If a Picture says a Thousand Words, then Shelia Rummel's gift to her clients speaks volumes about how sincerely she appreciates their business. Rummel's idea won Professional Builder's contest in July to recognize the best housewarming gift ideas. The Professional Builder editorial staff selected the winner, who received a free pass to Benchmark, Sept. 26–29 in Lake Las Vegas.

Rummel, who heads her own business by the same name in Wilmington, N.C., presents new homeowners with a "brag-size" album and CD of professionally taken photographs of their new home's entire interior and exterior, including an evening shot of the lit residence.

The runners-up wowed us, too:

Gourmet Wine & Dine: Design Group Three offered a home owner an evening with a chef, who prepared a gourmet meal for the owners and six of their friends. The Glendale, Wis., business' gift allowed owners to show off their new home while learning how appliances in their new kitchen work.

A Touch of Tiffany: Pauline Dent of Atlantic Builders in Fredericksburg, Va., presents homeowners with a pair of Tiffany & Co. wine glasses and a bottle of custom labeled wine from a local winery. The gift arrives at the homeowner's doorstep with a "Tiffany blue" shopping bag.

Mini-Me Model Home: Homeowners receive a local artist's hand-painted miniature wooden model of their new home through Benchmark Traditions of Summerville, S.C.

Garden Care: Pulte Homes makes gardening easier for its new homeowners in the Evania at Anatolia community in Sacramento, Calif.; owners receive a garden hose wrapped like a basket with weed killer, a hand shovel, gloves and seeds inside.

Disaster Master: A CD-ROM-based program called "The Homeowners' Ultimate Guide to Mastering Disasters" provides essential information to protect from fire, water, wind or other damage for homeowners with Melesh Construction Co. of Annapolis, Md.