What Gift from The Real Estate Did You Receive after Buying/Selling Your House?

LLongJohn92 on 02/08/2021 - 21:26

I just purchased a house and spent just over $500k. The Real Estate the whole time was quite nice and down to earth person and I felt we got along well.

When the keys were handed over to me, he gave me a small brown bag with a ribbon wrapped around the handle. They told me it was a little gift to congratulate me on purchasing the house. Excited, the real estate agent left and I went inside the house to see what was inside the bag.

I open the bag to find a candle, the agent's branded notepad and pen, a business card and a hand written card from the real estate agent.

Nothing else was left inside by the agent and I've had no deliveries from them since.

I felt a bit let down by what I received from the agent considering the commission and the real estate climate of how many houses they're turning over at the moment. I've had friends receive bottles of champagne, fruit platters, coffee cups etc.

So tell me, what did/didn't you receive when buying/selling your house? Did I get ripped off or was I expecting too much?

Home & Garden

Comments

    • RockyRaccoon on 02/08/2021 - 22:19
      +3

      This has to be a new account right?

      You mean you have been here 8 years and dont know how to tell?

        • Euphemistic on 03/08/2021 - 06:54
          +6

          But you care enough to make two comments?

          Sounds a little like jealousy.

          • [Deactivated] on 03/08/2021 - 07:26
            -4

            @Euphemistic: Oh yeah you got me. I'm so jealous over his new candles. My real estate agent didn't give me anything.

    • Bisah1342 on 02/08/2021 - 22:22
      +1

      You can still get 500k homes in far south east and west/south west melbourne

      living there - might be another matter. but they exist. usually 2-3 bedrooms too.

    • spal on 02/08/2021 - 22:30

      OP is up to #92. There are more numbers to go. Once number run out, it would start again with shortjohn01.

    • Jjj888 on 03/08/2021 - 07:36
      +2

      Plenty of beautiful houses in Adelaide and all over SA can go under 500K even by the sea not everyone wants to live in Sydney and pay 500k for a studio

  • bradl822 on 02/08/2021 - 22:12
    +5

    Mate you have to include this in your negotiations! 🤣

  • Pelicannn on 02/08/2021 - 22:18
    +2

    Did I get ripped off or was I expecting too much?

    In this market? Mate you got ripped off and you're expecting too much 🤣

  • SF3 on 02/08/2021 - 22:20
    +1

    The current median Sydney house price is $1,309,195 in the first quarter of 2021
    OP: I just purchased a house and spent just over $500k
    Location: NSW

    REA is short 62% on commission. Hence the proportion of the gift was adjusted.

    I've had friends receive bottles of champagne, fruit platters, coffee cups etc.

    Did your friends spend the same money too? Interesting for us all to know.

    Did I get ripped off or was I expecting too much?

    This is OzB, it’s all about the T&Cs before going to ACCC, ACL, etc…,

    TIP: You should have gotten it written in your contract.

    • [Deactivated] on 03/08/2021 - 12:29

      This is OzB, it’s all about the T&Cs before going to ACCC, ACL, etc…,

      But before all of that nonsense, bikies.

  • Sum-Ting Wong on 02/08/2021 - 22:20
    +3

    A mortgage

  • coxjon on 02/08/2021 - 22:21
    +17

    We bought last week and no gift! ($315k) The agent offered to take a photo of us at the sold sign for his social media though…

    • iCandy on 03/08/2021 - 11:38

      I bought on the Gold Coast in December. No gifts for me ☹️

    • aliceisstupid on 04/08/2021 - 07:36
      +2

      Bought a month ago ($1m); same. Said no to the social media post and never got the pictures sent to us.

      Maybe we’ll get our gift on settlement? I’m starting to feel entitled to a candle…

      • Ti-au on 04/08/2021 - 21:21

        I’m starting to feel entitled to a candle

        I feel you deserve it.

  • RockyRaccoon on 02/08/2021 - 22:22
    +1

    At the moment buyers are a dime a dozen, a seller on the other hand….

    • [Deactivated] on 02/08/2021 - 22:41
      +37

      Counting is hard.

