Skip to content Updated Oct. 23, 2025
It’s 8:03 AM. Your phone is in your hand. The first expired listing of the day is on your screen.
You dial. They answer. “Hello?”
Your mind goes blank.
This is the moment when agents either fumble through an awkward introduction or confidently set an appointment. The difference? A proven script they’ve practiced until it became second nature.
Why Expired Scripts Actually Matter (And What They’re Really For)
Here’s what most agents misunderstand about expired listing scripts. They think scripts make them sound robotic. They worry they’ll come across as salesy or fake.
But here’s the truth: scripts aren’t about controlling what you say. They’re about having a framework when a frustrated homeowner catches you off guard with, “Why should I trust another agent?”
Scripts serve three purposes:
1. They give you confidence when emotions run high. Expired homeowners are dealing with disappointment, financial stress, and skepticism. A script helps you stay calm and professional when they’re not.
2. They prevent you from rambling or overselling. Without a script, agents talk too much. They justify. They explain. They lose the appointment. A good script keeps you focused on one goal: setting a face-to-face meeting.
3. They work across multiple channels. The best expired scripts aren’t just for phone calls. You can adapt them for voicemails, direct mail postcards, social media ads, or email campaigns. If you’re not comfortable calling yet, start with written outreach using script language. REDX Ad Builder lets you turn script concepts into targeted digital ads to warm up leads before you ever pick up the phone.
With todays post, we’re not just going to give you the top 10 expired listing scripts top real estate agents use, we’ll also break down which one is the best for you, the pro’s and cons of each script, and more.
10 Golden Expired Scripts
Script 1: Mike Ferry’s Expired Listing Script
Script 2: Best Expired Listing Script for New Agentst – from Josh Gossard
Script 3: An Expired Script for the Empathetic Approach – from Borino Real Estate Coaching
Script 4: A Short, Sweet Script For Teams – from Jeff Glover
Script 5: The Official Script Guide – from REDX
Bonus: Overcome Expired Objections Webinar
Script 6: The “Dependable Agent” Script – from Keller Williams Realty
Script 7: Expired Scripts for Five Agent Styles – from Fit Small Business
Script 8: A Script for Relationship Builders – from Ricky Carruth
Script 9: Scripts for The Perfect Voicemail – from TheRealEstateTrainer.com
Script 10: The Sleuth Script For Expired Listings – from Jim Remley
BONUS: REDX Ultimate Script Bundle
1. Mike Ferry’s Expired Listing Script
Let’s start off with a classic. This script comes from one of the biggest names in real estate coaching, Mike Ferry.
His expireds script has helped slingshot thousands of agents to successful, long-term careers in real estate. You can’t go wrong with this one.
This simple, to-the-point script keeps you focused on one thing: getting qualified listing appointments. What more could you want?
How to Use This Script
Mike Ferry’s approach is direct and assumptive. It assumes the homeowner still wants to sell and positions you as the logical next step. Use this script when you want to cut through the noise and get straight to business.
Best For: Agents who are comfortable being direct and don’t want long conversations.
Pros: Simple to memorize, focuses exclusively on appointments, works well in high-volume markets, eliminates unnecessary small talk.
Cons: Can feel too aggressive for some personalities, doesn’t build rapport first, may not work with homeowners who need emotional connection, requires confidence to execute.
REDX Integration Tip: Mike Ferry’s approach is about volume and speed. The REDX Power Dialer keeps you locked into your calling session with Spotify playing between calls to maintain your energy. When you’re making 50+ calls in a session, momentum matters.
2. New Agent Speed To Success Script – from Josh Gossard
Next, we’ve got a script from Josh Gossard, a solo agent from Maryland who found success when he was still pretty new to real estate. But you wouldn’t think so after seeing his results.
He sold 48 homes last year by himself and continues to dominate his market! His expired script, along with his dedicated prospecting schedule, skyrocketed his career.
Josh is proof that the right script will help you speed through the “listing learning curve” that slows down most other agents.
Expired Listings empowered Josh to establish himself in the industry and create a steady source of business. In this podcast with Pat Hiban, he shares exactly what he says on the phone to get listing appointments. Implement his words, methods, and tips to maximize your time on the phone.
How to Use This Script
Josh’s approach is designed specifically for newer agents who don’t have a massive sphere of influence or decades of testimonials. It positions you as hungry, hardworking, and dedicated rather than relying on past success.
