Tip at closing

Absoultely not.

However, if you are smart, and are moving into a larger coop with a full time live in superintendant, you will grease him $100 (give or take) when you move in to the building. It's just a way to get his attenetion and say 'I'll take care of you if you'll take care of me.' They seem to remember stuff like this and it can make a big impression. If you're moving into a smaller building without a live in super, obviously this doesn't apply.

What exactly does the super do for you? Also, what does he do that's part of his job & what should he get 'a little consideration on the side' for?

most supers live there for free and get paid as well!!! you're already paying him each month - that's what the maintenance/common costs per month includes! so no tipping!

At the actually closing session for a coop no tip is necessary, unlike a condo where you should tip the title agent.

As to the super discussion, I am an advocate of tipping the building staff well especially the super and I made sure to drop off a $100 tip for my super shortly after moving into the building. While anyone can argue whether the super really deserves a tip, they control the building's maintainence and it is nice to be a "priority" when you need service.

Poster #2 here again:

A case in point. Lived in a coop, and one Sunday evening, I noticed that the wax gasket that fixes the toilet to the floor in the bathroom had cracked, and water was starting to leak all over. If left unattended, it would quickly turn into a flood, and cost me a fortune when it leaked into the downstairs neighbors.

HAve you EVER tried to get a plumber on a Sunday evening? First of all, good luck. Secondly, can you say double-triple-superduper overtime? I called the super, who came up, shut off the water, unscrewed the toilet from the floor, and the next day came back with a new wax gasket, reinstalled it, and reset the toilet. For free. He wouldn't even take money, and I would have HAPPILY paid him three Benjamins or more. If you keep your super happy (and really, what's $100 in the big scheme of things when you're plunking down so much to buy a home?), he will keep you happy.

$100 when you move in and introduce yourself, $100 at Christmas, and that should be it, unless he really provides service WAAAAY above and beyond. Think of it this way - $200 over the whole year comes out to 50 cents a day or so. Seems like a worthwhile investment to me for all that goodwill.

completely concur with #5 and #2/#6.A very worthwhile investment. And a nice gesture to boot.

I don't know if you need to do it when you move in, but definitely at holiday time. When you have repairs/problems, the tip pays for itself and much much more.

#5 why does one tip a title person?

Definitely tip the super when you move in to facilitate the move-in process. I only tip when the super/handyman each time they come for repairs.

Title agents (used for condo and other sales of real property) actually have significant power and authority in the closing process as they are the ones who offer title insurance which essentially blesses the closing as being kosher.

At the outset they get tipped, generally called an appearance fee.

People tip them because they want to be friendly with the title agent. If your paperwork is slightly out of order a friendly title agent could be lenient and allow the process to move forward without unduly holding things up.

A commmon practice in the state of New York.

Tipping a title agent is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of. I have purchased 3 apts in NYC and never done it. After getting bent over by every bank, state tax authority, lawyer, etc. in the room the LAST thing I am going to do is tip some guy $200 for doing his job (which you DO pay for in your fees).

Tips at closings for anyone are so far out of line when you are already paying huge fees (especially in NYC) that the first time I heard about it I thought they must be joking.

Closings are like feeding frenzies in which everyone takes a bite for doing very little. Sickening.

#12 again -- but definitely tip your Super before you move in. That is the best investment you can make and someone who will do far more than any bank teller flunkee who disappears 5 minutes after you sign.

#11 here, if any of your last apartments were condo I imagine you probably did tip a title agent. Your lawyer might have explained it to you as a compulsory fee but it is actually an optional gratuity.

Real estate lawyers each have their own standard amount that they tip and no new york real estate attorney worth their salt would recommend not tipping.

Its just like tipping a waiter, not legally required but you do it.

great comments - will be moving to our new apt in two weeks and will def tip the super

Poster #2/6 here again:

I feel that tipping the title agent is ridiculous. Ideally, you have hired an top quality real estate attorney who has thoroughly reviewed all pertinent documents before the close with the attorney on the other side of the transaction, and there should be no reason that 'peperwork is slightly out of order.' That's why you're spending a significant amount of money for a sharp lawyer.

If there IS something truly out of whack with the transaction, then you probably need to back away from the table that day and let the lawyers deal with and resolve the issue(s). There should be nothing 'slightly out of order' at a closing in the first place.

