Nothing is more refreshing to your clients than getting a personalized gift of exceptional quality that welcomes them into their new homes. Read more for great ideas for closing gifts that will have your clients bragging about working with you to all their contacts.
One of the easiest ways to get new business is through referrals. Making an unforgettable impression with a personalized closing gift for your clients is one way to get repeat business and referrals. When you add a closing gift to your mortgage loan process workflow, you optimize your sales process and upgrade your customer service above other loan officers.
If you want to learn more about creating strategies for optimizing your sales process, get the Unfair Advantage™ over your competition.
Closing on a home is an exciting milestone for homebuyers. After weeks or months of paperwork, inspections, and financing, they finally get the keys to their new home.
As their loan officer, you’ve been an integral part of making their dreams of homeownership come true. A closing gift is a thoughtful way to celebrate this achievement with your clients and thank them for trusting you.
But with so many closing gift options out there, how do you choose something meaningful? This comprehensive guide will walk you through how to select the perfect closing gifts from loan officers.
Why Give Closing Gifts as a Loan Officer?
Giving closing gifts is a smart business move for several reasons:
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Shows Appreciation A gift expresses gratitude for your clients choosing you as their loan officer It’s a gesture of thanks for the opportunity to work with them,
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Creates Goodwill. Thoughtful gifts foster goodwill and positive sentiment with clients. This strengthens your professional relationship.
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Generates Referrals. Happy clients are more likely to recommend you to friends and family. Closing gifts help prompt referrals to grow your business.
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Boosts Reviews. Gifted clients are more inclined to leave online reviews. Good reviews build credibility and help attract new clients.
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Enhances Your Brand. Tasteful, branded closing gifts reinforce your professional image. This reminds clients of the quality service you provide.
Simply put, closing gifts are an invaluable investment for loan officers. They help form lasting connections with clients and grow your referral network.
When to Give Closing Gifts
Closing day is the perfect opportunity to present clients with a gift. Here are some common times during the home buying process that warrant a closing gift:
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At the Closing Table: This is the most popular time to give a gift. It creates a nice moment of celebration together as you finalize the purchase.
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When Delivering Closing Documents: If you personally deliver the closing paperwork, bring the gift along to present.
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At the Final Walkthrough: Gifting at the final property walkthrough lets you congratulate clients as they glimpse their new home.
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During Preclosing Meeting: Give the gift when you meet to verify details before closing. This builds excitement.
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After Closing is Final: Dropping off or mailing a gift after closing dates wraps up the experience positively.
Aim to give closing gifts at whichever milestone you interact with clients last.
Closing Gift Ideas for Loan Officers
Now let’s explore creative ideas for closing gifts your real estate clients will appreciate:
Housewarming Gift Basket
A themed gift basket works perfectly for housewarmings. Fill it with goodies the new homeowners can use to settle into their home:
- Cozy throw blanket
- Scented candle
- Picture frame
- Coffee table book
- Gourmet snacks
- Bottle of wine
- Hand towels
- Cookie mix
Tailor it based on your clients’ hobbies and interests for a personal touch.
Engraved Cutting Board
An engraved wood cutting board makes a lasting memento of this milestone. Customize it with:
- Their family name
- Closing date
- New address
- Sweet message like “We’re so excited for you!”
Choose a memorable quote or saying to etch onto it.
Tool Set
For first-time homeowners, a tool kit makes a practical housewarming gift. Fill it with essentials like:
- Hammer
- Tape measure
- Screwdrivers
- Pliers
- Paint roller
- Safety goggles
- Dust masks
- Work gloves
Include basic tools they’ll need for DIY projects and repairs around their new place.
Subscription Box
Give the gift that keeps on giving with a monthly subscription box. Tailor it to the clients’ interests with themes like:
- Coffee and tea
- Wine
- Grilling
- Baking
- Cocktail mixes
- Book club
- Gardening
- Crafting
Each delivery will remind them of your thoughtful closing gift.
Welcome Mat
Help homeowners decorate their new front porch with a custom doormat like:
- Personalized with their family name
- Funny saying like “Leave Your Shoes & Troubles at the Door”
- Sweet sentiment such as “Home is Where the Heart Is”
A quality coir or rubber doormat makes a daily household essential.
Luggage Tags
For globe-trotting homeowners, leather luggage tags engraved with:
- Their initials
- New address
- Phone number
Are a useful gift for all their upcoming travels.
Handyman Service
Offer new homeowners a helping hand with a gift card for handyman services to assist with move-in tasks and home projects. Services may include:
- Hanging photos, mirrors, curtains
- Patching holes, touch up painting
- Assembling furniture
- Installing tv mounts, shelves
Take care of the home maintenance headaches so they can focus on move-in fun!
Landscaping Service
New homeowners likely want to spruce up the yard and garden. Give them a landscaping service gift card to:
- Plant trees, flowers, shrubs
- Mulch pathways and beds
- Mow, edge, weed the lawn
- Prune bushes and trees
- Treat the yard for pests
A professionally cared for outdoor space makes a great housewarming gift.
