash and GrubHub are excellent examples of ways to funnel money back into the local economy for clients that are following the stay-at-home advisory or working from home. This supports local jobs through delivery services, tips and purchases at local restaurants and retail establishments. It is more important than ever to support local businesses during the pandemic. It’s also a reminder that we, as Realtors®, should always give back to our communities through volunteerism or purchases. Most of my agents are no longer attending closings or seeing their clients in person during the closing period. Our clients appreciate the extra efforts to keep them safe and the convenience of contactless delivery of food and other items when they may not be able to visit the local businesses in person.”

Rhonnda Bentz, president of the Lebanon County Association of Realtors®, pointed out the expense of giving holiday gifts to clients, and instead does pop-by gifts throughout the year.

Will Clauss, president of the Pike-Wayne Association of Realtors®, agreed with the pop-by gifts throughout the year, instead of one holiday gift. “In the winter, I drop off an extra shovel and container of ice melt at their door. If they’re not home, I leave a quick handwritten note wishing them happy holidays. Since most of my buyers are second homeowners, I remind them that everyone could use an extra shovel in the Pocono winter.” Clauss also suggested pet-friendly ice melt if clients have a pup.

President of the Bucks County Association of Realtors® Scott Geller said he used to give custom ceramic mail holders, a unique gift idea. “This year, I have given some clients champagne or top shelf tequila, and a few home warranties,” he said.

Stephanie Johnston, president of the Bradford-Sullivan Association of Realtors® said she gives latitude and longitude signs to buyers that have purchased their new home this year.

Jim Cramer, president of the Pen-Mar Regional Association of Realtors®, goes with a classic, a tin of cookies from the Swiss Colony.

The pandemic did impact Lancaster County Association of Realtors® President Ferne Silberman’s usual holiday plans, a big holiday breakfast the first weekend in December. However, she said she was able to safely hold a breakfast by strictly abiding by COVID-19 restrictions and having smaller affairs. Silberman said she typically bakes between 24 to 30 types of cookies for the breakfast, gives families a poinsettia and a personalized Christmas ornament for new clients. She said she invites new buyers and sellers, clients who have given referrals and elderly clients.

“Most of these folks are in retirement homes and I know we will not be getting repeat business, but this is my way of providing happiness to these folks. It isn’t always about the business,” added Silberman.