I pay my bills! Maybe I go really crazy and pre-pay some large bills like property taxes! :)

How do I celebrate a sale is a good question. For me it depends on whether I represent the Buyer or Seller and the entire transaction. I thank everyone involved, including the people behind the scenes. There is always a sincere verbal gift to everyone, sometimes also written notes and sometimes small personal gifts.

However, for me, I personally celebrate by being grateful for the closing as well as Grateful for Everday I'm alive and always dig in deeper after any wins or losses. Gratitude and a Positive Attitude provide for more rewards going forward. At age 82 and still selling real estate after 36 years and being a Certified Downhill Ski Instructor, 47 years, and part time now in Colorado, those are my grateful rewards  to myself in themselves.

I do the closing dance. The bigger the deal, the more elaborate the dance, sometimes clothes come off. Have a great day.

Richard,

We celebrate everything...the good and the unexpected frown, because a smile will follow the frown, because it is a stepping stone to success.  We took our office out to dinner when we lost a deal we were all involved in (small boutique firm of 5), and celebrated the success of learning what went wrong.  The next day, the principals realized their stupidity and the deal was back on...and yes we celebrated again...

We also celebrated listings, and getting rid of some of them too.  A

I like to celebrate sale with taking my family, hubby and kids out to dinner. They know I work hard, and many times am working weekends while they're hanging out with dad, so I like to treat them to show them that hard work pays off. Plus, I enjoy the break of not having to cook, since I've been working hard, too!

Life and Business is Good.  I just lisended to Toni Robbins motivational cd, that says we must celebrate our successes!  I at the very least say Yahoo! and do a little happy dance...

Well, as an old sales manager used to tell his salesmen when they brought in a good deal and said well geeze laweeze boss look at the deal I just closed and he would respond by saying "That was yesterday. What are you doing for me today?" That experience may have jaded me at a very young age because now when I close a deal I just say N   E   X   T!!  

I love Nancy's response above - she is my new role model!!!   Yes, gratitude and a positive attitude help everyday be a celebration.  However, I do enjoy treating friends or  family to happy hour or a nice dinner.  

I find these comments SO interesting!  The overwhelming thread comment has been to the likes of, "Clients and other party members receive some form of thanks" whether that is tangible or verbal.

What's missing from our thought process is how WE should be and feel rewarded.  I agree, sometimes you can't WAIT to see the backside of a particular transaction because of all the problems or personalities involved.  For the most part, however, it seems to reason that we SHOULD be rewarded for a job well done.

In a different company, my former boss said she made a point of buying herself a scarf, a tool, a golf club, a beautiful Mount Blanc pen, something tangible that she could see (and probably write off on taxes! Heh....) regularly that would remind her of her successes in life. I think this is actually a lovely idea!  Doesn't have to cost the earth.  You can STILL do a dinner out or a vaca reward, but that little sumthin'-sumthin' totally makes sense.  Kinda reminds me of the gold star on my lapel that the Catholic nuns used to paste on my collar for turning in a good report.... (I'm giggling here.)

For my last transaction, I bought myself a slew of A-Boards since I knew they would make me more money, could be "written off", would be a tangible gift and ultimately, used for a very long time.  Mount Blanc pen or a Chopard watch might be in my near future....

All the best from the Northwest!

Rita Harris, Broker
WP Properties
https://www.facebook.com/seattleareahomesforsale 

After 3 1/2 years of working on an SLS short sale, I plan a huge celebration when she finally closes..IF she closes!!

reading through all the comments, I like Bandele and Lenn's the best.

I usually sign up the buyer or seller for a wreath at Christmas change them to past client in the data base, and add them to the file to send out the closing sheet in January. I deposit the check with a sigh of realief, say a prayer of thanks and go on to closing the next ones in the funnel. Remember to take off the lockbox too.Put it sold in MLS to avoid penalty.

I guess the rest of you do the same thing  but did not mention it. All good.

We often talk about celebrating each success but rarely find time to do it.  We are fortunate to have many successes to celebrate.  I think we need to focus on reaching certain milestones as opportunities to celebrate and perhaps we need to plan for those milestones in advance so we are exctited to reach them.  We take our kids on some pretty nice vacations and remind them that when mom and dad are working hard and "always talking real estate" it's so they can have great vacations.      

I reinvest part into my already budgeted marketing and I humbly thank God for bringing the right person to me to help. Of course "Just Sold" postcards.

:) I agree with my friend Alexandra. Celebrate the wins and the losses - they are all stepping stones - and there's a lesson somewhere.  I am also celebrating by paying off debt with every closing - a debt free lifestyle is a happy lifestyle. 

