The Elusive Perfect Closing Gift
Each year we brainstorm about "the elusive perfect closing gift" for our clients. We seek something representative of our personality as a real estate firm.
It must be creative. 
It must be delightful. It must be eco-friendly and fun.. ..
It cannot be a trip to the South of France (too expensive.) It cannot be organic peanut butter and locally grown jam in a basket ( nice, but not quite adequate to express the depth of our appreciation.) . It has to be "just right"....
Anyone else with this dilemma?
This year we happened on the perfect find for our nature-loving Firm. That "elusive perfect closing gift" appeared as if by magic. Here it is (see graphic)-unique, original, creative and delightful. Best of all, this is a gift that keeps on giving.
This is an awesome Bagua Map! It was created by the very talented David Hart for Corrine's Creations. It can be folded and carried in a pocket. It can be laminated. It can be framed. It can include a consult with the designer! And it carries with it that "energized connection" that is the heart-and-soul of our real estate firm.
"A creative home reveals the owner's soul, "says Corrine Mandell,the creative force behind this gift. (see photo) .
Corrine maintains that it is specifically intended to "energetically enhance the ‘corners' of your home according to the principles of Feng Shui [which works] in tandem with the flow of Energy and with how this chi enters our homes and our lives."
Many of our clients are delighted with the charm that arrives with Feng shui -that ancient system of aesthetics that speaks to the concept of kindness towards all concerned... love for ourselves, for all others, our animal friends, Mother Nature, ... "...where family is concerned, having heart certainly helps..." says Corrine.
Resources: Contact Corrine corrine@corrinescreations.com
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(*)/'(*) .......... ............green real estate Asheville: GOING GREEN: Mountain homes and land legacies, socially conscious investing, rolling into a sustainable world. Create it today for tomorrow. Find eco-friendly LAND. Build a green home. GREEN Real Estate, Retrofits and Relocation: ECO HOMES AND LAND. Serving Asheville's Eco-Friendly-Home, Relocation LAND Clients. The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants! http://landlegacies.blogspot.com/ The Elusive Perfect Closing Gift Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved the green real estate Asheville Journal _______________________________________________________________________
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when Buying, Selling or Relocating to Asheville, North Carolina. 
This professional REALTOR'S® has an eye for extraordinary value
"My Team and I specialize in homes on the GreenSide- golf course, second and vacation homes,
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies, golf course communities, and properties of enduring excellence.
stylish equestrian estates and land legacy acreages in the Greater Asheville Area." "
janeAnne "Asheville's Greenolina" Narrin, M.A., CSW, is a golf enthusiast and real estate consultant specializing in eco-sensitive golf communities, mountain homes and land legacies. She is the author of numerous articles on Asheville's Homes on the GreenSide and has served on the Green Experts Board for the New Life Journal.She currently co-chairs the ECO Committee at the Asheville Board of REALTORS®. She is an avid putter!
Media:: HGTV filmed her Eco-All-Star Team for a show on sustainable innovation for HGTV's Green Week. "Asheville's Greenolina" real estate media interviews and articles appear in various print and online publications. Her nonfiction titles: Authentic Communication on the Worldwide Web and A Curriculum for Practical Real Estate. Narrin ("Asheville's Greenolina") holds the highly-regarded designations of NAR GREEN®, ECO Certified ® Real Estate Consultant, EcoBroker® and e-PRO®.
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A consult with a designer is a good idea. However, some might be offended as it might imply that you do not approve of their personal taste (?) Personally, I would love it!
Melissa~
Me too. I think this is a beautiful representation of our personality as a firm. Since we are the "going green GO-TO" in the Asheville area, it just works perfectly!
Ooh nice ! It certain exudes positive energy jA and I like the concept !
Unique and meaningful - a nice combo !
Cheers !
I see the connections to your firm and you here. Great idea.
Sheldon~
THANKS. I was so excited to find this. I think you are right on when you say it is unique and meaningful.
Dave~
Glad you see the connections. I like the idea of color...and the concept of energy combined...and our clients can even have the option of a consult!
I simply love the colors. But a great idea as well.
I just had the closing gift dilema. Sounds like you have a great one figured out! Let us know how it is received.
Very cool. I amazes me that some agents do not leave a closing gift. There are first impressions and there are last impressions, and this will help your last impression.
janeAnne, I just had a Feng Shui practitioner do a consultation on my house and one of my listings. It this an actual picture or just an example of what she can do during a consultation?
Dawn~
I think it is beautiful-soft AND strong, and like you, I am so attracted to the colors.
Graig~
Excellent point you make: "There are first impressions and there are last impressions, and this will help your last impression."..THIS bagua map has been a big hit with my clients.
Great idea. My gift of choice also supports one of our very cool Madison local businesses - Antique Sweets.
Patrick makes a tower of his homemade goodies - and it never fails to delight. Plus, it creates loyal customers for him.
janeAnne, I can't think of a better gift! This is lovely and may inspire someone who is not familiar with Feng Shui to look into it more. It will also allow them to define their areas in their new home. She does beautiful work and this IS the perfect gift!
