You're showing a $500,000 listing to a serious buyer. Your phone vibrates in your pocket. Another potential client calling about the home they saw on Zillow last night. You can't answer - you're mid-tour, pointing out the upgraded kitchen and explaining the neighborhood.
The caller gets your voicemail. They listen for three seconds, hang up, and call the next agent on the listing.
You just lost a potential $15,000 commission and didn't even know it happened.
According to the National Association of Realtors, 78% of home buyers work with the first agent who responds to their inquiry. Not the best-reviewed agent. Not the agent with the most experience. The first one to pick up the phone.
The average real estate agent takes over 15 hours to respond to new leads, according to Inman's 2025 survey. That's not a typo. Fifteen hours. Meanwhile, research shows your odds of connecting with a lead drop by 10x after just 30 minutes.
Your voicemail greeting is the first thing a potential client hears when you can't answer. This guide gives you six professional scripts that work, plus the data that explains why your voicemail script alone won't save you from losing leads.
What Makes a Great Realtor Voicemail Greeting
Before we get to specific scripts, let's cover what separates a professional voicemail from one that makes callers hang up.
Keep It Under 30 Seconds
Research on conversational speech shows people speak at 120-150 words per minute. That means your 30-second greeting should contain 60-75 words maximum. Go longer, and callers check out. Most won't even listen past the first 20 seconds before deciding whether to leave a message or move on.
Include the Essential Elements
Every realtor voicemail needs four components:
- Your name and brokerage (so they know they reached the right person)
- Brief acknowledgment that you're unavailable (showing or helping another client)
- Clear callback timeframe (and make sure you can keep that promise)
- What information they should leave (name, number, what they're looking for)
Always Offer a Text Option
Here's something most agents miss: 89% of consumers prefer text over phone calls for business communication. Many of your callers want to text you but called because that's the number they found. Explicitly giving them permission to text dramatically increases your capture rate.
Add something like: "For a faster response, feel free to text me at this number."
Sound Confident, Not Rushed
Smile while you record. Listeners can actually hear the difference in your voice. Record in a quiet room - a closet full of clothes works surprisingly well for sound dampening. Never record your voicemail while driving. Poor audio quality signals an unprofessional business, even if your script is perfect.
6 Professional Voicemail Scripts for Real Estate Agents
Here are six proven scripts you can adapt for your business. Each serves a different purpose - pick the one that matches your market and style.
Script 1: The Classic Professional Greeting
Best for: General use, balanced buyer/seller business
"Hi, you've reached [Your Name] with [Agency]. I'm either showing a property or helping another client right now. Leave your name, number, and a brief message about how I can help, and I'll call you back within [2 hours/end of day]. For a faster response, feel free to text me at this number. Thanks for calling!"
Why it works: Professional, sets expectations, offers the text alternative. Works for any situation.
Script 2: The Buyer-Focused Greeting
Best for: Agents who primarily work with buyers
"Thanks for calling [Your Name], your [City/Area] real estate expert. I'm probably out showing homes right now - which means I might be finding your perfect place! Leave your name and tell me what you're looking for - number of bedrooms, neighborhood, budget - and I'll call you back today. You can also text me for a quicker reply."
Why it works: Frames your absence positively (you're busy helping buyers like them), asks for specific qualifying information upfront.
Script 3: The Seller-Focused Greeting
Best for: Listing agents, agents targeting sellers
"Hi, this is [Your Name] with [Agency]. If you're thinking about selling your home, you've called the right agent. Leave me a message with your property address and the best time to reach you, and I'll call you back to discuss your home's value and what's happening in your market."
Why it works: Immediately qualifies the caller as a potential seller, asks for the key information you need (property address) to prepare for the callback.
Script 4: The After-Hours Greeting
Best for: Nights and weekends when you're off the clock
"Thanks for calling [Your Name]. I'm away from the office right now, but your call is important. Leave your name, number, and details about what you're looking for, and I'll return your call first thing tomorrow morning. For urgent matters, text me and I'll respond as soon as I can."
Why it works: Sets realistic expectations for after-hours calls while still offering a faster channel for urgent inquiries.
Script 5: The Urgency-Acknowledging Greeting
Best for: Hot markets where speed matters
"Hi, you've reached [Your Name]. I know the [City] market moves fast and finding the right home is time-sensitive. I'm with another client right now but will return your call within the hour. Leave your details, or text me for the fastest response - I can often reply to texts even when I can't take calls."
Why it works: Acknowledges the caller's urgency, promises a specific (fast) callback window, emphasizes the text option.
