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TextingSellersScripts

What to say in your first text to a seller

The R35 team · August 2, 2026 · 2 min read

You get one line before a seller decides whether you are worth answering. Most first texts fail the same way: too long, too vague, and obviously blasted to a thousand people. Here is what actually earns a reply.

The four things a good opener does

  1. Says who you are. Not a fake first-name-only mystery. A real person or business. Hiding it reads as a scam and, for texts, it is also a compliance problem.
  2. Names the property. "Your place on Maple St" beats "your property." It proves you are talking to them, not spraying a list.
  3. Makes one small, easy ask. You are not proposing marriage. You are asking if they would even consider an offer. Give them a one-word way to answer.
  4. Respects the exit. Tell them how to opt out. It is the law for texting, and it also, counterintuitively, makes people more willing to engage — they know they are not trapped.

Examples to adapt

A cold opener:

Hi, this is Dana with Ridgeline Homes. I buy houses in the Eastside area and noticed your place on Maple St. Would you consider a cash offer? No pressure — reply STOP and I won't message again.

A warmer one, after an inbound or a referral:

Hi Marcus, this is Dana — you filled out our form about the rental on 4th Ave. Is now an okay time to talk through what you're hoping to get for it?

Notice what is missing: no wall of text, no life story, no "AMAZING OPPORTUNITY," no pressure. One clear question, an easy out.

What to avoid

  • Fake familiarity. "Hey, is this still available?" as if you are old friends. Sellers see it constantly and it burns trust instantly.
  • Leading with your offer number. You have not earned it and you do not have enough information. The number is a conversation, not an opener.
  • Paragraphs. If it does not fit on one phone screen without scrolling, cut it.

After they reply

Slow down. A reply is an invitation to a conversation, not a green light to pitch. Ask about their situation and their timeline before you talk price. The seller who feels heard in the first two messages is the one who is still talking to you when it is time to sign.

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