      • StarvingOat on 04/08/2021 - 03:51

        1
        2
        6
        22
        3
        4
        1

        1
        2
        ..

  • Choc0 on 02/08/2021 - 22:25
    +1

    Bottle of Champagne. We only drink Red.

  • Archi on 02/08/2021 - 22:35
    +11

    I was the purchaser
    -A bottle of moet. From the vendors after the auction which i opened and shared on the day

    When we settled and got the keys
    - hamper with cheese and crackers and fruit and wine

    When we actually moved in about a month after.
    - flowers, candle and BBQ grilling tools.
    - Both kids got a Lego set and some pool toys

    Vendor agent lived on my street.

    • Euphemistic on 03/08/2021 - 06:57

      I ant to buy a house from them too. Doesn’t matter if the commute is too far I just want the LEGO.

      • Archi on 03/08/2021 - 08:44
        +1

        stay in newcastle mate sydney is over rated

  • JimmyF on 02/08/2021 - 22:44

    I felt a bit let down by what I received from the agent considering the commission

    Why? You hadn't been paying the commission to them, that was the seller….

  • The Value on 02/08/2021 - 22:45
    +5

    25 years of debt.

    • diddy50 on 03/08/2021 - 14:03
      +1

      only 25?! Try 30 years

  • oscargamer on 02/08/2021 - 22:53
    +3

    We got a very cheap bottle of wine that the REA had ripped off the label and replaced it with a picture of our house….

    Had to admit it made us laugh.

    Think we used the wine for cooking.

    • ProlapsedHeinous on 03/08/2021 - 15:02
      +7

      You should have taken a picture of it and got it put on a shirt and sent it back to them.

  • iNeed2Pee on 02/08/2021 - 22:55
    +13

    I remember one bloke.
    This real estate agent company would offer a bottle of champagne for the opening bidder at their auctions. One guy went around to the 3 auctions that day and got the 3 bottles. Soon as he put the bid in, he was gone. No where to be seen….until the next house 😂

    • SF3 on 02/08/2021 - 23:00
      +1

      One guy went around to the 3 auctions that day and got the 3 bottles

      That guy OzBargains!

      Didn’t even have to buy a house! Winner.

    • Cheeper on 03/08/2021 - 00:24
      +19

      I bet that guy was from the REA and they are still handing out the same bottle of champagne!! LOL

  • kusama on 02/08/2021 - 23:00

    I don’t recall getting anything at purchase. Each year though I get sent a card with a tattslotto scratchie, this year (5) just the card. No wins, soo really received nothing

    • StalkingIbis on 04/08/2021 - 15:51

      Long shot. Sunny coast?

  • Cheeper on 03/08/2021 - 00:23

    Last house I sold the REA gave me a bottle of cheap wine. They also gave me no support or real service and were just a PITA the whole time. I paid them $10,000 for that pleasure. They have a reputation for a reason :-(
    Thankfully I had a great conveyancer who kept me informed and made sure everything was done right.

    • Mokr on 03/08/2021 - 17:05

      what did u give the conveyancer

  • morse on 03/08/2021 - 01:40

    I have a memory of her coming over with wine and cheese and eating/drinking it with us in the kitchen - I’m really not sure if it’s a false memory though, as that seems a bit strange but they are a local independent agent who lives a few blocks away so it’s also possible.

    I think they’ll see 500k as small fry, so potentially hence the small gift - but I agree it looks cheap. I would have thought wine and choccies would be the go to, but so many people either don’t drink or have specific wine tastes. You didn’t get ripped off though, unless you paid too much for the place.

  • Gros21 on 03/08/2021 - 06:35

    ive recieved a few 'fancy' instant coffee things in 2 mugs wrapped up with some chocolate, another time was a kmart cheese board with a woollies selection pack of cheese, another time younger fellow asked what did i drink and dropped off a bottle a bottle of jim beam (was not white label but the next one up select vat or some crap like that) another time it was simply a $50 bunnings gift card in a custom card that held it and a magnet and a cheap bottle opener stainless steel business card.

    Ive seen people on fb buy similar value property's receive more or maybee a better suited package as cause a 20 or 30 year old male, who wants a cheese board or coffee pack.