Best For: New agents (0-3 years) who need to build credibility without extensive experience.
Pros: Authentic for agents who are actually new, turns “inexperience” into a benefit (more time, more attention), creates urgency through work ethic, builds confidence quickly with early wins.
Cons: Won’t work for experienced agents (sounds disingenuous), some homeowners specifically want a veteran agent, requires extra hustle to overcome experience gap, may need more follow-up.
REDX Integration Tip: As a new agent, your success depends on quality data. REDX Expired Leads give you skip-traced phone numbers so you’re not wasting time on disconnected lines. Plus, REDX gives you access to the full expired history—not just new expireds. This means you can work 3-month-old or 6-month-old expireds that other agents already gave up on. See how one part-time agent quit her job and now makes $250,000 prospecting expired leads.
3. An Expired Script for the Empathetic Approach – from Borino Real Estate Coaching
Think about it: sellers face an emotional tug-of-war from the minute they decide to sell. Add in low-ball offers, failed inspections, or buyer financing fall throughs, and the process can start to feel like a drag through the mud. So when their listing expires and agents start calling them, you can imagine what it must be like.
Their frustrations may be justified. But how can you get through to them so they know you’re not like the rest, you’re on their side, and (of course) that you’re the best agent for the job?
With over 20 years of real estate experience, Borino is often referred to as the “Expired Guru.” With his direct, no-pressure style, he has a smooth and uncomplicated expired script that could be just right for you.
See how Borino uses this script to empathize with homeowners, set himself apart from other “hungry” agents, and get appointments over the phone in under two minutes.
How to Use This Script
Borino’s script acknowledges the homeowner’s frustration first, then positions you as different from the agents who called before you. It’s slower and more conversational than Mike Ferry’s approach.
Best For: Agents who naturally build rapport and prefer relationship-based selling over transactional approaches.
Pros: Diffuses homeowner anger and defensiveness, positions you as an advisor (not another salesperson), creates trust before asking for the appointment, works well with skeptical homeowners.
Cons: Takes longer per call (reduces daily call volume), requires genuine empathy (can’t be faked), may attract “talkers” who won’t convert, needs patience and emotional intelligence.
REDX Integration Tip: If you’re using an empathetic approach, you’re spending 5-10 minutes per conversation instead of 2-3 minutes. That means you need higher quality data to make each call count. REDX’s skip-tracing provides multiple phone numbers per lead, increasing your connection rate. When you do connect, make it meaningful.
4. A Short, Sweet Script For Teams – from Jeff Glover
In 2005, Jeff Glover embarked on his mission to reinvent real estate sales training. Since then, Jeff and his team have developed a prospecting system that produces over 1,000 home sales a year.
A sizable chunk of their sales come from expired listings, and this expired script is what they use to get appointments (with Jeff himself using it to take over 100 listings each year!)
This script will help you discover homeowner objections in advance. The theory goes: if you can predict objections, you can prevent rejection.
According to Jeff, “The sale is won or lost depending on how well you handle their objections.” So check out his objection handlers script as well! Paired with his proven expired script, Jeff’s objection handlers will help you find real (and consistent) results.
How to Use This Script
Jeff’s script is built for scale. It’s designed to be used by multiple team members with consistent results. The objection-handling framework makes it systematic rather than personality-dependent.
Best For: Team leaders who need a script that works for multiple agents with different experience levels.
Pros: Scalable across an entire team, objection handling built into the script, high-volume tested (1,000+ sales per year), reduces training time for new team members.
Cons: Can feel corporate or impersonal, requires practice to sound natural, less room for individual personality, best for agents comfortable with structure.
REDX Integration Tip: Teams need lead distribution and tracking. REDX’s Vortex platform lets team leaders distribute expired leads to agents, track who’s calling what, and ensure no lead gets called twice. When you’re running a high-volume operation, organization prevents chaos.
5. The Official Script Guide – from REDX
After extensive research, REDX has stitched together some of the most powerful prospecting scripts (not already mentioned in this article) into this 34-page eBook. So no matter your skill level, there’s something in this script book for you.
It starts with a simple script focused on how to begin your calls, followed by language proven to increase your connection rate by as much as 25%. Then, on page seven, you’ll find an expired script crafted from dozens of suggestions from top listing agents. This script picks up where others fall short.
