Moving Out NYC: "farewell tipping" staff?

I got your farewell tip right here.

Perhaps you should better describe "luxury" building. If you mean 960 Fifth Avenue or River House, I have no idea how people there live or common practices. If you mean a regular relatively nicer building in NYC where professionals and other well-to-do people live, I think your realtor's understanding of common practice is absurd. This is entirely up to you. It isn't Christmas-come-in-July.

Never done it.

I have never heard of such a thing. Also how did tipping movers approach $800? How many days were they moving for you? How large an apartment did you have?

Leaving an apartment recently, we tipped several staff AFTER it was clear that they were friendly and helpful ON THE WAY OUT. That is, they expected nothing and did their job and were friendly and so a tip was appropriate. There were others who we intended to tip, but when the super created a problem, well, no tip for him.

Also tipped the movers extra (the foreman told the others that it was a generous tip) AFTER the move was done and they were on their way out.

Ahh, another tipping thread. If you adhere to the theory (as I do) that holiday tips for people in the service industry reflect gratitude for year-long service without the need to one-off tip for carrying bags, taking deliveries, hailing cabs, holding parking spots, etc., then it would seem appropriate to provide pro rata tips when you leave mid-year, and maybe a lttle extra if anyone actually helps with the move, forwarding mail, etc. That has been my practice, though I am happy to say that I have moved only twice in the past 20 years.

i can't wait to see nycmatt's response to this.

nycliving, what's the name of the broker?

that has to be one of the most riduculous and funny things i have ever heard!!
tell the broker it's a great idea and the tip should come from his/her commision.
better yet ask the broker to tip you.. totally nuts on so many levels.

Its a scam.

The broker agrees to push for extra tips for the building, so the broker gets access to apartments and such in that building.

Tell the realtor to tip out of HIS commissions.

We gave the same amount we gave at Christmas when we left in April. We were there for 8 years and everyone was always very helpful.

lo888's tipping was very generous but by no means standard NYC practice in full service buildings. Again, for the rarified world of ultra-highend living, I don't pretend to know what is done.

nyc sport is spot on.

Thank you all for your comments!

"Luxury" means Upper East Side..."one of BEST buildings." And yes, very well-to-do live there. However, I was not one. I took the apt. as my sole alimony. Good decision but then the market crash. So, the money from the sale is my sole asset, income. So, I was shocked. That said, I always tipped very, very well: holidays, fixing things, helping load car, unload, forward mail, etc... And I tipped bldg. staff very, very well for any help in my moving.

As for the tipping of movers, here again I did not realize one tipped movers and I have moved a lot... suburbs. There were 8 movers, 4 in home packing and 4 loading truck, one day. And I did most of the packing myself.
However, I DID know to provide/buy lunch for movers, which came to @ $180.00...delivered. But then the movers told me tipping is expected. So I tipped $25 to $50 each on moving day with $75 to foreman. Then there was an out-of-state, 5 hour drive/unloading, 3 men. I tipped each $100 ($300), which I felt was justified. That all said, no move is perfect and there were mistakes. But on the whole, an adequate move.

As said, my realtor pressured me at the last minute to leave this "'farewell tip," and continues to do so. I am a very giving person, but this one goes against my "giving." I know my expenses and debt and future plans to LIVE! And my son lived in many places in NYC, moved and never heard of a "farewell tip." But without anyone "advising" me, I had planned on sending Dec. 2010 Holiday tips and will do so.

I think the realtor wanted me to do this for HER perks in the building. The superintendent recommend her to me. Hey, she should give a tip! Anyway, this last-farewell-tipping just sounds "fishy" to me. I wanted to leave NYC, was ready, but you know, once a New Yorker, your heart is there. But with this moving-out experience, I was happy to GET OUT! :)

Thank you all.

Your realtor got a commission, didn't she? If she feels that strongly about it, she should definitely do the tipping if you don't want to!

nycliving - so what's the big difference to you between sending tips in December, or handing them out now? If it is a cashflow thing, of course you have to do what is best for you. In general, if you tip on a regular basis for those things mentioned above, I don't think you need to tip at the end of the year, but I'm sure each building has its own culture. I personally hate doing that - always have to hand out a $5 is one reason I avoid resorts - its annoying to be panhandled all day long. Its like if after each time the busboy refilled your water glass you handed him 50 cents.

Great busboy at Centro Vinoteca. Would've bankrupted printer as he refilled our glasses every 3 minutes. Never been as perfectly hydrated!

My last post here: if you are going to tip at holiday time anyway, in a building you haven't lived in for 6 months, then why not just tip now? What if staff who helped you have left the building by Christmas? Why should new staff receive a share of your tips? I would just get it all out of the way if you are already decided on leaving money on the table.

OP - get your haid out of the UES sand - you couldn't possibly be this daft and naive. Get some cajones and tell the RE person to duke whomever she/he feels needed to be duked - and get a backbone will ya. Yes you tip movers. Catering in lunch? Did you put the china out for them too?

spinnaker: I'm still laughing! My thoughts exactly -- you beat me to it, spinny!

Why not sign over your bank account to the staff, on your moving out day?
Move-in and move-out fees (in my building $500 coming and going -- no returns, even if nothing is damaged).

" Farewell tip"?!

Here's a farewell serenade:

"Fare thee well,
fare thee well;
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul..." (" Broke Down Palace" Grateful Dead )

Consider the staff of your former building when next you sit down with your trusts and estates attorney.

Alan, why does she need to fall for sth that seems fishy to her? Would it be fair just cause she has more than you?

Alan: Yes, of course! Don't forget to leave them something in your will!!!

Spinny: I'm still laughing!

To Truth, In my bldg. moving-in need pay a fee.
I was to pay a gratuiteeeee 'cause as realtor said, staff had been good to me.

Wellllll, I was very good tipping all along too. And gifts. You know, bldg. staff are people who have personal problems too and many confided in me. Um, I should have received a bouquet of flowers from the doormen ~

Movers needed to eat lunch while moving...so ate on boxes/plastic forks...my china was packed...otherwise I would have done the bit. Wine glasses, candles, music... ~ ~ ~

Well, it appears no one has heard of a Happy La La Good-Bye Tip. I am always wary of realtors, watched this one, but at the end, week before closing, she was supporting the BUYERS. That was the clincher for me.

And as for a Holiday tip, I will even rethink this one. I am very active in animal rescue and I know the animals would love some money to save them.

Thanks for the feedback and laughs even tho some were letting me have it :) I do understand.
My last post here too. Thanks.

Tipping on the way out - I don't think so. You won't get a break on your new building, you will be fully expected to tip, so you're in for double tips that year. That's crazy. Whoever moves in after you will pick up the christmas tip.

nycliving: You got in the middle of a clusterf*ck; in your building.
Don't pay any more for "staff to be good to you".

Most people on here are good. They have good intentions. Just having a bit of fun. Mean no harm.

and, that's the Truth.

When you move out , here's another serenade to the staff:

"I had to move, move;
really had to move-ove-ove;
That's why if you please, I am on my bended knees, Bertha (super, etc.;)
don't you come around here, anymore..."
( "Bertha", Grateful Dead )