    When ive sold a property i received absolutely nothing

    Do i care? not all i did not purchase the property's going i hope i get XXXX

    Ive delt with 1 agent on 2 purchases when se was at 2 companys she was horrible and would avoid her like the plauge, feeds of same lines and almost had to beg to get he rto take us though the property, plus openly goes the owners ae getting a divorce and have moved away and are open to any offers. I lowed balled the hell out of it knowing agent didnt cae about property. Got a darn good deal

  • Euphemistic on 03/08/2021 - 07:00
    +4

    Bought 3 houses. Can only remember a gift from the most recent purchase. Wasn’t expected so was a pleasant surprise.

    If you expect more than what you got it just sounds like greed.

  • Hoju on 03/08/2021 - 07:07
    +1

    $200 gift card to a fancy restaurant and $75 bottle of champagne
    Would’ve preferred half that value in cash

  • Bob Svargis on 03/08/2021 - 07:16

    I had no expectation of a gift because that only sets one up for disappointment. Bought earlier this year, Won’t disclose price here but it was more than double the OP’s, being Sydney/near Sydney unfortunately. Received a bottle of Veuve on settlement and the selling agent surprisingly popped over for the handover and a chat including market discussion for about an hour which was nice and unexpected as the market was super hot (competed against 5 other parties, private treaty. She didn’t have to do this. She also followed up a week or so later to ensure everything was OK). I also have the selling agency managing the property tenancy as I can’t move in for a few years and I was impressed with their professionalism and the way they treated me as a buyer in a hot market.

    Have I made decent money for them? Yes, at purchase time and ongoing. Should I expect a gift? No. Do I expect a gift? No. The best gift they can give me is their ongoing good service. Professionalism and good service outweighs a $70 gift from Uncle Dan’s.

    If they looked after you, you don’t need a gift.

    • Ti-au on 04/08/2021 - 21:24
      +1

      Have I made decent money for them? Yes, at purchase time and ongoing.

      The Seller made them them money by agreeing to their terms and paying commission - you were just one buyer out of 5 interested parties.

      • Bob Svargis on 04/08/2021 - 22:31

        My point was that they picked up the ongoing management of my property as well. So they are making money on an ongoing basis.

  • mab5125 on 03/08/2021 - 07:48
    +2

    You didn't pay his commission, the owner did. Did your broker give you anything? Your conveyancer? Didn't think so.

  • mikekiwimike on 03/08/2021 - 07:51
    +1

    Buying - A lovely house plant and a bottle of Red wine for my latest purchase.

    Selling - I got a bottle of Champagne and two Champagne flutes and ………. and the biggest argument with my wife ever over whether the real estate agent had tried hard enough to get a short settlement :-(

    The Champagne by itself would have been ok……

    • Jjj888 on 03/08/2021 - 07:53
      +4

      Did you get rid of the wife

  • slow on 03/08/2021 - 08:12

    I have bought a few houses over the years and never got anything

    I bought a used car for $15k from a dealer and was surprised to get a hamper with wine, chocolates, biscuits etc

  • Mythreesons on 03/08/2021 - 08:29
    +1

    Count yourself lucky, we ended up with a house that termites had eaten the entire bottom half, the previous owners had sheeted over the damage and painted everything but it ok because the real estate agent gave us a key ring.

    • Euphemistic on 03/08/2021 - 08:35

      You didn’t even get a fridge magnet calendar?

      Actually, we get those fairly regularly in the mailbox without buying a house.

      • Mythreesons on 04/08/2021 - 10:05
        +1

        We get a lot of phone calls asking if we are interested in selling and Christmas cards.

        • Ti-au on 04/08/2021 - 21:26
          +1

          Well if calls are 30c each, then they literally could of spent $5 on you over the years.

    • Jjj888 on 03/08/2021 - 08:58
      +2

      That's why you get engineer report and inspection

      • Mythreesons on 04/08/2021 - 10:04

        I did pay for a building and pest inspection, when the damage was located I contacted the company that did the inspection, there is fine print at the bottom of the contract saying they are not at fault/liable for anything. The previous owners did a good job covering the damage, would have been nice if they had just been upfront or actually treated the problem.