Agree with # 12. Never heard of tipping the title agent. If have a good lawyer, they'll work with the title agent to iron out any kinks in the paperwork.

But it is a good idea to tip the supt when moving in especially if you're rennovating. They do help ' smooth out' a lot of the rules esp. for co-ops.

Heres a tip.... don't spill your coffee on the closing documents and
expect anyone to be happy.

Anyone who's purchased a condo in NYC has tipped the title agent whether they knew it or not - either it's blatant, or it was added to one of the "fees"

Remember to add NYC sales tax to your tip.

I totally disagree that everyone in NYC has tipped the title agent. The rates are set by the state, so it would be hard to build a "tip" into that. And the endorsements are almost all priced at $25 by every company. The mortgage company determines which endorsements are required. Pretty hard to build in a mystery fee.

so what's the average tip to title agents?

$100-$200

i am closing and moving into a building where there is no live=in super but one that is nearby apparently and a new one at that from what i understand. would you tip this person after i move in and then i am only there part-time.

I would not tip any building staff upon closing... wtf is this world coming to?

If the super helps you move in then a nominal tip is nice. If the super pads the elevators, helps get the movers set up with a service elevator, etc $20 won't kill you and it could make him happy and buy you some good will in the future. If he does more, then tip a little more. For instance, if he bends rules and let's your movers work outside of permitted hours in the building, then I would show my appreciation. This isn't a "closing" tip; it's a move-in tip and a way to establish good connections early on for a nominal amount of money.

to insure prompt service

that's it!

"If the super helps you move in then a nominal tip is nice. If the super pads the elevators, helps get the movers set up with a service elevator, etc $20 won't kill you and it could make him happy and buy you some good will in the future."

isn't this what he's paid to do already?

Matt, give it a rest.

Let's give the tipping a rest.

Matt, do you tip waiters?

Matt says he tips people whose base wage is below the minimum wage, so he does tip waiters, but he believes that supers, doormen, etc. are fully paid already.

If your closing was like mine...

The feeling of being trapped in the hull of an ancient roman war ship, chained to an oar.

Feel free to tip the drummer.

Screw all the idiots who say do not tip. If you want your move to be trouble free tip $100 at least before the move in while mentioning that you may need help with minor stuff in the apartment and you will take care of him. We tipped our super $1000 before move in and he took care of a broken faucet, disposal of 100 boxes (that is correct), allowed the workers to work an hour extra without throwing a fit as it is agains the building rules. Told us the little secrets about the building's structure which an architect will charge far more to discover, helped us in getting the right contractor for minor repairs, ensures that workers were not screwing up anything via surprise visits. Best investment you will find. He came running from queens when we had a leak on a weekend. Once you own, there is no landlord to call. He is not obligated to do any of this.

screw the idiots who always tip for no reason to make themselves "better people" than the 99%

Interesting, I just googled 'caonima' and now I understand the hostile attitude.

caonima, It is nothing to do with being better that others. It is ensuring that you get extra service, which is not a minimum requirement of their job, to make your move and life easier. Pure business transaction. Learn to pay if you want service.

hburg, you mean urban dictionary result?

Read the Wikipedia entry too.

You can also watch the first YouTube video and read the captions.

Also, at the Columbia County, New York Free Library, there's a book that explains it all. (not available by Kindle or Nook).

hahaha

I hope you are laughing at me, not with me, because columbiacounty is watching.

with you but scared.

"Screw all the idiots who say do not tip. If you want your move to be trouble free tip $100 at least before the move in while mentioning that you may need help with minor stuff in the apartment and you will take care of him. We tipped our super $1000 before move in and he took care of a broken faucet, disposal of 100 boxes (that is correct), allowed the workers to work an hour extra without throwing a fit as it is agains the building rules. Told us the little secrets about the building's structure which an architect will charge far more to discover, helped us in getting the right contractor for minor repairs, ensures that workers were not screwing up anything via surprise visits. Best investment you will find. He came running from queens when we had a leak on a weekend. Once you own, there is no landlord to call. He is not obligated to do any of this."

***

Good for you!

So in your case, "TIP" means "Tongue In Posterior".

It's the civilized and upper class way of kissing ass!