Don’t forget to check out pages 19-25 for an even deeper dive into overcoming common objections, along with five vital elements to help you understand why these scripts work and how to adapt them to your own call style.
How to Use This Script
The REDX script guide is comprehensive. Use it as a reference library rather than a single script. Mix and match elements based on your personality and the homeowner’s response.
Best For: Agents who want multiple options and detailed objection-handling training in one resource.
Pros: Free resource with multiple script variations, includes objection handling frameworks, backed by data from thousands of successful calls, teaches you WHY scripts work (not just WHAT to say).
Cons: 34 pages can feel overwhelming, requires time to digest and practice, may be too many options for agents who want simplicity, needs adaptation to your own voice.
Bonus: Overcome Expired Objections Webinar
Watch this training to discover how top prospectors start every prospecting call to ensure a good contact, the formula they use to overcome any objection, and how they set appointments even after being rejected. Watch and learn as expert prospector Deric Lipski sets a listing appointment on a live call – even after being rejected five times!
6. The “Dependable Agent” Script – from Keller Williams Realty
One of the biggest real estate franchises in the United States, Keller Williams, offers these scripts to their agents.
You can decide for yourself, but these scripts might be one of the reasons KW consistently ranks at the top of the industry for sales volume and units sold. If you did the research, you’d find thousands of success stories based on these expired scripts.
Beyond expireds, they’ve got scripts for voicemails, overcoming objections, general prospecting tips and tricks, qualifying scripts, and much more.
These scripts will help you position yourself as the dependable, knowledgeable, trustworthy, and results-oriented professional they need, even if they’re angry and frustrated.
How to Use This Script
The KW approach emphasizes reliability and professionalism. It’s corporate-backed and designed to work across different markets and agent personalities.
Best For: Agents who want a proven, corporate-backed script with extensive supporting resources.
Pros: Backed by one of the largest real estate companies, includes voicemail and objection handling scripts, works in any market, positions you as professional and established.
Cons: Can sound corporate or generic, requires customization to sound personal, multiple scripts can be confusing, may need to cherry-pick what works for you.
REDX Integration Tip: KW’s scripts are designed for agents who are part of a larger system. If you’re an independent agent or on a smaller team, pair these scripts with REDX’s training webinars to get the support that KW agents receive from their coaching programs.
7. Expired Scripts for Five Agent Styles – from Fit Small Business
This next set of scripts comes from Fit Small Business, and they’re not messing around.
After deep market research, they’ve found expired listing scripts that really work. The article shows you how to get listing appointments quickly, provides modular elements you can use to create your own scripts, and includes tips on how to get your foot in the door.
Best of all, these scripts offer five unique prospecting styles: the casual approach, the empathetic expert, the harder sell, the neighborhood expert, and the outstanding agent.
With so many options, you’re bound to find one that perfectly fits your style and situation.
How to Use These Scripts
Fit Small Business categorizes scripts by personality type. Take a self-assessment to figure out which style matches you, then use that script as your starting point.
Best For: Agents who know their personality but need a script that matches their natural communication style.
Pros: Five different styles to choose from, helps you identify your natural approach, modular elements let you customize, includes tactical tips for appointments.
Cons: Can be overwhelming with too many choices, quality varies across the five styles, requires self-awareness to pick the right style, may take trial and error to find your fit.
REDX Integration Tip: Once you know your style, stick with it. Consistency matters in prospecting. Use the REDX ROI Calculator to set realistic goals based on your personality and time commitment. If you’re a “casual approach” agent, you might convert fewer leads but build stronger relationships. If you’re a “harder sell” agent, you’ll convert faster but need higher volume.
8. A Script for Relationship Builders – from Ricky Carruth
Expert prospector Ricky Carruth has built an incredibly successful business based on this core value: create strong relationships and serve others.
He believes building relationships with people is more important than the transaction, which in turn brings in a lot of listings.
In this video, Ricky talks about how important it is to say exactly the right thing. More importantly, he tells you how to say it.
He believes how you say something to a potential client will go a lot further than exactly what you say. He dives into his favorite (simple) script that he’s perfected over years of trial and error. According to Ricky, this script works for any lead type or prospect.
