Episode 900: The Handwritten Note Advantage Nobody Talks About - Your Daily Real Estate Podcast with Tristan Ahumada

Summary4 min read

Episode Overview

Podcast: Your Daily Real Estate Podcast with Tristan Ahumada
Episode: 900 – The Handwritten Note Advantage Nobody Talks About
Date: May 18, 2026
Host: Tristan Ahumada

In this impactful episode, Tristan Ahumada delves into the often-overlooked power of handwritten notes for real estate professionals (and anyone wanting to build meaningful relationships). Building on his previous episode—where he covered five handwritten note ideas—Tristan shares five more specific situations where a handwritten note can make a lasting impression and strengthen connections. He highlights that, even as technology evolves, this personal touch grows more valuable.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Enduring Power of Handwritten Notes

Tristan opens by emphasizing that handwritten notes will never go out of style, especially as AI and digital communication proliferate:

“As we progress as a society with AI and social media and whatever else is next, [handwritten notes] will become more important to connect people to people.” (00:05)
Building relationships and community is central to business in real estate and beyond.

Five Effective and Meaningful Handwritten Note Ideas

Apology Note
- When to use: When you’ve dropped the ball, missed a commitment, or misspoken.
- Why: A handwritten apology feels more genuine and has a stronger impact than a text or email.
- Example content:
  “I owe you an apology for [the specific thing]… I thought about it and you deserve better from me. I’m sorry. I hope we can talk.” (01:00)
- Use with care: Should be reserved for meaningful situations, not overused.
New Chapter Note
- When to use: To congratulate someone starting a new job, new venture, moving to a new city, or similar milestones.
- Why: Recognizing big personal moments helps deepen relationships beyond the transactional.
- How to notice: Pay attention to social media for updates about new life events.
- Example content:
  “Congratulations on [the new chapter]. I know how much work, courage, and faith it takes to step into something new. Whatever comes next, I’m rooting for you. Don’t forget to enjoy the beginning—that’s where a lot of the magic happens.” (02:40)
- Frequency: Writing one note a day is manageable (“We try to write one a day”). (03:19)
- Tool tip: Services like “Handwritten” (spelled with a Y) can help automate and still use a real pen.
After a Meaningful Conversation
- When to use: After a particularly impactful in-person, phone, or video conversation.
- Why: Shows you value and reflect on the interaction, makes people feel seen and appreciated.
- Example content:
  “I’ve been thinking about what you said about [topic]… You have a way of saying things that makes me see them differently. Thank you for that.” (04:00)
- Tristan’s favorite:
  
  “This is probably the one I use the most.” (03:45)
Referral Thank You
- When to use: When someone has referred you to a client or provided a business opportunity—even if it doesn’t result in a closed deal.
- Why: Highlights gratitude for trust, and differentiates referral thanks from generic thank you notes.
- Example content:
  “Thank you for connecting me with [name]. Referrals are my number one source of business, and I thank you for trusting me with your [friend/colleague/family]. I don’t take it lightly.” (05:10)
Recognition Note
- When to use: To recognize someone’s consistent and often uncelebrated hard work.
- Why: Offers acknowledgment to people for ongoing, sometimes unnoticed, efforts.
- Who: Useful for staff, coworkers, family, friends, or anyone in your sphere.
- Example content:
  “I just wanted you to know I see what you’re doing… The way you’ve been [specific thing] hasn’t gone unnoticed. People like you keep the rest of us moving, and I’m grateful for it.” (06:03)
- Host’s challenge: Tristan admits he wants to do this one more often in handwritten form.
  
  “I'm trying to do this more as a handwritten note because I know my staff would appreciate this more.” (06:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the continued value of handwritten notes:
“It’s super old school, but it’s how we connect with other people. And I don’t want you to ever stop doing this.” (07:24)
On frequency and tools:
“Just one. And we also use a company called Handwritten, written with a Y instead of an I. And you could just type it in and it sends it out with an actual pen.” (03:22)
On making a recognition note impactful:
“I see you, I see the way that you’re showing up… and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Remember, it’s about how you make people feel. People like you keep the rest of us moving.” (06:18)
Fundamental takeaway:
“If you’re not doing this, I would make this a key component to everything that you do.” (07:36)

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:00 – Introduction & the timeless value of handwritten notes
01:00 – Apology note: impact and example
02:40 – New chapter note: what to say and why it matters
03:19 – Writing frequency & technology tip (Handwritten)
04:00 – After a meaningful conversation: example & personal use
05:10 – Referral thank you: why it stands alone
06:03 – Recognition note: acknowledging quiet hard work
07:24 – Closing thoughts: the “old school” advantage

Final Thoughts

Tristan Ahumada encourages listeners to harness these five powerful handwritten note techniques to create true connections, regardless of industry. His practical examples and open reflection on his own practices provide a roadmap for integrating old-fashioned, deeply personal communication into daily business life—enhancing relationships, reputation, and overall business growth.

Share this episode or the ideas within it with anyone who could benefit from rejuvenating their connection strategies!

