What are good gifts for a real estate agent who is going above and beyond for you, the buyer?

Honestly, your business. They will usually gift something to you for using them if they get a sale. They also hope you will recommend them to others in your position so of they are going above and beyond, spread the word. Using a buyers agent is a smart thing to do because it’s not usually costing the buyer anything.

I’ve always received gifts from my real estate agents. My last one went above and beyond so I sent her clients. Six of my co-workers and friends bought houses from her. She sent me a gift card for sending her clients.

When my parents bought their house, their agent gave them a nice clock.

I think she is getting a nice gift from you by the commission from the sale. That and any references you can give from telling your friends and family how good she is will be the best gift she could get.

The best “gift” is referring more customers to the agent.

Refer clients. Given how much a good agent makes, you’ve already paid them a lot by using them. They really don’t need anything you could buy them.

It’s traditional to get gifts from your agent. My parents were still getting gifts from their agent 25 years after they bought their house.

We’re the buyers… does she get commission? I thought maybe only the seller’s agent gets commission.

We don’t really know anyone else in the area to recommend to her. :-/

Referrals aside a nice bottle of wine. a food basket, maybe dinner tickets for her and a partner/friend, or any number of thoughtful gifts is a nice gesture of appreciation and not out of line in the least.

@hearkat

A buyer’s agent gets a commission, you should have signed a contract for the service; as the link says the buyer’s agent gets paid by the seller’s listing agent.

I have never heard of that practice.

The two times I have done it in Tennessee the title company cut the checks to both buyer’s and seller’s agent at closing. Everything dealing with money went through them. I signed a contract with my realtor when selling but did not have to when buying.

@hearkat , the buyer’s agent will indeed get a commission. The agent I used (as a buyer) 20 years ago made enough on 2 sales a month that she only worked 3 or 4 months a year. 1 or 2 referrals per client was more than enough to keep her going for years. She didn’t even bother advertising.

It can be a very good business once it’s rolling.

A friend of mine maintained her license for years after she stopped being an active agent. She would handle home purchases for her children. Her gift to them was the buying agent’s commission. It was often enough to furnish their new homes. The $500 a year she spent to maintain her license was more than made up by the 5 – 10 k gift she could give her children.

^^^ @Dutchess_III
Yes, we have use buyer’s agents for our last two houses.
We have had a buyer’s agent looking for vacation property.

Seriously, it boils down to, if you want to give a gift, give a damn gift, there is no rigid protocol when it comes to gift giving IMO. Everyone likes to receive a gift regardless. Referrals and commissions have nothing to do with giving a personal gift to show appreciation and as a ‘Thank You” for the agents efforts.

More work. Also wine.

A buyer’s agent is a bit different that the real estate agent, @Tropical_Willie. I’ve never used a buyer’s agent, just the Realtor him or herself.

Around here, usually the buyer and the seller have realtor representatives unless it is an exclusive listing and they will split the commission.

Write and sign a glowing recommendation letter. Include your written approval for the letter to be reproduced on the agent’s website, in packets of marketing materials, etc.

Yes, I’ve done this; yes, it was very much appreciated.

They’re getting a commission; is that not good enough??

My last realtor sold my house and also helped me buy a new one.

I gave mine a bottle of wine. I was given a case of Fat Bastard Pinot Noir as a moving away joke-gift by my former next door neighbor, so I stuck a bow on the neck of one bottle and handed it to my real estated lady after closing. Not many people had heard of the label at that point and she laughed her ass off when she read it. I hadn’t tasted the wine yet and didn’t have great expectations with a label like that. I just figured it was a cheep wine with a great label that would look nice on the rack with the other, more serious reds.

Turned out to be a really nice burgundy. I got a call from her later when she tasted it.

For about 12 bucks, I put a smile on her face, or actually my neighbor did. That’s priceless, I think.

@Dutchess_III – both the buyer’s agent and the seller’s agent are realtors.