Closing Gift Ideas to Avoid
On the flip side, some closing gift ideas are best avoided. Steer clear of:
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Cheesy trinkets – Stray from cliche real estate branded knickknacks. These come off as impersonal and lack meaning.
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Dated decor – Don’t give dated-looking home decor items they may not like. Stick to timeless classics.
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DIY projects – While well-intentioned, gifting a DIY piece you made yourself could seem amateur.
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Overly personal items – Gifts with photos of you or your family together may cross professional boundaries.
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Common consumables -average wine, candy or baked goods seem like an afterthought. Go for upscale options.
Keep it classic yet creative. Focus on gifts that make memorable keepsakes celebrating their new residence.
Closing Gift Ideas from Loan Officers by Budget
Your budget will factor into selecting the ideal closing gift. Here are great options at different price points:
Under $50
- Picture frame
- Scented candle
- Cozy socks
- Coffee table book
- Homemade bake mix
- Personalized ornament
- Ceramic mugs
$50 – $150
- Welcome doormat
- Gift basket
- Subscription box (3 months)
- Fancy throw blanket
- Gift card for handyman service
- Monogrammed luggage tags
- Gourmet snacks
Over $150
- Custom cutting board
- Luxury robe and slippers
- Landscaping service
- Quality tool set
- Case of wine
- Handwoven blanket
- Spa package
Scale your gift to your budget. Even small, inexpensive gifts given genuinely can delight clients.
How to Select Closing Gifts
Follow this criteria when evaluating potential closing gift ideas:
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Useful – Choose practical items they’ll get use from in their new home.
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Personalized – Add custom touches representing their family and home.
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Sentimental – Opt for gifts with emotional meaning to cherish.
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High-Quality – Pick well-made gifts that last beyond the moment.
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On-Brand – Select closing gifts complementing your professional image.
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Budget-Conscious – Keep costs reasonable so gifting remains profitable.
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Presentation – Pay attention to attractive, thoughtful presentation.
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Timeliness – Be sure gifts are ready in time for closing milestones.
Closing Gift Presentation Ideas
With the right presentation, you can elevate an ordinary gift into something extraordinary. Here are ways to present closing gifts with panache:
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Gift Basket – Artfully arrange items in a basket, box or tin adding filler and accents.
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Tissue Paper – Line boxes and bags with colored tissue paper for a pop of color when opened.
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Personalized Tag – Identify the gift as from you with a closing gift tag.
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Branded Stickers – Seal tissue paper or closures with your logo stickers.
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Ribbon – Tie boxes with satin ribbon in coordinated colors.
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Belly Band – Wrap a band printed with your logo around the gift.
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Thank You Card – Include a handwritten closing gift card expressing your gratitude.
With thoughtful packaging, you can turn any closing gift into a memorable branded touchpoint.
Should You Give Closing Gifts to Real Estate Agents Too?
How to choose the perfect closing gift
Gift shopping is not an intuitive process for all people, but the good news is that you can personalize your gift just by being considerate of your client’s circumstances. For example, your client will be so focused on the logistics of getting into their new home. They may be too busy for day-to-day functions. You can give a 30-day gift certificate to an online meal delivery service that can help them have prepared dinners delivered a few times a week.
It’s always good to get to know your clients while working with them by building rapport. After you’ve narrowed down your options with personalized details, you can think about other logistics.
Why are loan officers giving closing gifts?
Brand loyalty is created by developing a relationship. A personalized closing gift will show just how much you know your client. It also promotes a relationship versus a transactional experience.
When a client closes on a house, they immediately start thinking about all the things they must do. They are on a mission to move to the next step in the process. You do not want to be forgotten before the ink dries on the contract.
When you give a closing gift, you immediately get your client’s attention because you are showing your appreciation. Brand loyalty creates repeat business as well as new business opportunities through referrals.
MORTGAGE LOAN OFFICER TRAINING – Closing Gifts for Clients
FAQ
Can loan officers give gifts to clients?
What to gift your loan officer?
How do I thank a loan officer?
What are the benefits of closing gifts?
What should a real estate agent give a closing gift?
For example, maybe they always show up to open houses with a hot tea or a freshly blended smoothie. These are things a good real estate agent will pick up on, and those small clues can become great closing gift ideas. Real estate closing gifts are an important gesture, and you want your gift to say the right thing.
What are the best closing gifts for realtors?
The natural direction for contents for realtor closing gifts is obviously home-inspired items, mainly items that are reusable in nature. Sure, food baskets are a nice gesture, but we think keepsake items are much more special. Think throw blankets, tea towels, candles, decorative tins of tea, wooden snack bowls, kitchen soap sets, and so on.
What is a good closing gift for a business?
Look into local cooking, painting, or even pottery classes where your clients can go out and make new friends. This is a great gift for clients that are new to the area and haven’t had a lot of time to explore the city. This type of closing gift is also a great way to partner with and support local businesses in your market.
Why should you give a closing gift?
If you master the art of gift giving, you’re more likely to receive referrals from previous clients. A unique closing gift that catches your client’s eye will also encourage them to leave a nice review or testimonial on your brokerage page, personal website, or social media page. That will also increase the number of inbound calls you get.