    • Dagwood-Dog on 03/08/2021 - 17:17
      -1

      due diligence

      • Mythreesons on 04/08/2021 - 10:09
        +4

        I thought by paying someone who does building inspections for a living that I was doing the right thing. There was no way of seeing the damage, only found it because I needed to remove a half wall and there was hardly anything left in the wall cavity.

  • popsiee on 03/08/2021 - 08:46
    +2

    hand written card from the real estate agent.

    `^ Their time is extremely valuable I'd frame the card hehe :)

  • jhaley3180 on 03/08/2021 - 08:47

    Have bought a few houses over the years…. Last house no gift, house prior a bottle of Verve, two prior to that no gifts, then a picnic rug and coffee cups prior to that. So really a mixed bag. Don't expect a gift but when a little gift is provided it is a nice feeling.

  • Duckie2hh on 03/08/2021 - 08:48
    +2

    I had 2 transactions last year, didn't get anything from either agents.

    • UNO on 03/08/2021 - 17:59

      Same here!

  • BigBirdy on 03/08/2021 - 08:49
    +1

    Agent gave me a coffee machine, capsule type. Probably around $60-100 value at the time. Good agent, great house, very happy with transaction.

  • SnowDragon on 03/08/2021 - 09:15
    +1

    $30 bottle of champagne when I secured finance and put the sold sticker up.

    $70 bottle of Forty Spotted Gin with a 4 pack of soda water ($3~) on settlement day.

  • bakerboo on 03/08/2021 - 09:24
    +1

    Nothing

  • Mr Random on 03/08/2021 - 09:24
    +4

    At least you got a candle. I got a smaller apartment than was promised, along with a massive list of defects ;)

  • htc on 03/08/2021 - 09:28

    Nothing

  • geowest on 03/08/2021 - 09:43

    Not to sound rude. You should consider your lucky compared to me.

    We bought a house in Sydney in 2019. Our agent was nice too. Allowed extra inspection for arranging a renovation quote etc. So it was very pleasant experience. But while key handing over, he left the key with his office receptionist. I never felt bad as I don't think there was relationship between us other than a buyer and agent.

  • 87percent on 03/08/2021 - 09:50

    one of the few people in the street i talk to, sold their house a couple of months ago. The agent actually did a door knocking in the street saying "i have clients who are looking to purchase". The REA gave them a $500 coles gift card after their house sold

  • buy swap sell on 03/08/2021 - 09:51

    I got a crappy wooden cheese platter board with the agents logo burned into it. Went straight in the bin.

    I must admit I would of appreciated a bottle of wine or champagne would of been nice to celebrate the purchase. When you consider the commission the agent made when he was a lazy #$%k and I had to chase him all the time to get a sale. The house got the sale not the agent.

    • Ti-au on 04/08/2021 - 21:27

      The house got the sale not the agent.

      The house always get the sale. Almost never (99%) the Agent.

  • Lastchancetosee on 03/08/2021 - 09:56

    From builder, SA chef recipe book on handover, but a few small variations not charged in build, so pretty satisfied.

    Mum just received a two pack of good SA red, so she's delighted.

    When renting, once I received a set of pyrethrum candles. Was a bit suspicious, as I wondered of the place was infested, but all good, and the candles were useful for barbecues.

  • p1 ama on 03/08/2021 - 10:00
    +5

    You've just spent $500K and you're sulking over gifts worth $50, geez, get a grip on life.

  • OzzyOzbourne on 03/08/2021 - 10:08
    +1

    Sounds like you were only disappointed because they left you something that didn't meet your bizarre expectations of a free gift. Would you have complained if they left you nothing?

    • Ti-au on 04/08/2021 - 21:29

      The got free pens, candle, and other stuff.

      So yes. Yes they would of complained even though their just another buyer, one of many.
      And the agent makes $$$ of the Seller.

  • mogy1808 on 03/08/2021 - 10:09

    So sound very entitled

  • DumplingBoi on 03/08/2021 - 10:09

    I got a bottle of Nikka whiskey and a pretty good umbrella for putting in the starting bid at an auction.