I do the happy dance...until I look and see how much I have to give to Uncle Sam...UGH!

I have 6 kids so cash is always tight.  But when I close an escrow I take them all out to dinner.  Their Favorite is Golden Coral.  And I certainly do not mind eating steak.  My wife and I will go alone to lunch on a Tuesday at a nearby steak house that has a good deal on Tuesdays.  We have a budget we go on.  But when we see we have some room and the money is coming in good we have a wish list for our home or family and get some thing(s) on the list.

We celebrate with Dinner out.  Our family of 4 takes turns picking the restaurant.  So when I win, we all win! l  It's great involving the family since they have probably had to endure me complaing and grumbling about difficult clients up until closing.  lol

I treat myself to a round of golf, when my handicap goes down, business is good.

After a successful close, i purchase a couple of fine cigars and smoke one with a cocktail on the patio to savor the efforts of all involved. then i go find another deal.

Our Team celebrates wins I treat them to a spa day, nice dinner, or we do a happy hour. 

We're in the lending part of the industry. We do a happy dance or the clear to close shuffle. Getting the "clear to close" makes our day. Got one this morning!

I always celebrate. Might not be that evening but paying on a vacation which I always enjoy. BUT YES life is to short. 

totally depends.  Price, level of difficulty in meet client to close among other factors.  I might not celebrate and I might do a really expensive dinner out if it was a big closing with a lot of challenges.  I don't really spend money celebrating listings, but I do some high fives and happy dances.

I celebrate by depositing a check :)

We go out to dinner after a successful closing but not for listings.

I like to go out to dinner and celebrate a nice closing, or several in a row!

I celebrate as often as I can with Hot Fudge Sundaes.

So many answers to this question...and it all depends on the situation.  If it's a sale or listing I really worked extra hours for, stressful, etc--might celebrate with a special dinner or small shopping splurge item.  In 2013 I had such a great year we splurged on an expensive family vacation!

I usually get a gift for my buyer or seller, once the deal is closed.  As a family we go out for a nice dinner and sometimes my husband and I go on a 2 or 3 day get-away.  

I thank the sellers.  Then I thank the buyers.  Then I thank the title attorney.  Then I deposit the check.

The best celebration is depositing the check at the bank. Having settlements is part of the job. You would not have the need for a celebration each payday if you were on salary.

I give my clients a bottle of Moet champagne , a Personalized Welcome Mat with their name on it and I take them to dinner at a restaurant of their choice.  I join them for the dinner!

Richard - We like to celebrate our closed transactions, as IMO, you should celebrate life's little victories.  Sometimes it might be nothing more than a special dessert after dinner or maybe a good bottle of wine; nothing too elaborate, as after all, aren't we supposed to be closing deals?!

Yes. I do like the glass of the 'good stuff' at a good waterfront eatery.
The celebratory dinner and the "Atta Girl" all have a place also.

What brings to me the greatest dimension, the most enduring impression of a success it the meditation on the truth we all experience that is summed in the words "the simplicity that exists on the other side of complexity."

In the welcome embrace of that simplicity, there is rejuvenation, restoration, purpose.

I try to celebrate something in life everyday!

The final sale is a bonus good day, but just part of a job I already love.  I usually celebrate by telling all the neighbors and asking if they know anyone else.....

I celebrate a sale with a good dinner and doing something fun on the weekend like going to the coast or seattle. If its a large sale, I'll usually put some away in savings and buy one thing I've been wanting for months.

Celebrate by now paying off all debts, (and home) now celebrating by saving for another home and financial security by 50 years young.

When a W2 gets their paycheck, I do not hear of them celebrating Richard Robibero, ABR, SRS so I do not celebrate.  Someone once told me, that when a sale records, you are now 'unemployed'.

After so many years in business Richard Robibero, ABR, SRS , it's just become the part of the life! In fact, the question usually is 'who's next?'

I treat my assistant to a pedicure! Well, to be fair, my assistant is also my wife, and she works for free, so I have to pay her some way!!!

Growing up as an athlete, I've always related real estate and business to sports so a sale to me is like a win! A fist pump or two, a big yes and on the next game (transaction)! 

Binding agreement happy dance for me, and often a quiet dinner out after a closing. I do agree that marking our successes is a great habit!

I don't celebrate myself but just get back to work.

My favorite treat is a spa evening on the day of closing. So the next day I can start fresh and look forward to the next one:)

There are too many for me - more than 100 or so every year - so I just move on to the next.

When my wife is well enuff (chemo), we go to a small down-home-Southern-Style-cookin'type of restaurant. Nuttin'fancy! Jess good grub...

We go to a favorite place for dinner! 

