Four hundred and five days after breaking ground, construction on our new home is complete. Wednesday, if all goes as planned, we will get our certificate of occupancy.
My husband and I would like to express our gratitude to those who have spent more than a year of their lives helping to make our dream a reality. Before shopping, though, we thought we’d turn to the masters for a bit of advice.
What kind of gifts have you received from clients as a “thank you” or “job well done” etc., and has there been any one in particular that has been especially memorable?
Any and all suggestions are more than welcome. 🙂
Thanks,
Chouter
Replies
This was discussed more than a year ago, so you may never be able to find the original discussion. (I think the Prospero search function was created by your tile guy.)
Gift certificates for dinner. BBQ in the back yard. Gift certificates from a tool store (Lee Valley comes to mind, but HD/Lowes would work).
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
The craftsman formerly known as elCid
BBQ in the backyard sounds good. Texas-style, mesquite-smoked brisket, hot off the smoker. Yum! Most BBQ available here is smoked with alderwood. (What's up with THAT?)
Chouter <---- third generation Texan
A true heartfelt thank you is allways the best for a start.
A meal for the crew in the new digs lets them know they are part of the team / family.
Maybe Bob the Master Tile Guy would like a book?
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Joe H
GUFFAW!
Yeah, final payment.
Seen a couple of things that I liked to varying degrees. To be honest, a simple thank you which shows you noticed some aspect of the effort truly involved - its rare and welcome. I had one customer who sent me what felt like a fairly substantial check at Christmas - totally unnecessary, but again, welcome. It made my day. The note with it was more valuable. And one builder, on a house that just took forever - had a housewarming get-together with everyone involved, subs suppliers, etc when it was finally a done deal. Very out of the ordinary, but kind of cool. Bunch of tradesmen wandering around in sock feet with paper plates and little sausages on toothpicks. That one strikes me as a TOH nod. Same kind of thing on a Habitat house, but obviously a different scenario. Want to talk about folks glad to be in a house, that's the housewarmer to visit.
"The child is grown / The dream is gone / And I have become / Comfortably numb " lyrics by Roger Waters
I kind of wondered if people are really interested in coming to a party once they've moved on to other jobs, but from what I've read here, it sounds like a lot of them are. Worth doing then, in my book.
Interesting you mention Habitat for Humanity. One thing we are considering is making a donation in honor of a couple of the Grand PoohBahs on our job. We're aware of the charities in which they are involved. Good idea, or not so much?
Chouter
first ...
I don't care what anyone else says ...
Cash is cool!
Dinner gift certificates are great too ...
Amazon has cash certificates for tools ...
all this goes with the understanding the referals are a guarantee.
and an open house party/cook out for tradesman/their family and your friends is also a nice touch.
Think open house party where they can recieve their "gifts".
Not sure of your take on alchol ..... but I got rave reviews from my subs with this years gift ... Klein Tools Bottle Opener ..
available at either HD or Lowes .. or most any electric supply .. for about $4 each.
Every trade sub loved it.
For the GC ... I head of one client that had a contact to the local little community newspaper ... she wrote a little article about her remodel ... with the GC's info.
I'd consider that one great gift!
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
Oh thank you! We love the idea of the opener. Cash is cool to be sure, but it seems so impersonal, particularly for those higher up the construction food chain. On the other hand, a gift certificate for tools seems very appropriate for some.
And yes, referrals and final payment are an absolute given.
Thank you!
The Cuervo Gold,
The fine Colombian,
Make tonight a wonderful thing.
I've had lots of homeowners say they were going to have a party or give out gifts once the house was complete. But not one has ever followed through on it. I think folks get busy and burned out, and end up letting it slide.
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Since I deal with the framing end of things, I almost never get to see the completed versions of the houses I work on. So to me, a party at the house would be a good deal. Or maybe just an "open house" where the people could come back and look at it. Maybe bring their Wives too.
As others have said, I think just about anything would be appreciated. Do whatever fits in with your budget and schedule.
People pay more attention to you when they think you're up to something.
I guess now would not be a good time to say...BJ..
highlight secret code.
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Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Edited 3/14/2004 8:13 am ET by SPHERE
A well written, hand written gushing letter of thanks is probably the most valuable for me. Tools, cash, steak dinners, and rare scotch are all great, but they become nontangible memories. Mine letters are in my memory box I think under the bed. A handwritten letter you can show to a potential customer or employer if needs be what you have to offer. Better yet it can be read by your children or even grandchildren giving them a piece of hard tangible evidence as to the character of who you are and where they came from long after they come to clean out your closet.
I think yours is an excellent suggestion and we will do it regardless. One thing that we were so impressed with throughout the process is that every single person on the site with whom we spoke had nothing but positive things to say about our GC and his employees. Even the one or two who were a bit prone to complain had nothing but good things to say. In our minds, that speaks so very highly of our GCs character and commitment. That's worthy of a handwritten letter for sure.
Thank you,
Chouter
Hats off to you!
I have a theory which states that you often end up doing business with people of your ilk.
So, it follows that you will attract and hire people with integrity if you too posess integrity. And so on....
Notes are huge, parties are great, as you get to see the finished product, and tool gift certificates are way cool.
My mother would often get me a gift certificate for my hobbies, and every time I would use whatever tool I got with it, I thought of her...Jake Gulick
[email protected]
CarriageHouse Design
Black Rock, CT
We have had a number of parties but only do this if you like to give parties. It should not be a chore for you.
By far the best thing is your personal thanks to the people involved in the project. One of our customers, a wealthy man involved in politics who we saw only a couple of times during the two month course of our work, approached one of our employees at the county fair. He told our guy how much he appreciated the fine quality of the work and his contribution to it. Our guy will remember this compliment more than any gift. It didn't require anything from the customer but his attention and good will. The fact that this busy and important man thought enough of this poor paid and usually unappreciated worker was what made it special. What is more valuable than that?
.........refferals.
Lot's of 'em!
Eric