Buying a home from TV agent, do we get them a gift for their work?
 

It's our first home purchase in a while, and the first in The Villages. Our agent has been wonderful, do we get them a gift for all their work?

No!

They should give you a nice gift to express their appreciation for making a lot of money off your house purchase.

No, we got a gift from ours. They are getting paid to give you that service.

No. They should give you a gift. Some agents will pay for a personalized name plate for your lamp post.

It's up to you, not other posters on a website.

Oh dear God. Now we're tipping realtors?

Our realtor was great so we used her again when we moved within TV, both to sell that home and buy a new one. So she got 3 commissions. We got gifts every year.

They already got a gift. 6% of your money.

Our real estate agent didn't do a lot. He showed us several homes and we liked one and we bought it. We spent less than 3 hours with him. I never thought about tipping him and I never thought about tipping the agent that sold my home back in Pennsylvania. I am thankful for what they did but I think they were both very well compensated for their efforts.

Tipping is getting out of hand!

Is tipping getting out of control? Many consumers say yes | AP News

You’ve already gifted your realtor with cash. They should be rewarding you for making payroll for them.

Interesting topic ... my urologist helped me learn how to stream, should I "tip" him? When my grandson was born he left a tip for his mohel. Lot's of possibilities. :jester:

You get a gift from them. They want you to recommend to friends

Tipping is out of control video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVcp1grk51E

If you have more money than you know what to do with it, sure!
Its your money, but I am sure a good recommendation will go a lot farther in the agent's appreciation. .

YMMV

I bet OP works in real estate.

never thought about getting a gift for our wonderful agent, she did get many referrals from us, and when we finally moved in (about 5 months after the house was built), we got a gift from the agent. If you really want to get them something, try a bottle of a nice wine.

The best way to engender a positive business relationship is to exceed someone's expectations. In no way would your agent expect anything-so a token but tangible sign of gratitude for a job well done, will probably empower them to work even HARDER for you the next time you might be in the market. My vendors always picked up my phone call before others, because they knew I appreciated them.
I say go for it.

I think the commission $$$ is what makes them work hard - not a token gift.

In my limited experience, the agent has little impact on the sale of the house. The driving factors are the house itself and the price.

Well, sometimes. When I was looking for a house to buy in TV I had an agent who worked for me long distance. My heart was set on a particular house and she went to check it out for me. She told me the house smelled moldy from the pool. That really turned me off. She recommended a couple of other properties.

Later, when I came to TV myself, and checked out her suggestions. They were much better than what I originally chose. But I also looked at an open house and that was the house that I wanted as my home. Unfortunately, the open house came with a different real estate agent. The first agent did not sell me a house BUT she kept me from making a mistake. I keep thinking of ways to thank her.

You can tip me for reading this post. :)

I've never heard of that happening, but if you were especially appreciative, go for it!

It’s strictly up to you I have bought many homes, over the years, and very few agents have got a gift from me. because yes they get paid quite a bit of money for their work. However, my agent here has got me three houses and has worked hard for me, including getting me a house in Richmond, which was very difficult and we got the 10th house we tried to get. So we’re going to get him a small gift this time. But we did not the other times, strictly a personal choice.
Either way congratulations on getting your home and welcome to The Villages.

Sure! I Think about 10% of the purchase price would be appropriate.

If a person goes out of their way to give you extraordinary service, I would give them a small gift (bottle of wine, for example). Given the responses here, it would put you in the top 1% of their customers.

Wow! You ARE stingy...

I tip at least 15%, and if service was good as much as 25%.

It sounds like the OP thought service was VERY GOOD, so I'd suggest a 25% tip.

Loosen up those purse strings.

To Gift or not to Gift?
 

We are on our 4th home in The Villages. We have always gotten gifts from our agents. They do the giving!. We've gotten gift certificates for Name Sign for the light post, a free house cleaning, monogramed beach towels, wine, etc... You have already given them plenty. Thank them kindly and recommend them to others, that's the best gift!

If the agent was good, ran you around answered all questions etc a nice gift card works.. same goes for the MLS realtors...appreciation..

You did. Read the itemized fees. They make a commission. If you think about it, they should give you a gift for choosing them.

Time to make a decision on your own - go for it!

I get a birthday card...been 4+ years now...

It’s totally up to you- in a normal sale I wouldn’t for all the reasons folks are stating- but in the last purchase we made because they knew the target area and street we hoped for, one came available and before listing it they gave me first right of refusal! Dream home Dream street near friends so yep- I got them a gift!

Our agent tried to steer us to new homes. We eventually found the house we bought on our own and she made a decent buck with little effort. She did do the walk thru for us since this was at the onset of the "pause". We didn't tip, but might have if she would have listened to what we wanted and found a house that matched our needs.

Best gift for your Villages real estate agent
 

The best gift for your agent is writing complimentary posts on social media and referring prospective buyers and sellers.

I agree. I think that a thank you card with a nice hand written note would also be very much appreciated by your agent.

You don’t think 1.5% of the purchase price is enough?

The selling agent does not get anywhere near 6%. Much closer to 1%...more if they are both the listing and selling agent.

Note that all sales commissions are paid by the seller, not the buyer. The agent works for the seller.

No, they should gift you for their substantial commission.

You already gave him a large and very nice gift.

Mimi.bet
 

They don’t get all of the 6%. Split with their broker and other agent, if there was a selling and buying agent.

No, they give you a gift. You paid a hefty commission already