CREATIVE WAYS TO

Creative Ways to Say Thank You

Most top real estate agents find ways to welcome their clients to their new home. A common theme is a bottle of wine and some wine glasses for that first post-threshold toast, or a bouquet of flowers to brighten up that empty living space until the furniture arrives.

But are you truly being as creative as you can with your appreciation? Here are some innovative gift ideas that will truly keep you front of mind with your valued customers and assure their gratitude and repeat business, not to mention a slew of referrals.

1.How about a streaming video device, like a Roku or Amazon Fire Stick? There’s a good chance your clients will not have their cable service up and running for a few days, and this is an excellent way for them to enjoy their television before they get that connection going. Bundle it up in a basket with some DVD’s for the kids, and don’t forget all necessary cables.

2.Matching bathrobes and Bath kits: Fleece or terrycloth bathrobes and a basket filled with highend his and her body scrubs, bubble bath and other luxurious pampering items can make the first night in a new home feel like a check-in at a fabulous resort and make the memory of that first night one to cherish. Again, don’t forget the kids! 3.Arrange a catered meal from a local vendor. Ascertain in advance dietary preferences and restrictions, and have a wonderful, healthy meal delivered on move-in night. To complete the magic, provide brand new plates, silverware and glassware to serve it all on.

4.For homes with swimming pools or Jacuzzis, a stack of fluffy pool towels is always appreciated and will be used by family and friends for years to come. Additionally, acrylic stemware for celebrating safely can be provided alongside them.

5.If it’s winter time and the home has a fireplace, make sure there’s plenty of wood to burn. Some fireplace accessories and a log holder will certainly make your clients appreciate you on every chilly night to come.

So when it comes to gifting your buyers, the trick is to be creative. A bottle of wine lasts one night, and the flowers wilt in a few days. Try coming up with something a little more creative that will remain with your clients in their day-to-day lives and remind them of you consistently. The little bit extra you spend to show your gratitude can reap huge dividends when it comes time for your client to purchase a second home or refer a friend.

MIKE ANDERSON

Mike Anderson began his real estate career in 2005, after managing a bar in his beloved hometown of Whitefish, Montana for many years. “Customers at the bar were always asking me who was a good Realtor® in town,” Mike recalls. Mike’s interest was piqued, and he eventually decided to get his real estate license. After about 3 months of running the bar and selling real estate on the side, Mike’s business was beginning to take off. He gave notice at the bar, and he hasn’t looked back since. “Since I grew up in Whitefish, I know all the locals and my business grew quickly,” Mike says. The rest is history, and since then, Mike has made a successful career of helping his clients achieve their real estate goals.

With National Parks Realty, Mike serves the Flathead Valley communities of Whitefish, Bigfork, Kalispell, Columbia Falls, Eureka, and all of Northwest Montana. A solid majority of his business comes from repeat and referral clients, an impressive feat that speaks to the trust and confidence he inspires. “Repeat and referral is a huge part of my business,” he says. “I work with a lot of different developers and high-end clients who buy and sell frequently, as well as resale listings.” that marketing campaign, blasting it in a general area.” The results speak for themselves: Mike does a robust volume of about 80 transactions per year on average.

Mike loves his community, and he enjoys giving back as Vice President of the Flathead Valley Ski Foundation, where he also serves on the Sports Committee. When he is not working, Mike loves doing anything outdoors, whether it’s fly fishing, skiing, hiking, or mountain biking.

In the future, Mike plans to continue bringing great customer service to his clients. “I have a good base of repeat clientele who keep me busy, so I don’t plan on slowing down,” he says. “I love talking real estate and helping out agents who are just getting started. We’re building a great team of independent agents here at National Parks Realty.”

Mike emphasizes his local roots as an asset to his clients. “I’m a local, raised in Whitefish, and people want to work with somebody who knows the area. I work hard to serve my clients, and I take their needs seriously.” Mike looks forward to continuing to serve the Flathead Valley’s real estate needs for years to come.

Attentive communication is a big part of how Mike cares for his clients, and he makes a point to always respond the same day and never let communication lag. “The biggest thing for me is always returning a call on the same day,” he says. “I make sure I keep in touch, and that’s what keeps me going strong.”

When it comes to marketing his listings, Mike uses a comprehensive approach to ensure maximum exposure. He and his admin team push listings to dozens of search engines and syndicate listings to all the major websites, including Homes.com, Realtor.com, and Zillow. “I invest in branding, keywording, and tagging for my listings,” Mike says. “We also build individual websites for specific properties. For high-end listings, I find where buyers are coming from and I pin-drop To find out more about Mike Anderson, please call 406-261-9081, email maland@aboutmontana.net or visit WhitefishMontanaRealty.com

SCOTT AURICH

Scott Aurich began his real estate career in development and as a commercial broker. After moving to Coronado in 1987, Scott became more interested in residential real estate. “I decided to go into development here in Coronado, and I built a condo project with a partner,” Scott recalls. The condo development was successful, and through that project he connected with some clients and started selling other residential real estate for them. Scott started a brokerage business in Coronado, and the rest is history. After 20+ years as owner/broker of Sun Isle Realty, Scott joined Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty. Scott specializes in selling all of Coronado and loves helping his clients achieve their real estate goals.

About 90% of Scott’s business comes from repeat and referral clients, an impressive feat that speaks to the trust and confidence he inspires. “I’ve sold over 600 homes here over 30+ years,” Scott says. “I have a lot of clients and have been in the community for a long time, my business has always been about relationships.”

The personal service Scott provides helps to make the process of buying or selling go that much more smoothly for his clients. “I’ve always focused on doing whatever is best for my client in every circumstance,” he explains. “Not every broker does that 100% of the time, but I have been able to put my clients’ needs first every time and measure everything against what’s best for my client. The buying or selling process can be stressful, and I try to relieve that stress and help the client get through it. They appreciate me being part of the solution and helping them through the process.”

When it comes to marketing, Scott blends traditional methods with newer ones. He still finds remarkable success with print advertising, however he affiliated with Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty because of their robust internet/social media marketing platform and worldwide exposure. “Sotheby’s has the most visited website for luxury highend listings in the world.” Scott prides himself on investing more than any of his competitors on advertising and marketing to achieve optimum exposure for his listings.

A resident of Coronado for over 30 years, Scott has been deeply involved in his community. He has served on the Coronado Schools Foundation Board, Rady Children’s Hospital Foundation Board, and the Board of Trustees for St. Pauls Methodist Church, he has also coached 14 seasons of youth sports and supported many local charities. Scott is an avid paddle surfer and recently, an even more avid horseman. He also enjoys golfing, skiing, and playing tournament poker.

In the future, Scott plans to continue doing what he loves, serving his clients and his community. “I love the relationships I get to build with clients,” he says. “My clients become friends. I enjoy helping people and giving them the information they need to make such a critical decision. I enjoy doing what I’m doing, and while I plan on retiring when I am 94, I have a few good years ahead of me.”

To find out more about Scott Aurich, call 619.987.9797, email scott@scottaurich.com, or find him online at WWW.SCOTTAURICH.COM