Was this fair -- gift for assistance

[emma1420]

So I've been debating back-and-forth trying to figure out if I treated a couple of family friends fairly when it came to some gifts.

I've recently sold and purchased a new house.   Around the same time, my uncle passed away and I inherited some of his furniture (large dining room set, and a complete bedroom set with bedding).

Family friend #1 served as my realtor to buy my new house.
Family friend #2 sold my uncle's house.

Family friend #2 transported the furniture from my uncle's house to his house and stored it for 2 months, then family friend #2 helped transported to my new house a few days ago.

Family friend #1 helped transport the furniture to my new house.  

I gave both family friends thank you card, and I gave family friend #2 $200 in various gift cards to thank him for all the transporting and storing (he never asked for a penny and when I asked him how much I owed him, he told me nothing).   I gave family friend #1 a $25 gift card.   My rationale for the difference was that family friend #1 only helped with the transporting of the furniture, and he also earned a commission when I bought my house.

But, now I'm starting to think I should have provided family friend #1 with a gift card in a larger amount.  What do you think?

[zibazinski]

Commission is enough payment. 

[happyhoix]

Traditionally, helping someone move just earns you free pizza and beer. The 25$ gift card is above and beyond what most people would expect, I think.

But I agree, giving the other friend more gift cards for storing your stuff for two months - that's more of an inconvenience and the gift cards are a nice thank you for that.

[Anne_in_VA]

You did it exactly how I would have.  Stop second guessing yourself!

[emma1420]

Thanks.  I guess I feel guilty because they both got commissions out of the deal, but family friend #2's commission wasn't related to any of my choices.  And family friend #1 is a new realtor and I was only his second client.

[geenamercile]

I wouldn't give either anything for the real estate transactions.  I can see giving Family Friend 2 something for the storage of items.  Family Friend 1 I would have probably just have fed.  I would have fed family friend 2 with the first moving of the items too.      

[emma1420]

Jul 7, 2016 13:59:15 GMT -5 geenamercile said:

I wouldn't give either anything for the real estate transactions.  I can see giving Family Friend 2 something for the storage of items.  Family Friend 1 I would have probably just have fed.  I would have fed family friend 2 with the first moving of the items too.      

Neither of them got food.  They were there perhaps 45 minutes.  So it wasn't like it was an all day affair.  But, I do really appreciate their help.  As they put everything on their trucks, etc., to transport everything.   

[lund]

I think that you did well here.
The first got a client and a commission plus a gift card sort of in lieu of pizza.
The second transported stuff twice and stored it for two months, so a lot more inconvenience for him and his family.

IME people are more ready to help the next time when they feel that they were appreciated and not given the short end of the stick.