Snail mail becomes more and more meaningful the more that businesses go digital. A handwritten note feels a million times more authentic than even the most masterful composition sent to an email address.

Fortunately, there are easy, quick, and cheap ways to incorporate thank you notes and other such notes into your real estate business!

Inman came up with 12 different occasions that might warrant a thank your card. Twelve! That is a lot.

I think there are more likely five sensible times to send a thank you card, both during the transaction and to keep warm your database of past clients, vendors, and sphere.

And, thanks to some great thank you card services, there are techy ways to automate and quickly send out thank you notes!

Sending a card is a small but powerful gesture that can turn a happy customer into a loyal customer, and earning reviews, referrals, and repeat business.

How to Edit the Templates

You can completely customize these templates. I’ve included on example with my branding, but you can delete or replace the branding with your own.

To edit the text, simple click and edit.

To edit the background image, double-click in the header space where the arrow is here.

Right click the picture and select Change Picture.

My background pictures are 390 x 540 pixels for optimal use.

Double-click anywhere else in Word to get out of editing the header.

Thank You Note Templates

The templates below are a good start, but I recommend adding at least one note or item that was particular to them or the transaction. E.g. “enjoy your new mancave!”, or “I hope Cory had a good time in the Belton High School band!”, or “We should do margaritas again!”.

The templates below are generic, but one way to spice it up if using a card service is with merge tags to quickly include names and dates. Of course, an errant merge tag can also make you look silly and impersonal, so some agents might prefer to do it all by hand.

I like to keep things short and sweet, but you do whatever fits your style!

1. Closing

The obvious category of real estate thank you notes is the thank you letter after closing the sale!

In addition to a closing gift at title, it is probably a nice gesture to send your buyer or seller a note of appreciation to their new address. You might even be the first mail they get at their new home!

Consider replacing the image in the template with a picture of their home, and customize the message to their name.

2. Housiversary

The anniversary of the closing is a great real-estate related excuse to reach out to past clients.

Unlike other stock cards, the home anniversary is an especially good opportunity to consider sharing information like market trends, maintenance reminders, or offer an updated CMA if you don’t already have a market report service for your past clients. Remind them that you are a listing agent, too!

Consider replacing the image with a picture from their closing day!

3. Birthdays

In the era of Facebook, an actual birthday card can mean a lot more than it once did. Depending on the client, you might even be the only person they got handwritten well wishes from. It’s an easy win to keep your name top of mind and perhaps cheer up their day.

Some templates include the classic “do you know anyone interested in buying or selling” line. But c’mon! It’s their birthday. I say lay off the salesman-y stuff this time.

4. Referrals

You work hard during the transaction to impress your customers. You work hard soliciting their referrals. Don’t forget to acknowledge them!

I don’t know if it’s different in other states, but Texas allows up to $50 in a referral thank you, and I recommend using the whole amount up. It’s the least you can do for a deal that often might earn you 100x that amount.

5. Transaction Partners

Sending a note to your title, lender, and the cooperating broker is a nice gesture and the mark of a professional. It might lead to referral business, but most likely just a better reputation and working relationship with the other parties who help close the transaction.

Thank You Card Services

There are services that make it really easy to send thank you cards, including handwritten cards, as well as help you remember when to send them.

Closing Gifts

In addition to closing thank you cards, a memorable and unique closing gift is a great way to tie a bow around the whole deal.

Some closing gift stores and services include:

Don’t forget to thank your clients on social media as well!

Be sure to get their permission before sharing any pictures, and avoid sharing too many details about the transaction. But a Facebook post is very shareable and can go a long way to keeping your business front and center in cyberspace.

Other Direct Mail Tools

Some of the services above can serve as quite a bit more than just the occasional thank you card, and even be your neighborhood direct mail farming campaigns.

There are other direct mail prospecting solutions to consider as well, to include Just Listed and Sold postcards, geographic farming, and other prospecting functions.

• Agent Marketing Group
• ProspectPlus
• Quantum Digital
• The Personal Marketing Company

Reputation Management

When sending cards is also often a good time to also work on your reputation management and solicit reviews.

I wouldn’t necessarily do it in the card. But if they haven’t reviewed you before, I might match the card with a “Thank You” email.

There are a variety of services that help make it easy to solicit reviews, including:

• FiveStars
• Get More Reviews
• Power Testimonial
• RealSatisfied
• TestimonialTree

If you have to choose, I recommend prioritizing Google to get reviews, unless Zillow or Facebook is your primary lead source. Google likes pages with good reviews and engagement, and your website is more likely to rank better when you get reviews there.

Conclusion

A thank you note to a buyer or seller is excellent service and the mark of a professional real estate firm.

The future of real estate is all about delivering a high end, high touch experience and buyers and sellers are going to come to expect more and more from their real estate agent.

Doing the little things will earn you customer loyalty, referrals, and business.

Updated January 18, 2021; Originally published February 27, 2019