It opens by recognizing that {days_on_market} days with no sale is exhausting, without blaming their agent.
Free template · Expired listing letter
Expired listing letter template with a plan, not a pitch.
Expired sellers get 30 calls the morning their listing drops off. This letter arrives after the noise and does what a cold call can't: it explains, specifically, why the home may not have sold and what you'd do differently.
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- 4 versions: price, marketing, timing, follow-up
- 1 page with a clear three-point plan
- Free to copy, download, and edit
View the text with merge fields
Why {property_address} didn't sell, and what I'd change
Hi {owner_first_name},
After {days_on_market} days on the market, I imagine you're tired of showings, calls, and waiting. I'm sorry your home didn't sell. It's frustrating, especially when nearby homes like {recent_sale} closed in the same months.
When a home in {neighborhood} doesn't sell, it almost always comes down to one of three things: the price compared with what buyers saw that week, how the home looked online, or how many of the right buyers actually saw it. Here's what I'd do differently:
1. Price it against the homes buyers are touring now, not last spring. 2. Re-shoot the photos and lead with the rooms buyers care about most. 3. Market it directly to buyers and agents already active in {neighborhood}.
If you'd like, I'll do a free 15-minute review of your listing and tell you honestly what I'd change, whether or not you hire me.
{your_name} · {your_phone}
P.S. If you've already relisted with another agent, please disregard this letter. I wish you a quick sale.
Merge fields
Every highlighted field is filled in for each owner.
Copy the text and fill these in by hand, or let Spur fill them from the owner's property record when you mail to expired sellers.
- {owner_first_name}
- The seller's first name from property records.
- {property_address}
- The home that was listed.
- {days_on_market}
- How long it was listed, from your expired data.
- {neighborhood}
- The subdivision or area name.
- {recent_sale}
- A comparable nearby sale that closed while they were listed.
- {your_name}
- Your name and brokerage.
- {your_phone}
- Your direct number.
Why it works
Specific beats "I have buyers".
Price, presentation, and exposure are the three reasons most homes don't sell. The letter names them plainly.
Concrete changes the seller can picture, not a promise of buyers waiting in the wings.
A free 15-minute review, not a listing appointment. It's easier to say yes to.
Variations
Three more expired listing letters
Free to copy. Pick the one that fits the owner and the moment.
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What buyers saw when they looked at {property_address}
Hi {owner_first_name},
Buyers don't see a home on its own. They see it next to every other home in their price range that week. While your home was listed, {recent_sale} sold nearby, and that's the comparison many buyers made.
I've put together a one-page summary of what sold, what didn't, and why in {neighborhood} over the last six months. It's yours, free, whether you relist with me or not.
Call or text and I'll send it over.
{your_name} · {your_phone}
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Is now still the right time to sell {property_address}?
Hi {owner_first_name},
After your listing ended, you may be wondering whether to try again now, wait for a better season, or stay put. All three can be the right answer.
I'd be glad to walk you through what's selling in {neighborhood}, how long it's taking, and what the next few months typically look like, so you can decide with real numbers.
No pressure and no obligation. Just a clear picture.
{your_name} · {your_phone}
View the text with merge fields
Still thinking about selling {property_address}?
Hi {owner_first_name},
I wrote recently with a few ideas about why your home may not have sold. If you're still considering selling, my offer of a free, honest listing review stands.
Fifteen minutes, your questions, and a plan you can use with any agent. Call or text whenever it suits you.
{your_name} · {your_phone}
How it works
From template to mailbox in one workflow.
Five steps from an expired listing to a booked listing appointment.
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Guide
How to write an expired listing letter that gets a call back
An expired listing letter goes to a homeowner whose listing ended without a sale. These sellers have already shown they want to sell, which makes them some of the best listing leads an agent can find. They're also some of the most contacted: many expired sellers hear from dozens of agents in the first day, and most of those calls and letters sound the same.
The letters that work are specific. Instead of "I have buyers looking in your area", explain why homes like theirs don't sell. It's usually one of three reasons: the price compared with competing homes that week, the presentation online, or the exposure to active buyers. Name the reasons plainly, give a short plan, and point to a real nearby sale as evidence. Avoid criticizing the previous agent. Sellers often liked them, and blaming them makes you look petty.
Make the next step easy. A free, 15-minute listing review is easier to say yes to than a listing appointment, and it lets you show your expertise before asking for anything. A QR code that opens your calendar removes the need to call at all.
Timing is your advantage. A letter that arrives three to five days after expiration lands after the phone storm has died down, when the seller is thinking about next steps. Follow up 10 to 14 days later, then fold the owner into your farm. Many expired sellers relist months later with the agent who stayed in touch without pestering them.
Follow the rules. Confirm the listing has actually expired and isn't under a new exclusive agreement before you send, as the REALTOR® Code of Ethics requires, and follow your MLS rules on expired-listing data. Mail isn't subject to the Do Not Call registry, but any calls you make after the letter are.
Compliance note. Confirm the listing has expired and isn't under a new exclusive agreement before you send. Include your brokerage name as your state requires, and follow your MLS rules on expired-listing data. Read the compliance checklist →
FAQ
Expired Listing Letter Template questions
What should an expired listing letter say?
Acknowledge the frustration, explain the likely reasons the home didn't sell (price, presentation, or exposure), give a short plan, and offer a free, no-pressure listing review.
When should I send an expired listing letter?
Three to five days after the listing expires, after the first wave of calls, then follow up 10 to 14 days later.
Is it okay to contact expired listings?
Yes, once the listing has actually expired and isn't under a new exclusive agreement. Follow the REALTOR® Code of Ethics and your MLS rules.
Should I criticize the previous agent?
No. Focus on what you'd do, not what they didn't. Many sellers liked their agent, and criticism undermines your credibility.
Is this template free to use?
Yes. Copy or download it. Spur can fill in each seller's details and mail it with a QR code that tracks responses.
Keep exploring
More free templates and guides
The template is free. The mailing is easy.
Send the expired letter that actually says something.
Upload your expireds, enrich the owners, and mail this letter with each home's details filled in. Free to start.
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