    Feels like I won the house when I didn't.

  • Thinkswithelbow on 03/08/2021 - 10:11

    Chivas 12years.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/08/2021 - 10:18

    I think OP watched too much PH.

  • AutomationGuy on 03/08/2021 - 10:29
    +1

    $440K house. $6 bottle of red wine.

  • MrBear on 03/08/2021 - 10:43

    Did you get the real estate person a gift for the great job they did of selling you a property?

    • releasethekr4cken on 03/08/2021 - 12:27

      2.5% + advertising is the going rate I beleive.

  • drfuzzy on 03/08/2021 - 10:55

    I'm always traumatised by these gifts
    Took me about 2 years to open mine which represented a $1.5m mortgage for an uninhabitable dump.
    Coffee cups and coffee beans that were no longer fresh.
    The cutlery set from the bank is still in the box after 8 years.

    • chillipaste on 03/08/2021 - 15:24
      +2

      Why did you buy a $1.5m house that you can't live in?

      • drfuzzy on 03/08/2021 - 21:07

        To demolish or renovate is usually the reason

    • timmy_tam on 03/08/2021 - 16:04
      +2

      more importantly, why did it take 2 years to open?

      • drfuzzy on 03/08/2021 - 21:09

        I had the same problem when I had alot of personal debt I would avoid opening mail.
        With a large mortgage the feeling came back but this time it was the gift given for being willing to bid more money at auction than any other human is willing to.

  • nomadspartan on 03/08/2021 - 11:01
    +2

    This thread is gold.

  • chasingstoke on 03/08/2021 - 11:08
    +1

    Buy another home through them…the gift might get better each time?

  • FilePeter on 03/08/2021 - 11:32
    +1

    I live in a wine region, we received a wine pack with 3 local wines. Was a very nice touch.

  • popsiee on 03/08/2021 - 11:36

    Actually thinking about it they took a picture of us in front of the sign after the auction when it was sold to us .
    I sure it was for gift purposes ( we received the photo in a nice branded real estate card ) and not for promo value to the agency ( smart a$$'s ) lol :)

  • boatman on 03/08/2021 - 11:43

    A bottle of Moët and 2 glasses.

  • Zondor on 03/08/2021 - 11:58

    A Velvet box that had chips, a bottle of wine, mixed nuts and various other nibbles.

  • Ciderfizz44 on 03/08/2021 - 12:19

    Quality shit post

  • Wt133 on 03/08/2021 - 12:29
    +2

    Maybe they gave you the candle because they want you to burn your new house down and then you can buy another one with them

  • releasethekr4cken on 03/08/2021 - 12:29
    +2

    I got a little collapsible wooden table, a bottle of moet, 2 champagne glasses (they all fit within the table) and $500 visa cards (2 x $250).. I thought I was hard done by that the activiation fee for the cards is like $7.50 ea.

  • Super Saiyan on 03/08/2021 - 12:40
    +2

    We got 2 foldable camping chairs and a keyring after getting the keys to our build.

  • hts on 03/08/2021 - 12:43

    Man I just bought a new car yesterday, dealer gave us a box of local produce, boutique chocolates, olives, wine, flowers etc.

    When we bought our house (11yrs ago) we got a keyring.

    Definitely asking too much of a REA that isn't working for you…..

  • Morphio25 on 03/08/2021 - 12:53

    I got absolutely nothing from my agent when I sold my last house. He also no longer works for the company that sold the house.

  • sauce2k on 03/08/2021 - 13:07
    -1

    Geez imagine being your wife/husband.

  • preferredusername on 03/08/2021 - 13:19
    -3

    We got a 75" Sony Bravia which was slightly disappointing as I would have preferred a Samsung. We also got a small hamper of stuff I've already forgotten about, in a very basic champagne bucket that I now use as a bin. The bottle of wine might still be in the cupboard somewhere, waiting patiently to be re-gifted. Maybe I'll give it to the REA when we next buy or sell.

    • ProlapsedHeinous on 03/08/2021 - 15:12
      +10

      I bet you felt like a right peasant only getting the Sony.

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