>civilized and upper class way

certainly explains your objection

I don't think you should tip the super before you move in. Tips should be for service performed not anticipated. That's the same as giving a tip to your waiter/waitress before you are seated at the table. If your super turns out to be great then tip him well during the holidays as a thank you. If your super assists with your move then give him a little something after you move in.

When I move, I will tip the movers.

Since I have to put up a moving deposit, I think the building/super is only doing their job to protect whatever elevators the movers use.

When I need a super to do something out of the line of his duty, I would tip the super.

If I am supposed to tip the super to get his attention, f that, I am with Matt on that one. That practice has terrible future implications.

When you move out of a rental building, tipping the super is actually a very good idea--more so if you have been financially kind to the guy over the years. In most rentals, the super is the one who inspects for damage and informs the management company about the security deposit return. Being in his good graces is just good insurance. Moving out of my old coop I may have tipped the super $50 because I thought he was a great guy who helped me and the building a lot over the years and I wanted to say one last thank you with a token gift if you will.

Tipping to set the relationships off in the right directly upon moving in is a great idea. No one cares about your philosophy or political views of tipping and labor law and contracts and unions. All the doormen and super know is the new guy was really friendly and gave us a nice tip for little reason when he moved in. Do you get better, more flexible, more accomodating, more attentive, more speedy service as a result as time goes on? You bet. Fair or unfair? I couldn't care less. There are a million ways to save the world--not tipping the staff in my coop isn't very high on my list, personally. Of course, everyone is entitled to an opinion--that includes people who are wrong.

"Tipping to set the relationships off in the right directly upon moving in is a great idea."

I'm envisioning Kyle 30 years on the playground on the first day of school.

Kyle to playground bully: "Hi bully! Here's my lunch money! And wait a sec ... let me just bend over for you right now! I want to set this relationship off in the right direction. Thank you please."

"There are a million ways to save the world--not tipping the staff in my coop isn't very high on my list, personally."

I suppose it's a good thing you weren't Giuliani in the '90s back when he was breaking up the mob that pretty much controlled sanitation and construction in this city.

You probably thought those "neighborhood relationships" were actually good for New York.

No point in "saving the world" there, right?

Excellent use of reductio ad absurdum in attempting to make a point. About as effect here as it usually is--which is to say not very.

Bully with the lunch money/super with the tip money.

Both so you don't have to take it up the ass, rather than just addressing the situation directly.

Hardly an absurd comparison.

who is talking about saving the world? I am just talking about NOT ending up with a super that won't do squat until you grease him.

Thanks gcondo. My point exactly.

This whole tipping culture is creating a lazy and entitled building workforce who think they don't have to actually do their jobs unless they get paid extra.

Kind of like the union negotiated treble penalty overtime that people feel entitled to just for having their "body clocked messed up".

Find me a super who routinely works overnight hours.

And we're not talking about contract negotiations. We are talking about people not doing their jobs unless they are paid outside the scope of their salaries in the form of "tips".

Matt,
"Here's my lunch money! And wait a sec ... let me just bend over for you right now!"

I've seen that happen (much to my dissmay) in the CP Rambles and in riverside park (late night)

never heard it called lunch money.

And you're making the implication that all supers are tops and all tennets are bottoms...
more like...how do you motivate a lazy disinterested service person to do a small fraction of their job.
I apologise to the hard working supers that are diligent, professional and timely.
Happy holidays to both of you!

"how do you motivate a lazy disinterested service person to do a small fraction of their job."

Well, for the rest of the working world, the threat of losing one's job for not doing it is motivation enough.

>Find me a super who routinely works overnight hours.

So your industry, you routinely work overnight, i.e. it is expected and known in advance. Yet you still want to extort money from your employer. And you do it through "collective bargaining" which is nothing more than a large group of people coming together to muscle their employer or otherwise refuse to be productive, e.g. slowdowns, walkouts, big rats out front. But the building super ... he can't get a tip becaues that would be like a bully on the schoolyard.

>Well, for the rest of the working world, the threat of losing one's job for not doing it is motivation enough.

Can union members be fired by their employer?

"Can union members be fired by their employer?"

Yes. Duh.