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[00:00]
A
Writing handwritten notes is something that I don't think is ever going to go out of style. In fact, as we progress as a society with AI and social media and whatever else is next, this will become more important to connect people to people. Because at the end of the day, that's all we have. We have each other, communities, relationships, and that's how you really build a business. So today I'm running this as part two to handwritten notes. Yesterday I went over five, Today we're going to go over five more. These are handwritten note ideas that we can use in our business. Now I'm real estate related. This actually can be used for anything. So pay attention, sit down, take some notes. If you need this, just message me here or on Instagram. I'll send you the breakdown. But let's get into the next five. Yesterday I ran five, watched that episode number six, or I guess number one today, but let's go with six. An apology. And yes, I have run this one, which is an interesting one, and I don't recommend that you run this as often, but the idea is that you drop the ball. Somehow you missed a commitment and unfortunately I missed some or said something maybe that you shouldn't have or was taken the wrong way. A handwritten apology. I have it written down here. A handwritten apology lands 10 times better than the text. Here's an example. Hi, Joe, I owe you an apology for the specific thing. Again, we're getting specific. I thought about it and it deserved better for me or I didn't show up like I wanted to. I thought about it and you deserve better for me. I'm sorry. I hope we can talk. I hope we can meet up. Right. But thanks for your patience with me. With respect. And then your name. That's not a very difficult one to write, but it takes. It takes a certain situation to be able to write that one right. And now I've also had a couple of our agents write that one to past clients that they haven't really connected with for a long time. I personally like to use the one we talked about yesterday at the end, which was the reconnection one. But you know, you can modify all these numbers, seven or number two, new chapter. Here's what to write and why. For someone starting something new, a new job, a new baby, a retirement, a new business, a new city, you mark that moment with a handwritten note. And this one, you can follow social media pretty closely and you can see who's celebrating what, who's achieving a new milestone, who is in this situation. Hi, Joe. Or hi, Joanne. Congratulations on whatever it is, the new chapter. I know how much work, courage, and faith it takes to step into something new. Whatever comes next, I'm rooting for you. Don't forget to enjoy the beginning. That's where a lot of the magic happens, right? Or it only happens once, cheering you on. And I like this one. We've used this one quite a bit. And for those of you thinking, am I going to write a handwritten note every day? You can. We write. We try to write one a day. Just one. And we also use a company called Handwritten, written with a Y instead of an I. And you could just type it in and it sends it out with an actual pen. That one's a good one. All right, next one. Number eight. After a meaningful conversation. This is one of my favorite ones. In fact, this is the probably. This is probably the one I use the most. I did it this morning and I sent two. Because yesterday I had great conversations when I spoke at an event. This is after a meaningful conversation. Usually a meaningful conversation in person, but it could also be a meaningful conversation over the phone, video, whatever that looks like for you. Here's what it sounds like. Hey, Joanne, I. I've been thinking about what you said about AI, about the company, about your home, about whatever it is. It's been sitting with me all week. You have a way of saying things that makes me. Makes me see them differently. And I just wanted to say thank you for that. I'm looking forward to our next meeting. I always love meeting in person or whatever that is. Talk to you soon, Tristan. Remember, it's about how you make me feel. All right, next one. Number nine, referral. Thank you. Obviously, this is very specific. They're sending you a referral. This is the one I like to. Here, let me read this to you specifically for somebody sent you. Business. A connection or an opportunity. It doesn't have to close. Don't lump this into the regular thank yous, please. This is a note to myself. Make it its own category. So I did. Example. Hey, Joanne, thank you for connecting me with Elvis. Referrals are my number one, and it could be number two for you or whatever you want to do. My number one source of business. And I thank you for trusting me with your friend, with your colleague, with your family. I don't take it lightly. I'll take great care of them and report back to you. And this means more than you know. Gratefully, Tristan. Pretty easy, pretty clean, right? Very specific. And the Last one number 10 recognition note. Now, some of you don't ever use this. I hardly use this one, but I have it on my notes because we have used it not a lot. Here's what it's for. For someone doing the hard, quiet work, nobody's noticing. I typically use the recognition note in text and I do it with staff and sometimes I do it with kids. But what I'm, what I'm trying to do, this is for me practically talking to myself. I'm trying to do this more as a handwritten note because I know my staff would appreciate this more. And obviously, if you have friends or co workers, colleagues, family, people you work with, past clients that you're watching on social, your sphere, this is very, this is a very, very powerful one and I'm going to use it a lot more. It says, hi, Joe, or Hey, Joe. I just wanted you to know that I see what you are doing or what you're doing. The way you've been, the way you've been doing that specific thing, the way you've been with your family, the way you've been taking care of your family, the way you're taking care of your kids, the way you work. I see you, I see the way that you're showing up on social media, whatever it is, and it hasn't gone unnoticed. Remember, it's about how you make people feel. People like you keep the rest of us moving. And I'm grateful for it. You're motivating me. Or keep going with respect. And that's it. Look, I think we need to do a lot more of handwritten notes. It's super old school, but it's how we connect with other people. And I don't want you to ever stop doing this. In fact, if you're not doing this, I would make this a key component to everything that you do. Share this with somebody you think may need this and please subscribe. If you're not part of your daily real estate, It.