The 19 Best Real Estate Investor Gifts 2020
Are you shopping for a loved one that’s a real estate enthusiast?
Buying holiday gifts for real estate investors can often be very tricky - how do you find a gift that they’ll actually use and appreciate?
Well, you’ve come to the right place. Here are the 19 best real estate investor gifts for 2020.
1. DJI Mavic Air 2
When you’re out inspecting a site, drones give you a bird’s eye view of the terrain, rooftops, and can help with project documentation and marketing.
Our drone has been an invaluable asset to the company and we use it just about every day. We’ve even used it to inspect the roof of an apartment complex while on tour so that we could make an offer immediately.
The DJI Mavic Air 2 is an ideal drone for real estate because its compact, light, and simple enough to operate that the seasoned pro and the newbie, alike, can easily make the most of this machine.
2. Canon EOS M50
A high-quality camera is a very useful tool for real estate investors in many different ways.
They allow you to capture professional-grade photos and videos of projects, including:
Before and after shots
Progress videos while under renovation
Marketing photos
Youtube / social media footage
The Canon EOS M50 is an ideal camera for real estate because it can easily accommodate a wide range of lenses for different photography styles, it connects to your phone via Bluetooth so you don’t have to worry about downloading the shots later, and it has a flip screen display, which is perfect if you’re looking to start a vlog-style Youtube channel about your real estate projects.
3. The Millionaire Real Estate Investor by Gary Keller
Hone your craft by learning from the pros.
Gary Keller, founder of Keller Williams Realty, is not only an expert real estate agent, but he’s also a seasoned veteran when it comes to investing in real estate.
His book is a step-by-step guide on becoming a successful real estate investor and every important milestone along the way. The author interviews a number of wildly successful investors from all around the country and shares their stories and tips for growing as they have.
Becoming successful in real estate investing is all about your mentality and attitude, which The Millionaire Real Estate Investor certainly helps you program.
4. The Ricoh Theta V
2020 made us realize how important it is to have a strong online marketing presence when it comes to showing our listings.
The Ricoh Theta V not only steps up your marketing game by allowing potential residents, commercial tenants, or buyers from all over the country to take a 3-D tour of your available space, it also helps you document every single nook and cranny within a project.
This 3-D camera is incredibly simple to use - you just hook it up to your smartphone, leave the room, and press the photo button. The camera then takes a 3-dimensional shot of the room and you can combine multiple shots to create “doll house” views and floor plans.
These virtual tours dramatically decreased the amount of time we would spend showing space to seemingly interested prospects that just didn’t like some aspect of the interior since they could weed themselves out.
5. A High Quality Blue Pen
Don’t underestimate the power of a top-notch writing utensil.
Real estate professionals are signing documents, contracts, and checks all the time and many of these legal documents will require blue ink.
The Uni-ball 207 Impact Gel Pen is by far the best pen I’ve ever used. Fair warning, though: they will tend to disappear because everyone else will love them, too!
Every signature and checkmark is sure to look professional and bold.
6. Skyline Art
No one loves and appreciates city skylines more than those in real estate!
Especially the skyline that signifies the character and attitude of the city they call home.
Trademark Fine Art offers a number of city skylines on canvas, from Nashville to Warsaw. They come in a number of different sizes and look wonderful on your office walls or propped up on a desk.
These pieces are high quality and make for a wonderful gift.
7. A Leather-bound Padfolio
Leather-bound notebooks bring a certain amount of prestige and professionalism to anyone carrying them.
Not only do they help you organize your notes and cards, but they will present a stronger image of the owner and last for quite some time.
This Forevermore Padfolio is high quality, durable, and can hold a wide variety of everyday items. From cell phones to 8.5”x11” notepads, this padfolio has just about everything you need when meeting prospects and touring sites.
You can choose from a variety of colors to best suit your loved one.
8. A Portable phone charger
I can’t even begin to explain how often I utilize this phone charger.
When your entire career revolves around making and answering calls, responding to text messages and emails, researching property information, calculating investment returns, and so much more, you’re going to constantly be draining your phone’s battery.
Having a slim-profiled portable phone charger can really come in handy when you need a quick boost but don’t have the time to leave your phone plugged-in and out of your hands.
This Anker PowerCore is durable, lightweight (just throw it right in your padfolio!), and can charge your phone up to 3x before needing more power, itself.
9. kwikset Smartphone enabled door locks
With new tenants comes a need for new locking systems. And, especially if you own residential real estate, you’ll be having to change locks with higher frequency.
However, smartphone and Wi-Fi enabled locking systems have revolutionized the way that we handle turnovers. No longer do you need to call the locksmith or buy a new locking system at Home Depot.
With this Kwikset Halo lockset, you’re able to generate up to 250 unique keycodes for your tenants, maintenance crew, or whomever needs access to the units and can add or delete users from your smartphone application.
Simply put?
Changing locks can now take a matter of seconds - and you can do it remotely!
10. Ring camera system
Having security onsite, whether its commercial or residential property, is seen as an important amenity for most tenants.
