Hi, we've been renting our house near Seattle to some people. They seem like really nice people, and we figured we'd get them something for Christmas, to kinda be nice and show our appreciation for taking care of the house (we live in New York now.)

I was kinda thinking a $100 gift card to Lowes or something, cause I am sure there are little things that pop up and stuff. I just don't want to send the message, "Fix my house, bitches." Anyway, if anyone has a better suggestion, lemme know. Thanks!

12/13/2008 5:03:20 PM

100 gift card to walmart instead

12/13/2008 5:04:16 PM

$100 gift basket with assorted fruit, meat, and cheese.

It's a welcoming gift and a nicer way to say thanks than a little piece of plastic.

12/13/2008 5:18:22 PM

I think this is a great idea. I would actually go with the Lowes card. There's a lot of stuff there that wouldn't imply them having to fix up your stuff. They may want a nice new mirror or kitchen organizers or need a washer and dryer.

If you're thinking against the Lowes card, why not just knock $100 off their rent?

12/13/2008 5:19:42 PM

yeah, that will mean more than a gift

12/13/2008 5:25:52 PM

hmmmm interesting thought.

12/13/2008 5:27:52 PM

knock $100 off their rent

12/13/2008 5:42:00 PM

$100 off rent is a much better idea

12/13/2008 5:45:28 PM

I would do the gift. Something physical will show you care. The lowes gift card is a great idea. They'll more than likely spend it to fix up your/their place.

12/13/2008 6:10:45 PM

$100 Visa giftcard?

12/13/2008 6:23:57 PM

Put it in a cd to afford a down payment in the future.

12/13/2008 11:10:55 PM

I would do the $100 off rent, but they already have auto pay set up, so I imagine that would be a pain to change it for a month, plus I kinda feel like that is just a cop out. Not that a gift card requires that much though, but I dunno...

12/14/2008 2:04:23 AM

Amazon gift card

12/14/2008 2:47:36 PM

Quote :

""Fix my house, bitches.""

12/14/2008 6:05:18 PM

Quote :

"$100 Visa giftcard?"

12/14/2008 6:21:38 PM

My old landlord gave us a fruit basket..kinda cliche but it worked.

I always liked those edible arrangements....Or a giftcard is nice

PS, can I rent from you?

12/14/2008 6:23:19 PM

Gotta be honest, the first thing I thought (before I even read your comment on it) was "fix my house, bitches".

Visa gift card isn't a bad idea.

12/14/2008 6:34:39 PM

lowes gift card is best.

12/14/2008 6:36:13 PM

i think im the only one who thinks the lowes card sucks

how about an amazon gift card. they could use it to buy anything

12/14/2008 6:40:06 PM

I think the Lowes gift card is perfect. Fruit baskets are extremely lame and useless.
Giving them something rather than simply subtracting from rent (although not really feasible) is the best idea.

12/14/2008 7:25:40 PM

i'd be pissed if i got an amazon gift card. i'd rather have a card to somewhere i can actually shop at, instead of sending my order through the inter-tubes.

12/14/2008 7:45:03 PM

money off the rent is a BAD idea...

even though it is intended for a gift, it sets a precedent that you are flexible on the amount paid, even if that is not your intent.

12/14/2008 7:46:05 PM

I like the visa gift card cause they can use it anywhere and everywhere and it doesn't send the message of "fix my house bitch." Unless you know what their tastes are, I would send a gift card with a nice holiday flower arrangement.

12/14/2008 7:55:30 PM

On a more serious note than my last post, I think the gift basket idea is great. I used to love when my dad would get a ton of those from work....OH! and those 3 different types of popcorn tins. Those are awesome, and when they were finished I got to use them to store art supplies, toys, etc.

12/14/2008 8:36:44 PM

def lowes...it shows you care for both them and the property...it would def guilt trip me to spend it on cleaning up the house...something my roommates care little for..."oh we'll just use the security deposit"

yea thanks....$2200 bill from 2yrs of them...thank god i was subleasing and not on the lease

12/15/2008 5:50:21 AM

Quote :

"$100 gift basket with assorted fruit, meat, and cheese. It's a welcoming gift and a nicer way to say thanks than a little piece of plastic. "

i, for one, would be pissed at the gift basket. its too hard to gauge what people like and what if they have allergies? i usually never eat the stuff that is sent.....if i had a choice i would prefer a gift card so i could spend the money how i wanted to on things that I needed

12/16/2008 9:13:14 AM

i dont understand how anyone could ever be pissed about getting food

unless it was a fruitcake

i'd be offended by the lowes gift card as a renter from my landlord

do you know anything about them? do they have kids? how about a gift certificate to the movie theatre nearby?

12/16/2008 10:42:03 AM

I don't think I could ever be offended if someone gave me a gift card to buy things at my discretion, unless it was to like Gary's House of Buttplugs, or something like that. If you're really worried about offending them then just get the visa gift card that was suggested earlier. They can use that anywhere.

12/16/2008 10:50:44 AM

Get them a box of cleaning supplies.
Win/win.

12/16/2008 10:56:54 AM

prepaid credit card from wal-mart.

that's CASH baby, no one can tell you how to spend it.

12/16/2008 11:12:10 AM

After much contemplating I decided to do the Lowes gift card thing. I definitely appreciate all the suggestions, and it is obvious there are many different ideas on what exactly the right thing would be. The people who live there are really nice, and hopefully they will simply take this as a nice gesture and not read into it or anything. There are lots of things you can buy at Lowes that don't involve fixing up a house (tools, plants, grills, etc.) And honestly, the house is pretty new (built in 2001) and we took really good care of it, so there is not too much that I expect is in need of repair, if anything.

12/16/2008 11:37:47 AM

Amazon

12/16/2008 7:56:38 PM

Quote :

"I was kinda thinking a $100 gift card to Lowes"

NO...

That says.. Hey.. fix my place up wont ya! Gift card to a nice high dollar restaurant would be better.

12/16/2008 8:22:52 PM

That's an interesting opinion.


But I have been renting for most of the past 12 years or so, and I know if my landlord gave me anything, I would be pretty happy. Our current landlords actually baked us a pie for Thanksgiving. I don't like pies that much, but the simple fact that they thought of us was nice. I know if they got me a gift card to Lowes I would definitely use it. Things come up that I just don't bother reporting to the rental company, but that do cost money. For instance I replaced the sprayer on the sink the other day when it was leaking. It only cost $8.00, but there are little things like that which just pop up. Regardless, like I said, I imagine they will use it for something totally non-related to fixing up the house, because nothing in my house is broken or in need of repair.

These people are good people, and I really don't think they will read into a gift like a few of you seem to.

12/16/2008 10:12:21 PM

reducing rent as a gift or in lieu of reimbursement is illegal in many states.
gift baskets are shitty.

go with the $100 lowes or visa gift card.

12/16/2008 10:26:48 PM

target
gift
card

12/16/2008 10:48:47 PM

Quote :

"i dont understand how anyone could ever be pissed about getting food unless it was a fruitcake"

most of the stuff that comes in most gift baskets are pretty gross to me unless its all candy and chocolate. all that cheese and meats and stuff just dont do it for me.

and i hate hate hate fruitcake

you should get them a visa / american express prepaid gift card instead of one to a specific store

12/17/2008 9:05:21 AM