Script 6: The Tech-Forward Greeting
Best for: Younger demographics, tech-savvy markets
"Hey, it's [Your Name] with [Agency]. I'm away from my phone but want to help you fast. Honestly, your best bet is to text me at this number with what you're looking for - I can usually respond to texts even during showings. Otherwise, leave a voicemail and I'll call you back within a couple hours."
Why it works: Casual but professional, leads with the text option that younger buyers prefer, acknowledges modern communication preferences.
Speed to Lead: Why Response Time Decides Who Gets the Client
You have your voicemail script dialed in. Great. Now here's the data that should keep you up at night.
The 5-Minute Window
According to research from MIT and InsideSales.com, responding to a lead within 5 minutes makes you 21 times more likely to qualify them compared to waiting 30 minutes. Read that again: 21 times more likely.
The same study found you're 100 times more likely to actually connect with a lead at 5 minutes versus 30 minutes. The difference isn't marginal. It's the difference between winning and losing.
What Happens After 30 Minutes
Contact rates drop by 10x between the 5-minute mark and 30 minutes. After an hour, your odds drop another 7x. By the time most agents respond - remember, the average is 15+ hours - those leads are essentially dead.
A study by Roof AI tested the top 74 real estate brokerages in the United States. Only 9% responded within 5 minutes. Half took more than 3 days. The bar for standing out isn't high - you just have to actually answer.
Why the First Responder Wins
This brings us back to that 78% statistic. NAR data shows that 78% of buyers work with the first agent who responds. Another finding: 71% of buyers only interviewed one agent. They called, someone answered (or called back fast), and that was it.
If you're not the first to respond, there's a 78% chance you're not getting that client. Period.
The Hard Truth: Why Your Voicemail Script Alone Won't Save You
Here's where we need to talk about what voicemail can't do for you.
85% of Callers Won't Leave a Message
According to BIA/Kelsey research, 85% of callers who reach voicemail will never call back. They won't leave a message. They won't try again later. They'll call the next agent on their list.
Separate research shows 75% of callers hang up without leaving any message at all. Your carefully crafted voicemail script? Three-quarters of your callers will never hear more than the first few seconds before they're gone.
The After-Hours Challenge
Industry data shows 62% of real estate inquiries come outside traditional business hours. Evenings. Weekends. Holidays. That's when serious buyers are actively searching - scrolling through Zillow after dinner, touring neighborhoods on Saturday afternoons.
These aren't casual browsers. After-hours callers are often your highest-intent leads. They're ready to act. And if they reach your voicemail at 8 PM on a Sunday, they're not waiting until Monday morning for you to call back. They're calling the next agent.
What Happens When You Miss the Call
Let's trace a typical scenario:
Sunday, 7 PM. A pre-approved buyer sees your listing on Realtor.com. They love it. They want to see it before the open house next weekend. They call your number.
Voicemail.
They wait three seconds, hoping you might pick up. You don't. They consider leaving a message but decide they want to talk to someone now. They tap the back button and call the listing agent whose number is right below yours.
That agent answers. They schedule a showing for Tuesday. By Wednesday, the buyer is writing an offer.
You call back Monday morning, 15 hours later. The buyer is polite but already working with another agent.
What Missed Calls Actually Cost Real Estate Agents
Let's put real numbers to this problem.
The Commission Math
Industry data suggests U.S. real estate agents can lose up to $100,000 per year due to unanswered calls. Here's how that math works:
Take an average home price of $400,000. At a 3% commission, that's $12,000 per transaction.
If you miss 10 calls per month from potential clients, and 78% of those callers work with the first agent to respond instead of waiting for you, that's roughly 8 lost opportunities every month.
Even if only 20% of those would have converted to closed deals, you're losing 1.5 transactions per month.
Monthly impact: 1.5 deals x $12,000 = $18,000
Annual impact: $216,000 in lost commissions
Your actual numbers will vary based on your market, price points, and close rate. But the pattern holds: missed calls compound into serious money.
The Comparison That Should Hurt
An AI receptionist that answers every call costs around $199 per month. A traditional answering service runs $400-800 monthly. Even a human receptionist - who only works business hours - costs $35,000+ annually.
Compare that to leaving $100,000+ on the table from missed calls, and the math becomes obvious.
Beyond Voicemail: How Top Agents Capture Leads 24/7
So what are your options when voicemail isn't enough?
Traditional Answering Services
These services use human operators to answer calls on your behalf. They take messages, provide basic information, and route urgent calls.
Cost: $400-800 per month
Pros:
- Human touch, can handle complex conversations
Cons:
- Inconsistent quality
- Operators don't know your listings
- After-hours coverage costs extra
AI-Powered Receptionists
Modern AI receptionists answer calls instantly, qualify leads, answer questions about your listings, and can even book showings directly into your calendar.
