You found a Realtor you might want to work with.
Now you need to reach out.
Should you call, send an email, or text them?
And what should you say when you make that first contact?
There’s no right way to get in touch with a real estate agent.
The best method depends on how you prefer to communicate and whether you want to have a conversation right away.
You also don’t need to have everything figured out before reaching out.
You just need to share enough about your situation to get the conversation started.
This guide explains how to contact a Realtor for the first time, what to say, and what to expect after you do.
If you’re planning to sell, you can also learn about the best time to contact a Realtor in a separate guide.
How to contact a Realtor for the first time
Calling, emailing, and texting are all common ways to contact a Realtor.
The one you choose depends on whether you want to talk right away or send a message the agent can respond to.
Call the Realtor
Calling makes sense if you want to speak with the Realtor right away.
Keep the reason for your call simple when they answer.
You can say something like:
“Hi, my name is [name]. I’m thinking about selling my home in [city or neighborhood] and wanted to see if you have a few minutes to talk.”
The agent may have time to talk then, or they may suggest scheduling a call for later.
If they don’t answer, leave a short voicemail with your name, why you’re calling, and the best number to reach you.
You don’t need to explain your entire situation in the voicemail.
All you need to do is give the agent enough information to know why you’re calling and how to get back to you.
Send an email
Email works well if you want to give the Realtor some information about your situation before you talk.
But you don’t need to include everything in your first message.
Introduce yourself, briefly explain why you’re reaching out, and give the agent an idea of when you’re thinking about buying or selling.
A clear subject line also lets them know what your email is about.
Here’s an example of how to email a Realtor for the first time:
Subject: Selling my home in [city or neighborhood]
Hi [agent’s name],
My name is [name], and I’m thinking about selling my home in [city or neighborhood] within the next [timeframe].
I’d like to learn more about working with you and how you would approach selling my home.
Do you have time for a quick call sometime this week?
You can reach me at [phone number], or feel free to reply by email.
Thanks,
[name]
Send a text
Texting works well if you want to make initial contact without having a conversation right away.
Keep your first message short.
Introduce yourself, explain why you’re reaching out, and ask if the Realtor has time to talk.
For example:
Hi [agent’s name], my name is [name]. I’m looking to buy a home in [city or neighborhood] and wanted to see if you have time for a quick call sometime this week. Thanks!
Reach out on social media
You can also contact a Realtor through Facebook, Instagram, or another social media platform they actively use for business.
For example, you could send a message like:
Hi [agent’s name], I came across your profile and I’m thinking about selling my home in [city or neighborhood]. What’s the best way to get in touch with you?
Not every agent checks their social media messages regularly.
So if you don’t hear back, try the phone number or email address listed on their website or profile.
What to say when contacting a Realtor
The Realtor needs enough information to understand your situation, what you need help with, and your general timeframe.
What you share will be a little different depending on whether you’re selling or buying.
If you’re selling a home
Give the agent a basic picture of your property and your plans for selling it.
Let them know where the property is, what type it is, and when you’re hoping to sell.
You should also mention any circumstances that could affect your sale.
For example, you might be relocating, selling an inherited property, selling a tenant-occupied property, or going through a divorce.
Mention anything significant about the property too, such as repairs you know it needs or work you’re planning to complete before selling.
Then explain what you need help with.
You might want help figuring out how much your house could sell for, what you should do before listing, or what your next steps should be.
If you’re buying a home
The agent will want to know what you’re looking for and where you are in the buying process.
So it will help if you share:
- Areas you’re considering
- The type of home you want
- Your general price range
- When you’re hoping to buy.
Financing is also important.
Let them know if you’ve already been preapproved for a mortgage.
If you haven’t talked to a lender yet, that’s useful for the agent to know too.
Your circumstances can provide important context as well.
You might be buying your first home, relocating to the area, or planning to sell your current home before you buy.
Also let the agent know how far along you are in your search.
Maybe you’re just starting, or you’ve already been looking at homes and are ready to buy.
Providing these details up front lets you spend less time covering the basics and get to the important parts of the conversation sooner.
What not to say when you first contact a Realtor
You should give the Realtor enough information to understand your situation.
But you don’t need to tell them everything during your first conversation.
Be especially careful about volunteering information that reveals your negotiating limits.
For example, a seller doesn’t need to say:
“I need to sell quickly, so I’ll take anything over $800,000.”
And a buyer doesn’t need to say:
“My budget is $1 million, but I could go up to $1.2 million if I really like the house.”
There’s a difference between sharing your timeframe and price range and revealing how much flexibility you have.
The same applies to your personal circumstances.
If you’re relocating for work and need to sell within a few months, that’s helpful for the agent to know.
But you don’t need to explain every personal or financial reason behind the move right away.
You also don’t need to cover every question or expectation you have during the initial contact.
Commission, communication, experience, and how the agent works with clients are all important topics.
But you can discuss those once you have a more detailed conversation or meet with the agent.
And avoiding oversharing doesn’t mean withholding information the Realtor needs.
A seller shouldn’t hide a known issue with the property because they don’t want to say too much.
And a buyer should be straightforward about where they are in the financing process.
A good rule is to share information that helps the agent understand what you’re trying to accomplish.
But don’t volunteer information that unnecessarily gives away leverage.
What to expect after contacting a Realtor
Most agents will want to learn more about your situation after you make contact.
They may ask a few questions by phone, text, or email or suggest a time for a longer conversation.
If you’re selling, the agent may want to schedule a first meeting at your property.
Seeing the home will help them give you more specific advice about its potential value and what you should do before listing.
Buyers can expect the conversation to focus more on their home search.
A buyer’s agent will probably want to know what you’re looking for, where you are in the financing process, and when you’re hoping to buy.
Having a first conversation with a real estate agent doesn’t mean you’re agreeing to work with them.
And you don’t need to decide whether to hire them right away.
You can talk with more than one Realtor before deciding who you want to work with.
Don’t assume an agent isn’t interested if they don’t respond immediately.
They could be with another client, at a showing, or unavailable when you reach out.
If you don’t hear back after a reasonable amount of time, follow up or contact another agent.
Don’t know which Realtor to contact?
Knowing how to contact a Realtor doesn’t help much if you don’t know which one to contact.
Asking friends or family for recommendations, searching for agents online, or using an agent matching service are all ways to find a Realtor.
But a recommendation or search result doesn’t tell you whether an agent is qualified to sell your home.
SoldNest gives sellers another option.
We can match you with one to three listing agents who have already been vetted based on their recent sales history, client reviews, dual agency activity, and other criteria.
You can connect with one agent or compare a few.
And you don’t have to make the first contact.
See how SoldNest works and get matched with a vetted listing agent.
