Cool Client Deliveries

Cool Client Deliveries
A Cheap Way To Make a HUGE Impression




The monkey and I came up with some pretty cool ideas for inexpensive deliveries to our clients.

First, we wanted to come up with something for the 4th of July, so we designed the postcard below which will be accompanied by 3 sparklers and some red white and blue ribbon.

Karen is also baking brownie cupcakes (she made me some today for my birthday...yum) and putting little american flags in them. Neat idea!

Next week, we are delivering a "cool treat". We got clear cups from Starbucks and stuffed them with  Starbucks instant iced coffee packets, 100 calorie milano cookie packs, a straw and a postcard. (below) They turned out so cool! Total cost per cup was less than $2.00 each including the printing!

Email me with your delivery ideas! michelle@hometeam-lending.com

Do You Read What I Read?

Do You Read What I Read?
The Power of Books


I love to read and listen to books. I am always looking for a good book. I love people's recommendations because it helps me filter out wasted reads or books that don't spark my interest. Some of my FAVORITE books have been recommended and my most favorite books...they have been gifted.

One of the neatest and cheapest (thanks to Amazon) ways to leave an impression is to actually GIVE someone a book. One of my friends sent me Seth Godin's new book Poke the Box in the mail with a little note. The enclosed note said something like this, "I just love this book. It is a small book with big ideas. I know you will enjoy it."  She hit the nail on the head when she sent it for three reasons:

1. She knows I love receiving things besides bills in the mail. I was like a child at Christmas when it came.
2. She knows I love Seth Godin and I read business/motivational books from time to time.
3. This is Seth's newest book - odds are, I don't own it yet.

So for just under $7 plus shipping, she made a huge impression and made my day. You don't have to send it in the mail, you can simply hand deliver with a note. Some publishers or book stores will even give you a discount for bulk orders, so ordering 5-10 books at a time to hand out to clients may save you money!

So, share your books - it will make a huge impression.

A Monkey BBQ

A Monkey BBQ

No, we didn't barbeque the monkey

Let's face it. There are A LOT of options for marketing and advertising out there. A LOT of ways to spend your money and it can be hard to figure out what is the RIGHT thing to invest in. Should I run a newspaper ad, should I do a billboard, should I sponsor an event? Home Team Lending's philosophy had always been simple ... invest in people.

We have always put our dollars toward face time with our clients and friends rather than advertising. It is the relationship that matters and the friendships that bring in business. 

Wednesday was our annual BBQ for our Realtor friends as a thank you for their friendship and business.  Yes ... the monkey came too! What a fun time we had.

Moral of the story... it is better to invest $50.00 in 10 cups of coffee with clients than an ad in a newspaper. Oh and something else we learned ... don't let Mary Knutson get a hold of the monkey :)

Mary and our Angell

Rhonda and TJ

A wonderful picture of Chalice and Shelley... and of course Dick!

Once a pill, always a pill (Angell and Bill)

Sweet Marilyn with the Marketing Monkey

Mary Jo with the "lighter side" of the monkey.

Important Marketing Meeting - At Odell's Brewery

Important Marketing Meeting
At Odell's Brewery

So we had a VERY important and VERY official marketing meeting at Odell's brewery with Michael Bustamante today.

Some great ideas came from it! Stay tuned....

Oh, and just so you know, the monkey drank it!

Chewing Gum - Pass It On

Chewing Gum
Pass It On


My boyfriend's Aunt sends cards for every holiday. Valentine's Day, Saint Patty's Day, she even sends 4th of July cards. We love getting them for two reasons:

1. Because she always picks the coolest cards
2. Because we can count on 2 sticks of gum inside the card

While some people may find this a bit odd, we love it! We always unwrap the gum and chomp on it while we read her sweet message.

Other cool things Aunt Jan sticks in the cards:
- $2 bills
- Coupons
- Photos
- Articles from the paper
- Recipes

Bottom line is, a card is cool, but a card with a treat...even cooler!