What a cool idea! The same ole same ole just doesn't cut it anymore!
Interesting.....and clever. I try and customize my gifts so that they don't look cookie-cutter and this would be perfect for some of my clients. I have given feng shui consultations, customized "we've moved" cards with the home's picture on the front, home repair books, coffee table books on vintage houses. It just depends, but I try and make it personal.
Great idea and tie in to your firm. I think gifts such as this are much better than "consumables". The trip to the South of France is so soon forgotten! If anyone is looking for ideas, I like these branded cutting boards from East Bay Furniture . Sorry janeAnne, they're not bamboo!
Personally, I would love it as a closing gift, however, I do have clients that may not agree. I think closing gifts should go with the clients personality. I love the idea of hiring a personal chef for busy families, birdfeeders for nature lovers, Sunset magazine is the year long gift that keeps giving (and personalized with your business on each cover), dart boards for the bachelor that is a kid at heart...etc.
It would be great to hear other ideas out there!
Sometimes my realtor partners will give their clients one of my gift certificates for "move-in services." Their clients can use it for however they want - color consultation, design consultation, shopping services, etc. They are basically buying time that the client can use as desired. If it's a customer I have worked with in the past, say doing a home staging consultation, I can go to their new home and we decide where all the furniture is going to go before the move. (This could be done either way - it's just nice when I am already familiar with everything they have). It has been very well received.
I sell the gift certificates at a discount to the realtor as well, so everyone wins.
I don't think that there can be one perfect closing gift for all. While many of your clients may love the gift, there will be some that might take exception to it because of certain potentially spiritual implications. I'm guessing that you know your clients well enough to take that into consideration. Very creative idea!
I too am suprised at this gife being "perfect". Having grew up in NC and now living in Maine, there are many individualistic personalities in both states that would roll their eyes and then there is the religious that wouldn't touch it.
I mold my closing gift to my clients.
THANKS to all for your comments and ideas.
Carole~ like you, I appreciate the beauty of this gift...you noted, " beautiful work and this IS the perfect gift!..."
Vanessa~ good point! ..."...The same ole same ole just doesn't cut it anymore!..."
Chris~I am LOL!
I think a subscription to a magazine about the state they just moved to. (assuming they moved from out of state)! Gives them things to do!
As mentioned in the post...for our Firm..the Eco-Steward Firm...It must be creative. It must be delightful. It must be eco-friendly and fun.. ..
It cannot be a trip to the South of France (too expensive.) It cannot be organic peanut butter and locally grown jam in a basket ( nice, but not quite adequate to express the depth of our appreciation.) . It has to be "just right"....
As I read your comments, I think we have common ground on this point...and this is something that we try to seek.
Keith~
A fine idea! I like the notion that we may hike the Appalachian trail with our clients after they find this in the State magazine =)
While we are looking at homes or properties, I pay attention to things my clients talk about. For some it is family things done together, for others it may be golfing or some such outdoor activity. Whatever it may be I will then order a magazine subscription about that topic as their gift. Most of the time for families, it is a magazine called Family Fun. It is inexpensive but is sent once per month. The gift has been well received by all so far. I can get some really great deals by going to a site called magazine.com. Very deep discounts on magazine subscriptions. It is a unique gift that no one else in our area gives.
I think an exposure to Feng Shui is terrific, no matter in which form it is presented. In these uncertain times it can not hurt to try the unusual or lesser known techniques. Most of us have a lot of curiosity about it.
As an example, I brokered a home in which there was a very large mirror on the wall facing the front door. When I entered the house the mirror was all I could see, reflecting my image and the area behind me. I have been told that Feng Shui theory holds that such a mirror drives all the energy and love out of the house.
That seller went bankrupt and the house was an REO. Coincidence? Maybe not. . .
Interesting. We never have 1 closing gift from our office. We have an array of things to choose from or we pick our own. This is a good thing for you. Good luck.
janeAnne, This closing gift and the principles behind it fit you and your firm perfectly. It also fits our area (Asheville) and the lifestyle to be enjoyed by so many of us! You did it!
If I can't find the perfect closing gift, I get my clients something I don't want them to use, a carbon monoxide detector and a fire extinguisher.
That is a cool idea! Hope you're having a Happy NEW YEAR and much success for 2010:)
Very nice, and you're right the closing gift is often difficult to decide on. My sister and I do our best to personalize it for each client.
I like to let them chose their gift. I give a card that has over 36 items to chose from. see http://kcole3.ordermygift.com your comment please.
I think the key is really getting to know your clients-- what will they really value? I have clients now that sold their home and bought another and they're very family-oriented. I got them a Flip. As they make changes to the new home, it's simple enough that even the kids can use it to document their lives and share their videos with grandparents, etc.
What a great idea; combining the possitive energy of Fung Shui and green building.
i throw my new homeowners a BBQ,,,they give me a email list of friends and family , the owners pick a night i show up with grill and burgers and buns and get to meet 20 potential new clients all coming to me as a referral from the new home owners
Dana - I love the BBQ idea!