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Real Estate Cold Calling Scripts That Actually Work

Proven cold calling scripts for real estate investors. Scripts for motivated sellers, absentee owners, and pre-foreclosure leads with objection handlers.

Why Cold Calling Still Works

In a world of texts and emails, a phone call stands out. Cold calling lets you have real conversations, uncover motivation, and build rapport instantly. Yes, it's uncomfortable at first. But the investors who master the phone close more deals than those who hide behind marketing automation.

The Universal Opener

"Hi, is this [Owner Name]? Great, my name is [Your Name] with [Company]. I'm a local real estate investor and I was calling about your property on [Address]. I was wondering if you've considered selling it?"

Simple, direct, and gets to the point. Don't overthink the opener—you just need to start the conversation.

Script for Absentee Owners

"Hi [Name], I'm calling about your rental property on [Address]. I work with investors who buy properties as-is, and I noticed you've owned this one for a while. Have you ever thought about cashing out and letting someone else deal with the tenants and maintenance?"

Focus on the headaches of being a landlord—that's usually their pain point.

Script for Pre-Foreclosure

"Hi [Name], this is [Your Name]. I understand you might be going through a difficult situation with your mortgage on [Address]. I work with homeowners to find solutions before things go further. I'm not here to pressure you—I just want to see if there's any way I can help. Do you have a few minutes to talk?"

Approach with empathy. These people are stressed—be a problem solver, not a vulture.

Script for Inherited Properties

"Hi [Name], I'm reaching out about the property on [Address]. I understand you may have recently inherited it—first, I'm sorry for your loss. I work with families who've inherited properties and need to sell quickly without the hassle of repairs or realtors. Is that something you'd consider?"

Be sensitive. Offer convenience as the main benefit.

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Handling "Not Interested"

"I completely understand. Before I let you go—just curious—if circumstances changed, what would make you consider selling? ... Got it. Would it be okay if I checked back in a few months in case anything changes?"

Never argue. Plant a seed and leave the door open. Today's "no" is often next month's "yes."

Handling "What Will You Pay?"

"Great question. I'd need to know a bit more about the property first. Can you tell me about its condition? ... And what do you think it might be worth? ... Based on what you're telling me, we're typically in the [range] ballpark for properties like this. Does that sound like something worth exploring?"

Anchor to their number first. Never throw out a number without information.

Qualifying the Seller

Key questions to ask: • What's your timeline for selling? • Have you thought about what price you'd need? • Is there a mortgage on the property? How much is owed? • What condition is the property in? • Why are you thinking of selling?

Motivation + timeline + equity = deal potential.

Closing for the Appointment

"It sounds like we might be able to help each other out. The next step would be for me to come by and see the property so I can put together an offer. Would [Day] at [Time] work, or is [Alternative] better for you?"

Always offer two options. Make it easy to say yes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cold calls should I make per day?

Aim for 100-200 dials per day when starting out. With a power dialer, you can hit this in 2-3 hours. Expect 20-30 conversations and 1-3 leads per 100 dials. Consistency matters more than volume—100 calls daily beats 500 calls once a week.

What time is best for cold calling?

Best times are 10am-12pm and 4pm-6pm local time. Avoid Monday mornings and Friday afternoons. For absentee owners, try late afternoon when they're off work. For elderly owners, mid-morning works well.

How do I handle rejection?

Rejection is part of the game—expect it. Most "no's" aren't personal. Track your numbers: if you know 95 out of 100 calls won't convert, each rejection is just getting you closer to the 5 that will. Take breaks, celebrate small wins, and remember that one deal pays for months of rejection.

Should I use a dialer or manual dial?

Use a dialer. Manual dialing wastes 50% of your time on ringing, voicemails, and disconnected numbers. A power dialer like FlipMantis connects you only to live answers, tripling your conversations per hour.

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