Expired Listing Scripts: What to Text, What to Say, and When

Before you send anything

Expired listing sellers did not contact you, so the Do Not Call and consent rules apply before the first text.

Check the number against the National Do Not Call Registry and your state's list. Many brokerages require consent before a marketing text to someone who has not reached out.

Texts that break these rules can cost $500 to $1,500 each under the TCPA. When in doubt, call from a scrubbed list or send a letter first.

This is not legal advice; ask your broker.

The first text

The first text to an expired seller should prove you looked at their house, not just their listing status.

• Hi [Name], I saw [address] came off the market. I looked at the photos and the price history. Want my honest take on why it didn't sell? No pitch.
• Hi [Name], sorry [address] didn't sell. Three homes near you sold in the last 60 days. Want the prices?
• Hi [Name], I help sellers on [street or area] relist after a tough first run. Are you still planning to move?

The call script

The expired listing call works when you name why it did not sell in the first 30 seconds.

Call only numbers you have checked against the Do Not Call Registry and your state's list. Expired sellers get many calls on day one, so specific beats fast.

• Hi, is this [Name]? This is [You] with [Brokerage]. I saw [address] came off the market. Are you still planning to move?
• If yes: I looked at the listing. I think it came down to [price, photos, or timing]. Can I show you what three homes near you did differently to sell?
• Ask: When you move, where are you headed? And what would have to happen this time for it to feel worth it?
• Close: I can come by Thursday at 4 or Friday at 10 for 15 minutes. Which is better?

The follow-ups

Expired follow-ups work when each one carries something new: a comp, a buyer, a plan.

• Day 2: A home on [street] just went under contract in 9 days at [price]. Here's what they did differently: [one line].
• Day 5: I have a buyer looking in [area] under [price]. Would you let me show [address] before it relists?
• Day 9: Here's the one change I'd make to [address]'s listing, free: [photo, price, or timing]. Want the rest?
• Day 14: Last one from me. If you relist in the spring, I'd like a shot. Save my number.

When the seller answers

When an expired seller replies, the goal of the next text is a 15-minute meeting, not a listing agreement.

• They say 'Why should I hire you?': Fair question. Give me 15 minutes at the house and I'll show you the three things I'd change. If you don't like them, you've lost 15 minutes.
• They say 'We're taking a break': Makes sense. Want me to send a quick note if a home like yours sells near you?
• They say 'Our agent is relisting': Glad to hear it. If anything changes, I'm here.
• They get angry: Sorry for the bother. I'll take you off my list.

Why most agents give up on expireds

Expired listings pay off for agents who follow up for weeks, and most agents stop after one or two texts.

One agent we read lost five expired prospects, averaging about $400,000 each, because follow-up slipped. That was roughly $60,000 in commission.

The scripts were not the problem. Keeping track of who got what, and when, was.

Sifta keeps that track. It remembers every seller you talked to, what you sent and what they said, and drafts the next text in your voice when it is due.

You approve it from your phone. Sifta is one flat monthly price, and the plans are on the pricing page.

When to call an expired listing

Call the first morning the listing shows as expired, as soon as calling hours open, then again between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Federal rules allow 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the seller's time zone, and several states are stricter, including Pennsylvania from October 18, 2026.

Three ways to start

You can try Sifta free for 7 days, see what it does, or read the pricing page.

The free week is the fastest way to see it: connect your email and calendar, add Sifta to your texts, and let it run your busywork for 7 days. Cancel any time before the week ends and you are not charged.

Every plan after that is a flat monthly price with no contract. If Sifta doesn't catch something worth more than the price in week one, you don't pay.