"So your industry, you routinely work overnight, i.e. it is expected and known in advance. Yet you still want to extort money from your employer. And you do it through "collective bargaining" which is nothing more than a large group of people coming together to muscle their employer or otherwise refuse to be productive, e.g. slowdowns, walkouts, big rats out front. But the building super ... he can't get a tip becaues that would be like a bully on the schoolyard."

In my industry, we have collective bargaining agreements.

In the super's industry, he has HIS collective bargaining agreement.

We do OUR jobs without expecting extra pay over and above our paychecks.

The super, however, IS.

I'm not surprised, however, that you're not getting this distinction.

You require pay and a half, double pay, triple pay, penalty pay over and above your regular paycheck, just for doing your job under the conditions that you knew of in advance, signed up for, and are a normal part of the job.

Then you go and roll out the rat, organize a slowdown or a shutdown, etc. if you are displeased.

How do you justify that? Is it because one comes out of a big bad corporation?

"You require pay and a half, double pay, triple pay, penalty pay over and above your regular paycheck, just for doing your job under the conditions that you knew of in advance, signed up for, and are a normal part of the job."

No. The time and a half, double time, triple time, penalty pay, etc. is all part of the final PAYCHECK.

***

"Then you go and roll out the rat, organize a slowdown or a shutdown, etc. if you are displeased."

Only when the company violates the agreed-upon contract.

***

How do you justify that? Is it because one comes out of a big bad corporation?"

No, it's because one party has violated a contract.

TIPPING is in no part of any contract that I'm aware of.

Bring out the Inflatable Rat.

Biggest lie:
"Then you go and roll out the rat, organize a slowdown or a shutdown, etc. if you are displeased."
Only when the company violates the agreed-upon contract.

You apparently don't understand how union contracts work.

No, it's pretty clear

1 - If no contract, disrupt the employer and anyone not part of the union that might otherwise be interested in the job
2 - Contract requires significant penalties for doing anything even slightly more than the minimum
3 - Any dispute can mean the Inflatable Rat or other shows of force against the employer
4 - "Leadership meetings" in exotic locations, because NYC doesn't have anywhere to meet
5 - Anyone making more is subject to ridicule, whether a CEO or a building Super

"No, it's pretty clear

1 - If no contract, disrupt the employer and anyone not part of the union that might otherwise be interested in the job
2 - Contract requires significant penalties for doing anything even slightly more than the minimum
3 - Any dispute can mean the Inflatable Rat or other shows of force against the employer
4 - "Leadership meetings" in exotic locations, because NYC doesn't have anywhere to meet
5 - Anyone making more is subject to ridicule, whether a CEO or a building Super"

***

Depends largely on the union.

I belong to four entertainment unions.

1. No contract = no work. This is how it's always worked.

2. Contract allows for OT, penalties, etc. for duties performed over and above the scope of the original job description. Pretty standard.

3. All of our disputes have been resolved either through mediation or before the NLRB. Also standard.

4. Only if you consider Midtown and SoHo to be "exotic" locations.

5. Depends on who's making more, how they got it (particularly if it's at the expense of our contract), and whether they actually deserve it.

1. No contract = no work. This is how it's always worked.
^ including no one else allowed to work for this employer

2. Contract allows for OT, penalties, etc. for duties performed over and above the scope of the original job description. Pretty standard.
How is it over and above the original job description if you know in advance that this is required, and you set several tiers of escalating penalties? If you know it in advance, how is this a surprise?

3. All of our disputes have been resolved either through mediation or before the NLRB. Also standard.
Ah, so if the rat and the slowdown don't work, you get the government involved, no doubt supported by politicians receive votes from the union. But we should attack the Super getting a tip.

4. Only if you consider Midtown and SoHo to be "exotic" locations.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/union_bigs_face_rank_and_bile_po3sGNBLpbDjfz0yla8FBK

5. Depends on who's making more, how they got it (particularly if it's at the expense of our contract), and whether they actually deserve it.
So union members make the decision about what is deserved by others.

"1. No contract = no work. This is how it's always worked.
^ including no one else allowed to work for this employer"

That's how union contracts work in the United States of America.

***

"2. Contract allows for OT, penalties, etc. for duties performed over and above the scope of the original job description. Pretty standard.
How is it over and above the original job description if you know in advance that this is required, and you set several tiers of escalating penalties? If you know it in advance, how is this a surprise?"