I celebrate them all! Any excuse for a slice of Itslian Cream Cake from Mayflower Bakery is good for me. ;

When I was a new agent, I always treated myself to a trip to the spa or a new pair of shoes. Then I got too busy and forgot all about celebrating...now it's deposit the check, move on to the next deal. LOL

I am always thankful for each and every closing: for the buyers, their lender, the seller, and the co-broke agent and title company (attorney if there is one at the closing -- which is not common in SE Wisconsin closings). I give a Gift Basket to the Buyer and am thankful to God for every provision. In Everything Give Thanks!

I closed a nice house this morning and made an offer on a  condo for investment- this will be the biggest reward I will have ever given myself...  lol- the returns are really what I am looking for;)

I thank god for the blessing of having a closing and I then thank the sellers, buyers and the attorney representing my clients. I usually also bring a basket for my clients. Before I deposit my check I remember to thank my husband and my son for their support.

If it's a close friend that we've helped, we'll go out for drinks if time allows.  Otherwise, it's just business as usual.  When we first started we would celebrate each closing by going out for dinner.  That's when we didn't sell much.  

After thanking everyone and putting the client's name in my database, I deposit 1/3 in my tax account, 1/3 in my retirement and 1/3 in my business account.  Then, on to the next one!

I don't celebrate deals, cuz just my luck when I start to get too happy about something, something else will go wrong and I'll need that money I spent celebrating. I do allow myself to feel good for a couple hours though.

I like to say "DD, done deal" and go on to the next one..

Always feels great though!

I do not celebrate as it's my job. I do yell 'next' though.

Rick Snow has no pic so it's hard to tell if the happy dance naked is a good thing or a bad thing .... I'm sure the police will decide if it's in public lol.

I'm with Cindy Davis ! Paying off bills is a celebration for sure! 

Rick Snow - Selling El Paso TX I am cracking up!  

I celebrate by depositing the check and putting some into savings.  Then I like to go after another sale.  Each sucessful month leads to dinners and possibly a nice weekend get away.

I don't celebrate either. Smile when the check is deposited is all.

We go out for a buffet lunch at our favorite Indian restaurant.

I hand the check to my bookkeeper to deposit and record.

A trip to the bank.

Originally I said I would celebrate with a Dinner out but that went away right away. I do celebrate each home by coloring in the little houses I have on my wall. I love watching them fill up!

No, I don't celebrate closings on my own.  I still have work to do.

Chief cook and I celebrate with some sort of dinner out!  And, it gives her a break from cooking!!!

I don't personally celebrate closings... I acknowledge them & keep it moving. I've found myself thinking about the next closing while driving away from the current one. Closings are never guaranteed so I'm constantly looking ahead & doing what's necessary for the other to close.

I guess my gratitude to the Universe may count as a celebration. 

I smile on the way to the bank and put that puppy in there.  Never tell the husband we're going to close. He checks the acct. on line then I get a call of congrats. We breath a sigh of relief then eat supper and move on to the next. Business as usual. I do thank all parties involved. Not too often do I get my client a closing gift. I have done my very best to represent them.  When everything comes to close and the dominoes fall as they should, its a success and hopefully, everyone is happy.

I'm with Ann Wilkins about loving Nancy Middleton's comment!

For me depositing the check (or these days - receiving the receipt for the electronic transfer) is the only immediate reward I get from each closing. After all, selling homes is my profession and closing is the ultimate goal. I enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that the cumulative funds from those closings are there for me to use for what I want, when i want it. For instance, I particularly enjoy running marathons (no not all races are marathons - only those that are 26.2 miles long) and ultra marathons so I have satisfaction of not having to worry about a travel budget I if I chose to hop on a plane to fly cross country to pick off another state in my quest to complete a marathon in all 50.

depending on how many checks have hit the account recently...i learned years ago to pay the bills off.  some of the checks we get in the higher cost areas are huge so its fun to pay the cell  and internet for a year.  buy the new tires and pay  the property taxes.

then a NICE steak for me and mine and some treats for the helpers along the way.  once bought an escrow officer i really love a nice 24 inch monitor when i saw the tiny old 16 inch piece of junk she was using.   best $180 i ever spent.

I close the file, deliver the check to my office bookkeeper (wife) and get to work on the next deal!

You should be grateful for what you have accomplished and move on.  Keeping an eye on your goals for the year.  Always be grateful, no matter the size of the sale.  Gratitude will always bring you back to being grounded.

I don't celebrate them, it's what I told my customers I would do. I have plenty of satisfaction by accomplishing that without fanfare. 

I don't celebrate either sales or listings. Maybe I should.

I do not celebrate at all. It is just like any day.

I've never celebrated a sale or new listing.