The candle gets burned in a week. The cutting board goes in a drawer. A design-forward pickleball paddle keyed to the buyers' new state gets displayed, played with, and photographed on closing day — and it keeps your name in the room long after the keys change hands.

Every real estate agent hands over the same bottle of wine at closing. In pickleball-dense markets, a paddle lasts longer, gets carried out of the house, and puts your name into a conversation every time it goes to the courts. Here is how to do it right.