How to Use This Script
Ricky’s script prioritizes tone, pacing, and authenticity over specific words. It’s about connection first, conversion second.
Best For: Agents who genuinely enjoy building relationships and don’t mind longer sales cycles.
Pros: Works across all lead types (not just expireds), builds long-term referral relationships, feels natural and authentic, creates loyal clients (not just transactions).
Cons: Takes longer to see results, requires genuine interest in people (can’t be faked), lower immediate conversion rate, needs strong follow-up system.
REDX Integration Tip: Relationship builders need a strong follow-up system. REDX’s platform lets you take notes on every call, set reminders, and track long-term nurture campaigns. If you’re willing to play the long game, you can work REDX’s full expired history—reaching out to 6-month-old expireds that other agents forgot about. Your relationship-building approach will feel like a breath of fresh air compared to the aggressive calls they received months ago.
9. Scripts for The Perfect Voicemail – from TheRealEstateTrainer.com
Next up, here’s a little bit of everything. TheRealEstateTrainer.com, created by Brian Icenhower, is loaded with principles and tactics to attract hundreds of agents simply because they produce actual results.
His expired listing scripts include what to say when homeowners answer, but also how to leave the perfect voicemail so people will actually call you back (which is key if you want more listings).
On this page, you’ll also find a video of Brian with three other agents, all talking out their favorite scripts, techniques, and what works best for them on a prospecting call. Don’t miss out on their expert advice!
How to Use This Script
Most agents leave terrible voicemails or don’t leave them at all. Brian’s script teaches you to make voicemails that get returned, turning misses into opportunities.
Best For: Agents who struggle with low connection rates and need a voicemail strategy that actually works.
Pros: Addresses the #1 prospecting challenge (no one answers), increases callback rates significantly, includes live agent examples, works for all lead types.
Cons: Requires consistent follow-up, some homeowners never return voicemails, takes multiple touches to convert, callback rate still lower than live answers.
REDX Integration Tip: Your connection rate matters more than your voicemail strategy. REDX provides skip-traced phone numbers—not just the number from the listing, but the actual numbers where homeowners answer. When you have 3-4 phone numbers per expired lead, you’re far more likely to get a live conversation instead of leaving voicemails.
10. The Sleuth Script For Expired Listings – from Jim Remley
Within two years of obtaining his real estate license, Jim Remley was listed in the top one percent of Realtors® nationwide. And you don’t become a top prospector that fast with poor scripts.
In his expired script coaching, Jim offers a different approach. His strategy focuses on timing key questions to uncover the real reasons a property failed to sell. This way, homeowners discover for themselves exactly what could have been done to sell their home, but wasn’t.
That’s where you come in. With questions like, “Was a sign used to advertise your home?” and, “Was a home protection plan offered?” Jim’s marketing plan is a no-brainer if you want to position yourself as the homeowner’s hero.
How to Use This Script
Jim’s “sleuth” approach uses the Socratic method. You ask strategic questions that lead the homeowner to their own conclusion: they need a better agent (you).
Best For: Agents who are consultative and prefer to educate rather than sell.
Pros: Homeowner talks themselves into hiring you, positions you as an expert consultant, uncovers the REAL reason the home didn’t sell, creates a natural transition to your marketing plan.
Cons: Requires market knowledge to ask the right questions, takes longer per call, can backfire if you don’t know the property, homeowner might not want to be “interrogated.”
REDX Integration Tip: The sleuth approach requires research. Before you call, look at the expired listing details in REDX. See the listing price, DOM (days on market), and photos. When you ask, “Was professional photography used?” you’ll already know the answer. This makes you look like a detective instead of just another agent with a script.
BONUS: REDX Ultimate Script Bundle
Choosing the right script can be a daunting task. With so many options to choose from, it can be hard to find a good fit for your personality and prospecting style. To make things easier, we’ve compiled some of the top script resources from leading industry coaches and experts (including some amazing Expired scripts!)
Click below to download the REDX Ultimate Script Bundle and find one that works for you!
Why Scripts Often Fail
You now have 10 proven expired scripts from industry legends.
But here’s what happens to most agents. They download a script. They make 10 calls. They get hung up on 7 times. They quit.
They blame the script. They blame themselves. They go back to waiting for their sphere to refer them.
The script wasn’t the problem.