Not to mention that it will help you keep an eye on the well-being of your investments. (Unless, of course, you turn the control over to residential tenants for their benefit.)
Ring cameras are hands down a favorite at The Cauble Group for all of our investment properties. They allow me to keep an eye on our office and retail buildings after hours and the remotely stored video footage has come in handy, on occasion.
I highly recommend the version with floodlights, as it will also alert any intruders to the presence of a security system on the property and it has a siren with a two-way microphone.
This system is Wi-Fi enabled, easy to install, and hooks up directly to your smartphone, providing ease of use and access for any investor.
11. A Microsoft surface pro tablet
When you’re in real estate, there are any number of meetings that you’ll be in where you need to take notes, demonstrate property boundaries, and pull up comps.
So, why carry both a computer and a notepad when you could just bring a tablet?
Not only is this tablet as light as a notepad, it’s faster than many computers I’ve had and gives users the versatility to type, draw, and write on one platform.
Another selling feature for me is the fact that this device has a USB-C plug-in, which allows you to utilize a number of different cables and give presentations (such as listing presentations!).
12. A Laser measure
The laser measure may be one of the more simple tools on this list, but it is one of my most utilized on a site to site basis.
Whenever I’m walking a new listing, inspecting a property we have under contract, or trying to verify floorplans, my laser measure is by my side.
This Tacklife measure is nice and compact, so it fits right in the door of my car.
I can easily clip it onto my beltloop when walking into a property so I can quickly grab it whenever I need to get a measurement - whether that be from wall to wall or floor to ceiling.
With 196’ of range, you’ll also be able to measure just about any space you’ll be touring without having to break the floor plan up into smaller bites.
13. A high quality flashlight
I can’t tell you how many spaces we’ve gone to tour that didn’t have running electricity or were missing lightbulbs and fixtures.
If the space is bigger - such as an abandoned hospital (yep, been there!) or a larger warehouse, your smartphone’s light simply won’t cut it.
You’ll need a high quality flashlight, like this Maglite Heavy-Duty that can effectively illuminate far off corners and ceilings.
Not to mention the fact that it can double as a form of self-protection, just in case.
14. An audible Subscription
I’m constantly on the go and typically exhausted when I get home, so reading a book isn’t always the most convenient way for me to learn.
However, I do have plenty of time in the car and on walks to listen to books on Audible, which has become one of the primary means by which I consume new content (outside of blogs, YouTube videos, and podcasts, of course).
Audible has a massive collection of audiobooks, from business classics to real estate staples.
A monthly Audible membership makes a wonderful gift for the real estate professional that is constantly looking to better their knowledge.
15. A Standing desk
Stand-up desks are an excellent alternative to sitting in the office all day.
The ApexDesk Flex comes in several different variations of the top, each of which has a couple grommet holes for cables and chargers.
These desks plug directly into an outlet and may be height-adjusted with an electronic keypad located just underneath the table top.
When you’re at your computer working on contracts or researching projects all day, you’re putting pressure on your back that you could simply avoid by standing (or alternating between standing / sitting).
Don’t forget to pair it with an anti-fatigue foam standing mat to help with your back and joints.
16. A Podcast mic
Podcasting is all the rage nowadays.
Not only is it a great way to meet other investors, agents, developers, etc. through interviews, but they can also be an incredible marketing tool for the real estate professional willing to commit to producing a podcast.
Thanks to modern software, all you really need now in order to start your podcast is a high-quality microphone - the software and syndication outlets are free!
The Blue Yeti is one of the more popular microphones for beginners thanks to its value - the quality for the price is unbeatable.
It’s also fair simple to operate - just plug the USB directly into your computer and you’re good to go.
17. A Display Jar for Development Soil
If you’re looking to give a more sentimental gift, this display jar is hands down the best you’ll find.
Capture the memory of breaking ground and developing a project by filling this display jar with soil from the development site.
The wide mouth with the cork stopper makes this jar a beautiful decoration for your loved one’s office or shelf at home.
These jars are well-made, sturdy, and have an airtight seal.
18. A Power Toolkit
When you’re in real estate, you’re likely getting your hands dirty and working on projects day in and day out.
Don’t waste time with old school tools - this DeWalt power tool combo kit has everything the real estate professional needs:
A drill
A circular saw
A reciprocating saw
And a flashlight
The combo kit offers an unmatchable convenience since each tool operates with the same battery - charge it once and you’re good to go no matter what you’re working on.
This kit is also a great starter for the real estate professional just starting to build their toolkit.
19. A Voltmeter
When you’re inspecting a property, you want to make sure you don’t miss any issues.
After all - it could mean the difference between a successful or unsuccessful investment. Not to mention how quickly you can make a decision to buy the property or not.
This voltmeter pack let’s you quickly check the health of the electric systems in buildings, from circuit breakers to wall outlets.
About The Author:
Tyler Cauble, Founder & President of The Cauble Group, is a commercial real estate broker and investor based in East Nashville. He’s the best selling author of Open for Business: The Insider’s Guide to Leasing Commercial Real Estate and has focused his career on serving commercial real estate investors as a board member for the Real Estate Investors of Nashville.
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