I LOVE giving gifts! Use a gift as a way to celebrate the close!

At an event in Mississippi the association gave away a series of door prizes prior to my seminar. There were gift cards, cash and one present. Everyone who won was thrilled and we all celebrated the winners!  During my seminar (hours later) I noticed the present sitting in front of the winner still un-opened. I asked why she had not opened it and she said "as long as it is wrapped I have a present, after I open it, I only have the contents". There is value and mystery in a wrapped present. Just seeing a table of gifts sparks great childhood memories of Christmas and Birthday celebrations. There is no mystery in a gift bag! They are the easy-button for gift giving (and if you are careful they can be reused!!) There is magic in tearing into taped paper and opening a present!!!! Mary Poppins recommends, ”In every job that must be done there is an element of fun, find the fun and POOF the job get's done”. Why not have an ongoing "House Warming Party" in your office. Create a Welcome Home sign and a gift table. Each time a person completes the application they can choose a present as a reward! Add a present to the application process . . . FABULOUS!

Go to the dollar store Ross, TJ Max or Tuesday Morning Inc and buy small house warming gifts for each of your available apartments. Take time to wrap each present in several kinds of colorful paper with matching ribbon and a gift card. Then create a gift table in your office with a Welcome Home sign. Take each person looking for an apartment over and say - "These are housewarming presents, which box would you like . . . if you find your new home here today?” Give them a chance to take in all the colored paper and sizes and ponder the possibilities of what is inside. During your presentation - you can "celebrate" the close" by saying "I can see that you like the apartment - shall we make it official and open your first housewarming present?" After introducing the idea of the present as the way of saying “YES” you can simple say “Let’s go open your present” as an encouragement towards making their decision final!!! Having a present to open makes the paperwork a little less intimidating - like the sugar that makes the medicine go down - you add the "element of fun" with a present! This is not a bribe, or a manipulations - just a gift! Use it to create a great moment with your resident and celebrate their new home with a present. In the book the "Five Languages of Love" gift giving is defined as an expression of love - what the world needs now - is certainly more LOVE!!! 

 No matter how much I love the technology and social networking, once there is human contact, my telephone, presentation, closing and follow-up skills determine my ultimate success. This idea is the first Featured Closing Idea on my new facebook page: Apartment Leasing Ideas - Fabulous Fundamentals!!!!!! If you like this . . . there is more where this came from! :  )

Enjoy

Toni Blake

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Apartment-Leasing-Ideas-Fabulous-Fundamentals/316500449341?ref=nf