January is always an interesting time in real estate.
Everyone knows they should reconnect with their sphere, but most agents hesitate. They don’t want to sound salesy, they don’t want to force a market update, and they don’t want to send another email that gets opened and forgotten.
That’s why, at the end of December, we did something very simple.
The Email We Sent Instead
We sent a gratitude email to our database. Just a genuine thank you for the support, referrals, and trust throughout the year. We also offered to buy people a coffee if they replied.
We received 10 replies. Another agent I work with on the marketing side sent the same email and received nearly 40 replies.
Here’s what mattered.
We personally called every single person who responded.
Those calls led to meaningful conversations, encouragement, and in one case, a buyer referral. But the referral wasn’t the biggest takeaway. The biggest takeaway was being reminded that people still want to feel acknowledged, not marketed to.
The coffee wasn’t the strategy. Making the calls was.
Replies Matter More than Open Rates
Most agents judge their emails by open rates. We’ve found replies are a much more useful metric. A reply means permission to have a conversation. And a conversation is where trust actually gets reinforced.
That’s why this works so well heading into January.
Inboxes are quieter. People are more reflective. And a genuine thank-you feels appropriate, not intrusive.
Below, I’m sharing two things:
- The exact email we sent, adjusted so you can use it in January
- The simple call script we used when people replied
Grab the full PDF here and save so you can reuse it every year!
Here is the email we sent:
Hi [First Name],
I just wanted to say thank you.
Over the past year, we’ve been grateful for the trust, support, and referrals from people like you. Whether we worked together directly, you sent someone our way, or you’ve simply stayed connected, it’s genuinely appreciated.
As a small thank you, I’d love to buy you a coffee.
Just reply to this email and I’ll send you a Starbucks gift card, on me.
No pitch.
No strings attached. Just a simple thank-you.
Hope the year is off to a great start.
Best,
[Your Name]
And the simple follow-up script we use for those phone calls (#2):
“Hey [Name], it’s [Your Name].
I just wanted to call and say thank you for replying to my email. I really appreciate it.”
(Pause, let them respond)
(If the conversation doesn’t allow you to take it somewhere else → )
“What is the best way for me to send you the gift card? Does the same email work?”
This Only Works If You’re Willing to Call
If you use these, there’s one non-negotiable rule:
Only send the email if you’re willing to make the calls.
This isn’t about automation or volume. It’s about starting the year by reconnecting with the people who already know you.
If you want to build momentum early, this is a clean place to start.
And, if you want to go deeper with calls this year, check out our BAMx Skool Community. We’re hosting a call challenge starting this month to start the year strong.
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