How to Call Expired Listings
Call Expired Listings With Preparation and a Clear Next Step.
ProspectBoss helps agents and ISAs verify expired leads, see property and contact history before dialing, hold informed seller conversations, and document the result.
✓ Call with context✓ Protect number health✓ Complete follow-up
Expired call workflow
Illustrative process, not live performance data
BeforeCheck status and contact history
OpeningIdentify yourself and the property
ConversationAsk about the seller’s plan
AfterSave outcome and next action
01Verify the record
02Prepare the opening
03Listen to the owner
04Complete follow-up
Direct Answer
How do you call expired listings?
Check that the listing is still expired and that outreach is appropriate. Review the property and any prior contact. When the owner answers, identify yourself, explain why you called, and ask whether selling is still part of their plan. Listen to the answer, discuss a relevant next step only if welcomed, then record the outcome and any commitment in your CRM.
Before pressing dial
- Confirm current listing status
- Review property and prior activity
- Check local time and outreach eligibility
- Prepare one relevant question
- Be ready for a live answer
Common Calling Gaps
A good call begins before the phone rings.
Expired owners may be contacted by several agents. Accurate context and an attentive caller help the conversation start on useful ground.
01
Incorrect status
The home has already been relisted, sold, or withdrawn, but the agent calls from an old record.
02
Premature pitch
The caller describes a marketing plan before learning whether the owner still wants to sell.
03
No recorded result
The seller’s answer is lost and another team member repeats the same call.
Call Sequence
Move through the call without sounding rehearsed.
Use a framework to stay focused while making space for the seller’s response.
01
Introduce and explain
“Hi, this is [name] with [brokerage]. I’m calling about the home at [address]. I saw the listing is no longer active.”
02
Ask and listen
“Are you still considering a sale?” Pause and ask a follow-up question based on the answer.
03
Agree on an action
If welcomed, offer a review or meeting. Otherwise, document the plan and contact preference accurately.
Live-Answer Experience
Let the owner’s response guide what happens next.
A short opening is only the beginning. The useful part of the call is learning the seller’s current goal and what they need from a future discussion.
Call without context
- Assume the seller wants a new agent
- Criticize the previous listing
- Push an appointment immediately
- Use the same reply for every answer
Call with context
- Verify the property and call history
- Ask whether selling is still the plan
- Explore the owner’s concerns respectfully
- Document a welcomed next step
Seller Answers
Respond to the plan you hear.
01
Still wants to sell
Ask what the owner wants to accomplish and what should change before suggesting a listing review.
02
Taking a break
Acknowledge the timing and ask whether a later update is welcome. Record the agreed date if there is one.
03
Already relisted or no contact
Thank the owner, correct the record, and honor the stated preference.
After the Call
Turn the conversation into an accurate record.
ProspectBoss connects calling with notes, dispositions, appointments, callbacks, and number-health visibility. Review meaningful conversations and completed next steps alongside attempts.
DispositionWhat happened on the call.
Seller contextGoals, timing, and concerns learned.
AppointmentA prepared conversation the owner welcomed.
Follow-upA task with a clear owner and date.
FAQ
How to call expired listings: common questions.
What should I say first?
Identify yourself and the property, state the accurate reason for calling, and ask whether the owner is still considering a sale.
Should I ask why the house did not sell?
You can explore the previous experience if the owner welcomes the discussion. Avoid assuming the cause or blaming another agent.
What if the owner does not answer?
Record the attempt and choose a later appropriate window without stacking rapid retries. Review prior history before another call.
What if the owner asks not to be called again?
Acknowledge the request and update the record so your team honors it.
When should I request a listing appointment?
Suggest a meeting when the seller wants to explore a new plan and you can explain what that discussion would cover.
ProspectBoss For Real Estate
Make the Next Expired Call More Useful.
See how ProspectBoss supports prepared outreach, seller context, controlled calling, and follow-up for real estate teams.