If both the buyer and seller agree to use the same agent/realtor, the buyer and seller have to sign additional legal documentation, basically confirming they are aware of the (possible) conflict of interest. Having the same buying/selling agent is not permitted in all jurisdictions.

@hearkat: When I bought my first house, my realtor was my friend’s dad. He went above and beyond for me, and I very much appreciated the extra effort. I didn’t know him that well, but I knew that he and his wife were Mariners fans so I got them game tickets. Of course, those were the days (mid 80s) when such things were affordable (the Mariners were…well, the Mariners).
Anyway, maybe a gift card to a restaurant or something.
I am in my third house, the realtor always gets me a present, but when there’s a personal connection, I see nothing wrong with a token of appreciation. Buying your first house can be daunting, the extra personal attention helps make it more joyful.
Enjoy it!

One client of mine gave me a Tiffany key ring. I guess key rings aren’t very useful anymore though.

Check the line item.. You just bought them a new sauna.

My sister bought a new house for around 400K and the closing cost was about 18K… The realtors got paid. That was for about a month of work. And that was just a few hours a weeks. They have multiple clients.

@hearkat: You say ”We really don’t know anyone else in the area we can recommend to her.”

You will get to know people in the coming months and years. You’ll be in the coffee shops, the home improvement stores, supermarkets, you’ll be taking walks in the neighborhood, hiring landscapers to plow your driveway, chatting with neighbors who welcome you to the neighborhood, all kinds of things. Then when and if those people ask “who was your real estate agent” because they’re looking to sell or their sister is looking to move to the area or whatever, you can give a glowing review.

@jca- In theory, yes. But we’re not in a neighborhood and we’re introverts; so while we are friendly and personable with those we encounter during our day, we don’t find socializing very easy.

We’ve lived at our current address for over 6 years – in a townhouse / condo complex – we walk around the neighborhood occasionally. We don’t know anyone other than the neighbors with whom we share a walkway. We wave to others but don’t know their first names. So that helps illustrate the reality of our quiet, reserved existences.

We will definitely give her a letter and positive online reviews.

@Hearkat. There is certainly no harm in giving a good bottle of wine or gift certificate for a restaurant as well is you want to. It certainly will be appreciated.

@BellaB all buyer’s agents are Realtors, but not all Realtor’s are “buyers agents.” A buyer’s “agent” has only the buyer’s wants to consider, and the “buyer’s agent” has to work under a strict set of rules.
A Realtor has other things to consider. I’m touching base with one of the girls I went to Realtor training with, because I can’t tell you exactly what the differences are.

^^You can be licensed by the state and not be a realtor. Most people who actively perform as real estate salespeople are realtors, but not necessarily.

I’ll check on that too. I don’t think that’s the case.

Clearly it is jurisdictional. Here you have to be licensed as a realtor to buy or sell for anyone else. The training / licensing allows you to do both and most realtors function in both roles about equally.

A real estate agent, even licensed, is at a severe disadvantage if they don’t take the steps, and keep up with the training to maintain Realtor status.

Homing pigeons

The realtor designation is not a license, it means you pay dues to the realtor association and agree to follow their code of conduct. That also usually comes along with belonging to an MLS in your area.

Being licensed is from the state. I’m licensed by the state of Florida to sell real estate, but I let my realtor status lapse when I moved to Tennessee, because I wasn’t going to be selling real estate in Florida anymore. I chose to stay licensed (every two years I take a relicensing class and pay the state). If you look me up I’m a licensed real estate sales person in the state of Florida inactive and I am not a realtor.

You do have to be licensed to join the realtor association.

A “Realtor” is “a person who works in the real-estate business and is a member of the National Association of Real Estate Boards, or one of its constituent boards, and abides by its Code of Ethics” It is a proper noun, and therefore capitalized.

You know, like you’re supposed to capitalize “God”. ~

^^LOL. Thank you.

God!