Cost: $99-299 per month
Pros:
- 24/7 instant response (under 5 seconds)
- Trained on your specific business
- Scales infinitely
Cons:
- Can't handle every complex situation (though good ones transfer to you when needed)
Comparison at a Glance
| Solution | Monthly Cost | Availability | Response Time | Knows Your Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voicemail only | Free | 24/7 (passive) | N/A | No |
| Human receptionist | ~$3,000 | 40 hrs/week | Varies | Limited |
| Answering service | $400-800 | 24/7 | 30+ seconds | No |
| AI receptionist | $199 | 24/7 | Under 5 seconds | Yes |
Leading brokerages have reported 15-20% improvements in conversion rates after implementing AI answering services. Agents using professional scheduling services typically conduct 20-30% more showings monthly than those managing their own calendars.
How NextPhone Helps Real Estate Agents Capture Every Lead
NextPhone takes the AI receptionist approach specifically built for real estate professionals.
Here's what happens when a potential buyer calls your NextPhone number at 8 PM on a Sunday:
The AI answers in under 5 seconds - before your voicemail would even pick up. It greets the caller professionally, identifies itself as your assistant, and asks how it can help.
The caller asks about your listing on Maple Street. The AI knows that property - it's been trained on all your active listings. It shares the price, square footage, number of bedrooms, and highlights the newly renovated kitchen.
The caller wants to schedule a showing. The AI checks your connected calendar, finds your first available slot Tuesday at 4 PM, and books it. The caller confirms.
You get a text notification with the caller's name, phone number, the property they asked about, and the showing time. When you wake up Monday morning, your Tuesday is already booked with a qualified lead.
What NextPhone handles:
- Answering every call in under 5 seconds (hitting that crucial speed-to-lead window)
- Qualifying leads (buyer/seller, budget range, timeline, pre-approval status)
- Answering property questions based on your listing data
- Booking showings directly into your calendar
- Routing urgent calls to your cell immediately
- Sending you instant notifications with full lead details
All for $199 per month, unlimited calls.
Try NextPhone AI answering service
AI receptionist that answers, qualifies, and books — 24/7.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a realtor voicemail greeting be?
Keep it under 30 seconds. Research shows attention drops sharply after 20 seconds, and most callers decide whether to leave a message within the first few seconds. Aim for 60-75 words maximum. Include your name, agency, callback timeframe, and suggest texting for a faster response.
Should I use different voicemails for buyers and sellers?
If your business is evenly split between buyers and sellers, a general professional greeting works fine. If you specialize heavily in one area - say, you're primarily a listing agent - a tailored message that speaks directly to sellers' needs (home valuations, market conditions, selling timeline) can increase engagement.
How quickly should realtors return calls?
Within 5 minutes if humanly possible. MIT research shows you're 21 times more likely to qualify a lead at 5 minutes versus 30 minutes. After an hour, your odds drop dramatically. The industry average of 15+ hours is essentially handing leads to your competition.
Is it unprofessional to suggest texting in my voicemail?
Not at all - it's expected and appreciated. Studies show 89% of consumers prefer text for business communication. Many of your callers actually want to text but called because that's the number they found. Explicitly giving permission increases your lead capture rate significantly.
How much do missed calls actually cost real estate agents?
Industry data suggests agents can lose $100,000 or more annually to missed calls. With 46% of leads going uncontacted and 78% of buyers working with the first responder, even a few missed calls per week compound into significant lost commissions. At $12,000 average commission, losing just two deals per month to missed calls costs $288,000 per year.
Can an AI receptionist really handle real estate calls?
Modern AI receptionists handle real estate calls surprisingly well. They can answer property questions (price, bedrooms, features), qualify leads (budget, timeline, pre-approval status), check your availability, and book showings directly into your calendar. They answer in under 5 seconds and work around the clock. For complex questions or urgent situations, the best systems transfer calls to you immediately.
Start Capturing Every Real Estate Lead
A great voicemail script is your foundation. It tells callers you're professional, busy helping clients, and will return their call. That matters.
But the data tells a harder story. 85% of callers who reach voicemail won't leave a message. 78% will work with whoever responds first. 62% of inquiries come after business hours. Your voicemail script, no matter how polished, can't answer questions, qualify leads, or book showings at 9 PM on a Saturday.
The agents winning in 2025 aren't just the ones with the best scripts. They're the ones who answer every call.
Try NextPhone AI answering service
AI receptionist that answers, qualifies, and books — 24/7.