1k
499
0
199
388
3471A recent Reddit post got a big reaction from thousands of users after a homebuyer shared what they felt was a downright embarrassing closing gift from their realtor.
After purchasing a $900,000 home, they expected something thoughtful—or at least useful.
Instead, they received a vague letter saying a donation was made to an unspecified charity and several pages of cheap-looking, computer-printed return address labels.
“I think I would rather not receive a closing gift than something this tacky,” the original poster wrote, sparking an avalanche of reactions.
“The Human Fund”
The post quickly went noticed within the real estate subreddit, racking up more than 2,400 upvotes and over a thousand comments.
It didn’t take long for users to start roasting the realtor’s so-called donation.
Multiple people referenced the fictional charity from Seinfeld, with one comment saying, “It was The Human Fund. Totally legit.”
Another joked that the donation was actually to the local BMW dealership, clearly implying the realtor pocketed more than they gave.
A different commenter chimed in with a sharp suggestion: “Ask them which charity, because you want to match the donation.” Several agreed that this was a clever way to call the realtor out without being confrontational.
Some didn’t pull any punches. “Exactly. They didn’t donate to sh*t,” one person replied.
That kind of blunt honesty was echoed throughout the thread, as people questioned whether any donation happened at all.
Not All Realtors Are Alike
The thread didn’t just spotlight bad gifts. It turned into a giant show-and-tell of what closing gifts can look like, for better or worse.
Hundreds of users shared what their own realtors gave them. Some were just as disappointing.
People mentioned receiving mugs with the realtor’s face on them, useless branded swag, or in one case, a bottle of wine for someone who was pregnant. Others said they got nothing at all.
One person recalled getting a $0.54 Amazon gift card. Another said they were gifted a decorative wooden sign with their last name spelled wrong.
Yet another said their realtor promised pizza on moving day and never delivered—literally.
But there were plenty of bright spots. One user said their realtor gave them a brand new $1,100 lawn mower.
Another received a watercolor portrait of their new home, a thoughtful gift basket, and even toys for their cats.
Some got a year’s worth of furnace filters, pest control services, or professional cleaning.
There were stories of realtors going out of their way to make clients feel welcome—one even hosted a multi-hour dinner at a high-end restaurant to celebrate the buyer’s new chapter.
“Our realtor paid attention to our dietary preferences and did our first grocery run at Trader Joe’s. It was so thoughtful,” someone wrote.
Another commenter shared that their agent sent Thanksgiving pies every year, while someone else said their realtor helped with yard work and maintenance well after the sale was done.
The contrast between these stories and the original post couldn’t have been more stark.
The Takeaway
Most people don’t buy a house expecting a gift. But if a realtor chooses to give one, it can make a lasting impression. Unfortunately, that impression can go either way.
“Sometimes no gift is better than a bad gift,” one user said, and that sentiment resounded throughout the thread.
The bigger takeaway? People remember the small stuff. A closing gift doesn’t need to be expensive or flashy. It just needs to feel personal and sincere.
Whether it’s a bottle of good wine, a thoughtful household item, or even just showing up with a helping hand, effort counts.
In an industry where word-of-mouth can make or break future business, a heartfelt gift could result in years of referrals.
A lazy one, on the other hand, might just result in becoming the butt of a joke on Reddit.
Gifts People Said They Got
Here are some real gifts Reddit users said they received from their realtors:
- $1,100 lawn mower
- Watercolor painting of their new home
- Trader Joe’s grocery run
- Thanksgiving pies
- Pest control service for a year
- Home warranty coverage
- Box of furnace filters
- Handyman service for a day
- Personalized photo book of the old home
- Yard cleanup before move-in
- Champagne or whiskey
- Gift cards to restaurants, Home Depot, or Amazon
- Cat toys and homemade scones
- Charcuterie board with family name
- A pizza delivery on moving day
- Personalized cutting boards
- Christmas ornaments with house address
- Wine tumblers and picnic sets
- Art prints or framed house photos
- Deep cleaning services (sometimes hit or miss)
- Coffee mugs (sometimes with the realtor’s face)
- $0.54 Amazon gift card
- Decorative signs with names (sometimes spelled wrong)
- Homemade keychains
- Custom wooden welcome signs
- Dish towels, candles, or wine
- Nothing at all
It turns out, when it comes to closing gifts, the bar is all over the place.
1k4990199
3883471