We know in advance working overtime or outside the scope of the job description may from time to time be required. That's why there are provisions for extra compensation in the contract. It's a negotiated part of our paycheck. Union supers have the same provisions. We're talking about supers and other building staffers getting paid OUTSIDE of our regular paychecks for just doing their normal jobs. HUGE difference.

***

"3. All of our disputes have been resolved either through mediation or before the NLRB. Also standard.
Ah, so if the rat and the slowdown don't work, you get the government involved, no doubt supported by politicians receive votes from the union. But we should attack the Super getting a tip."

Again, this is the legal machinery in place for union contract disputes. This has nothing to do with supers shaking down people for extra money just for doing their jobs.

***

"4. Only if you consider Midtown and SoHo to be "exotic" locations.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/union_bigs_face_rank_and_bile_po3sGNBLpbDjfz0yla8FBK"

Again, it depends on the union. I'm not a member of a government employees' union.

***

"5. Depends on who's making more, how they got it (particularly if it's at the expense of our contract), and whether they actually deserve it.
So union members make the decision about what is deserved by others."

No, but like everyone else, we are entitled to our opinions.

Well, it's interesting to know that you, as a member of your 4 unions, are unable to find employment on your own merits without government support, politician support, penalty subsidies, the ability to menace others and hurt the ability of others not part of your clubs to find employment, and ... your own opinions about how the Super should make money.

Congratulations

Matt, no further explanation about why the neighborhood gang is better than the school bully?

"Well, it's interesting to know that you, as a member of your 4 unions, are unable to find employment on your own merits without government support ..."

Government didn't help me get hired.

***

"politician support,"

Neither did politicians.

***

"penalty subsidies,"

It's not a subsidy, it's part of my agreed-upon compensation as per our mutual contract.

***

"the ability to menace others"

Only if you define "menace" as having an equal voice in the workplace.

***

" and hurt the ability of others not part of your clubs to find employment,"

How so? Network television positions under the jurisdiction of my unions only require that you are already a member or become a member after being hired. One needn't already be "in the club", as you suggest, as a condition of employment.

Face it, unlike most Americans who don't have special protection and exist in the workforce on their own merits, you need favored treatment that incidentally involves the ability to mistreat your employer and the ability to abuse and menace others if you aren't getting your way.

I'd be curious to see if you could make it in the real world on your own, based solely on your own merits and what you could negotiate for them, without being backed up by the neighborhood gang.

I find it amusing that a neighborhood gang member is attacking the elementary schoolyard bully.
The super's "racket" is nothing compared to yours.

"Face it, unlike most Americans who don't have special protection and exist in the workforce on their own merits, you need favored treatment that incidentally involves the ability to mistreat your employer and the ability to abuse and menace others if you aren't getting your way.

I'd be curious to see if you could make it in the real world on your own, based solely on your own merits and what you could negotiate for them, without being backed up by the neighborhood gang.

I find it amusing that a neighborhood gang member is attacking the elementary schoolyard bully.
The super's "racket" is nothing compared to yours."

***

Again, you are talking out of your ass.

People with union jobs in private industry are not the same as people with union jobs in the public sector. You cannot be a television writer or director just because you're in the union -- you have to actually not only land the job on your own merits, but continue to outpace the competition just to keep the job.

The "real world" -- in your mind -- would be eminently easier than doing what I've been doing for a living for the past quarter-century.

Uh oh NYCMatt, someone disagrees with you and your neighborhood gang: bring out the Big Inflatable Rat, organize a work slowdown so that productivity declines and you have to work into overtime to get your triple penalty pay, and then point to government support by the NRLB. Also get politicians to call on your behalf in exchange for votes.

LOL -- Huntersburg do you realize how asinine you sound?

How would any politician have ANY effect in a labor dispute inside a PRIVATE COMPANY??

Oh of course, the Obama administration had nothing to do with Boeing, as just one recent and large example.

Bring out the inflatable rat.

Attack the super.

OK, a PRIVATE COMPANY that doesn't live and breathe government contracts ...

Slow down the work.

Bring out the inflatable rat.

Attack the super for accepting a tip.

I tipped my broker at closing. She deserved it though, I could write a novel about the experience she went through with us!

I am planning on tipping my super once we move in. We need a bunch of things fixed, so I just want to get off on the right foot with him.