📸 How to make a lasting impression on the seller after the mandate has been signed

A simple yet powerful tip for creating a lasting bond between agent and owner

🏠 The mandate is signed… but the relationship is only just beginning

In the daily life of a real estate agent, listing appointments come one after another. Viewings, photos taken, discussions, signings… then on to the next. Yet, this moment is much more than a formality: it is often the only face-to-face meeting between the professional and their seller client.

And that's where everything happens.

This initial contact solidifies trust, commitment, and the perception of seriousness. But once the mandate is signed, the property added to the portfolio, and the advertisement published, the human connection disappears. The seller becomes a name in a file, a number in a software program, one line among 30 or 40 other properties.

And when the phone rings two months later, the negotiator struggles to remember what was said, the atmosphere, the reactions, or the seller's personality. This vagueness harms the quality of the relationship, responsiveness, and the relevance of the answers.

So how can we ensure this meeting leaves a lasting impression? How can we stay top of mind with the seller, and most importantly, how can we instantly reconnect with their case when they call?

The answer lies in a trick as simple as it is effective: the photo. A photo of the seller taken by the negotiator, and a photo of the negotiator taken by the seller. Double recognition, a visual link, a shared memory.

🔍 The classic path of the mandate – efficient but impersonal

The process of assuming a mandate is well-established:

• The negotiator goes to the site, tours the property, and takes photos of the accommodation.

• He talks with the owner, gathers the necessary information.

• The mandate is signed on site or sent for electronic signature.

• Back at the office, he writes the advertisement and publishes it on real estate portals.

• He saves the seller's details in his software or phone.

And then what? Nothing. The human connection dissolves into the processes. The salesperson becomes a “mandate no. 1234”, and the negotiator moves on to the next one.

This approach is effective, but it lacks a crucial element: personalization. In a profession where trust is key, where recommendations are invaluable, and where human connection makes all the difference, this impersonality is a hindrance.

🧠 The problem – a relationship that fades too quickly

In most cases, the negotiator will not see their seller again for several weeks, or even several months. And sometimes, never. Communication takes place by phone or email, faceless, emotionless.

Result :

• The negotiator forgets the details of the property and the meeting.

• The seller feels like just another file.

• The relationship loses warmth, effectiveness, and trust.

And when the phone rings, the negotiator finds himself searching through his files, rereading the mandate, trying to remember: "Who was it again? Which house? What was the context?"

This ambiguity harms the quality of the relationship, responsiveness, and the relevance of answers. It creates distance, coldness, and a loss of efficiency.

📸 The trick that changes everything – the seller's photo

Imagine this: you've just left a meeting to secure a listing agreement. Before leaving, you politely ask the seller if they're okay with you taking their picture. You save this photo to your phone, along with their contact information: name, phone number, address, property.

A few weeks later, the seller calls you. And there, their photo appears on your screen. Instantly, your brain reconnects: you remember the property, the conversation, the atmosphere. You are ready to respond with relevance, warmth, and efficiency.

This trick, which only takes 5 minutes, radically transforms the relationship.

🧬 Why it works – neuroscience and visual memory

The human brain is visual. It remembers faces much better than names or numbers. By associating an image with a contact, you create a powerful memory anchor.

• 📌 The photo triggers immediate recognition.

• 🧠 It reactivates memories related to the visit.

• 🤝 It facilitates a mental posture adapted to the exchange.

It's simple, natural, and incredibly effective. You no longer search through your files, you no longer fumble around. You're immediately in the right context.

🤝 The mirror effect – suggest that the seller do the same

The relationship works both ways. If you take a photo of your salesperson to better serve them, why not suggest they do the same?

“Sir/Madam, if you wish, you can also take my picture. That way, when I call you, you’ll know right away that it’s me.”

This simple gesture is reassuring. It humanizes the customer. It shows that you're not just a number, but a dedicated professional. And for the seller, it's a visual cue, proof of seriousness, a way to maintain the relationship.

🧭 Cross-benefits – a win-win relationship

This technique creates a loop of mutual recognition. It humanizes the relationship, strengthens trust, and facilitates communication. In a profession where people are central, it allows us to move beyond a purely transactional approach and enter into a genuine partnership.