What To Gift For The Builder After New Construction Completion

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by gknew, Dec 22, 2022.

  1. gknew

    gknew Gold IL'ite

    Messages:
    1,230
    Likes Received:
    464
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Gender:
    Female
    Hi
    I got a question about gifting the builder guy after completing the construction.
    We did book a house an year ago. It did take a while to build. We are hoping to close the house soon.
    I don't know if it's normal to gift anything to the builder(American guy). If so, please let me know your suggestions.

    I do have an agent who is an Indian lady and I would like to gift her something too. I just said Indian lady, so that I can gift her something which can be helpful for her household too.

    Did you all gift your builder or agent after you get the house?
    Thanks.
     
    Loading...

  2. MalStrom

    MalStrom IL Hall of Fame

    Messages:
    4,191
    Likes Received:
    7,008
    Trophy Points:
    408
    Gender:
    Female
    They should be giving you presents since you are giving them money!
    On a more serious note, we thanked our agent, referred him to all our friends and wrote him a nice review. He gave us a beautiful wooden cutting board and a bottle of wine as a closing gift.
     
  3. gknew

    gknew Gold IL'ite

    Messages:
    1,230
    Likes Received:
    464
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Gender:
    Female
    Thanks @MalStrom .
    We did refer the agent to other friends already. I didn't know it's not normal or expected to give gifts to the builder contact and the agent.

    It's so nice of him that he gave you a nice gift.

    Back in India, in my hometown place, whenever we build a house, we used to call everyone who build it during the house warming. And they used to buy new clothes for the contractor who built it.
    I never bought any house before in the US, and few of my friends who bought a house said they all gifted to the builder. I did ask them for suggestions and they ask said they gave chocolates, candles etc.
    So I wasn't sure if it's normally expected to do this.
     
    KashmirFlower and MalStrom like this.
  4. Rihana

    Rihana Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

    Messages:
    12,481
    Likes Received:
    30,224
    Trophy Points:
    540
    Gender:
    Female
    From what I've seen, people don't gift the builder or agent. I've written long detailed reviews in yelp etc and each time I see query in local groups, I recommend them with detailed feedback. And often they text my husband asking if he will be their reference and talk to their potential clients.

    Looking back, maybe I should have got the architect a gift... she was very patient with my house design wishes and worked hard to get permit from very picky city office.

    But the agent.. no way. They make enough out of my sale/purchase. : )
     
    KashmirFlower and gknew like this.
  5. gknew

    gknew Gold IL'ite

    Messages:
    1,230
    Likes Received:
    464
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Gender:
    Female
    Thanks for the response.
    When I say builder, I didn't mean the builder groups or sales person.
    I meant the guy ( architect or contractor or engineer) who used to be in touch with you starting from the start of the build until the closing. The person who does the walk through for your house.

    It's a good idea to give them good reviews in Yelp etc. Thanks for this idea.
     
  6. Thoughtful

    Thoughtful Gold IL'ite

    Messages:
    626
    Likes Received:
    679
    Trophy Points:
    190
    Gender:
    Male
    You can give him a gift card and thank him profusely during closing.

    This is the guy whom you will most likely call for maintenance during the first couple of years when you will slowly find fault with things or have questions.

    Even if he is not the maintenance guy, he knows your house inside out. Make sure to be in good terms with him. You can call him and ask questions. You can treat him with food, snack or drink etc when he shows up during the maintenance period.

    Also, even though you did not ask, I will mention it. If you did not get home inspection done, I would highly recommend it even if it is a new construction. few hundred dollars now will save you a few tens of thousands and lots of headaches in the future.

    Good luck and enjoy your new home!
     
    gknew likes this.
  7. gknew

    gknew Gold IL'ite

    Messages:
    1,230
    Likes Received:
    464
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Gender:
    Female
    Thank you so much for the inputs @Thoughtful .

    He will be the guy who I am going to call for an year for maintenance. They provide one year warranty period and mostly he will be coming to fix it. We do have warranty customer care but friends told me that he is the one who is coming to their house to fix the issues.

    Gift cards looks like a fair idea. Any idea, how much amount ($) of gifts card will look ok? We really need to be in good terms with him and we have been like that so far.
     
    Thoughtful likes this.
  8. Thoughtful

    Thoughtful Gold IL'ite

    Messages:
    626
    Likes Received:
    679
    Trophy Points:
    190
    Gender:
    Male
    I think between $50 to $100 is reasonable. Base it on the relationship you have built so far, so that even if he moves jobs and you never see him again, you don't feel bad that you gave him the money.
     
    gknew likes this.
  9. msm

    msm Gold IL'ite

    Messages:
    472
    Likes Received:
    371
    Trophy Points:
    123
    Gender:
    Female
    Hi @gknew - Sorry I dont have an answer for you, but just curious to know if yours is a custom build on your lot or you went with big builders (like Pulte, Toll Brothers) that has few models in a community they are developing, where you choose one of their model/layouts and they built for you ?
     
    gknew likes this.
  10. Thoughtful

    Thoughtful Gold IL'ite

    Messages:
    626
    Likes Received:
    679
    Trophy Points:
    190
    Gender:
    Male
    Is there a reason for your question. Are you considering the two options?
     
    gknew likes this.

Share This Page