Melanie Hunt from Dallas closes 125 deals a year. She’s used REDX for 12 years. Expireds and FSBOs make up 50-59% of her business. She says,
“The best part of using REDX is that it’s simply there when you open your computer. No thought. It’s part of your pattern.”
Maria Barr from Saratoga Springs listed 12 homes in 45 days. Five hours of prospecting per week. REDX expireds.
“On average I take one or two listings a week from prospecting REDX. My goal is to close more than 50 transactions this year.”
Sheila Fejeran from Plano, Texas says,
“I have been using REDX for two years and it has been my single source of For Sale By Owner and Expired leads, that accounts for over 40% of my business overall.”
What’s the difference between agents who succeed with scripts and agents who quit after 10 calls?
Three things:
- Quality data
- A system that keeps you focused
- Consistent practice.
Quality Data: Connection Rate Matters
You can have the perfect script, but if you’re calling disconnected numbers or hitting voicemail every time, you’ll burn out fast.
REDX Expired Leads provide skip-traced phone numbers—not just the listing line, but the actual numbers where homeowners answer. You get multiple phone numbers per lead, which means higher connection rates.
Plus, REDX gives you the full expired history. Most lead services only give you brand new expireds (the ones 50 other agents are calling at 8 AM). REDX lets you work 3-month-old, 6-month-old, even 12-month-old expireds that other agents forgot about. These homeowners are grateful for your call instead of annoyed.
As Jeremy Back from Premier Coaching says,
“I tried all the expired lead sources (V7, LandVoice, Arch) and compared them side-by-side for a year. REDX won hands-down. If you want to talk to homeowners, get REDX.”
A System That Keeps You Focused
Here’s what kills most prospecting sessions: distraction.
You make a call. It goes to voicemail. You manually dial the next number. You check your email. You look at your phone. You lose momentum. Thirty minutes later, you’ve made 8 calls instead of 40.
The REDX Power Dialer solves this. You load your expired leads. You click start. The system dials automatically. Between calls, you can connect to Spotify to stay motivated. The dialer keeps you locked in to your prospecting session.
Paula Burlison in Las Vegas says,
“When you’re prospecting, the most important thing is the number of contacts you’re going to make per hour. With REDX you get the best numbers out there, and with [Vortex] you get the best dialer. Together, you’re unstoppable.”
Learn how one agent discovered the Power Dialer and earned $522,000 listing homes.
Consistent Practice: Scripts Become Yours
Mike Ferry’s script doesn’t sound like a script when experienced agents use it. It sounds natural because they’ve made 10,000 calls with it.
Your job isn’t to read a script word-for-word. Your job is to practice until the structure becomes natural. Until you can handle objections without looking at your notes. Until you can set appointments confidently.
As Deric Lipski says,
“Every morning I get into the office and the first thing I do is start REDX. With a few clicks I have every expired and FSBO ready to call. The early bird catches the worm, and even if I’m behind in my morning, sometimes the second mouse gets the cheese.”
Real Results From Real Agents
David Ernst moved from Memphis to Louisiana with zero connections. He used REDX to rebuild his business in a brand new market.
“REDX provided me with immediate access to income. I started from scratch. REDX provided me with the numbers to make the calls to get the appointments to get the house sold.”
Meka Jones was a new agent in October 2016. She called less than 30 expireds using REDX. She got an appointment. She listed the property. The homeowner sold that house and bought another one. One membership paid for itself with one new agent making less than 30 calls.
Rocky Wright from Palm Beach Florida says,
“REDX is the reason I am currently the #2 agent out of over 1,000. I am selling more than teams of 5 plus people, without an assistant.”
What If You’re Not Ready to Call Yet?
Here’s a secret: you don’t have to start with phone calls.
These scripts work for more than just calling. You can adapt them for:
- Direct mail postcards: Use script language in your mailers to warm up expired leads before you call
- Social media ads: Turn script concepts into targeted Facebook or Instagram ads using REDX Ad Builder
- Email campaigns: Send the script via email to test messaging before picking up the phone
- Video messages: Record yourself delivering the script for a personal touch
Many top agents use a multi-channel approach. They send a postcard or run an ad to expired leads, then call 3-5 days later. The homeowner has already seen their name, which makes the call feel less cold.
REDX gives you the data and tools to market across all these channels—not just calling. Start where you’re comfortable, then expand.
