Episode 702: How I Revived 47% of “Dead Leads” in My Database - Your Daily Real Estate Podcast with Tristan Ahumada

Summary4 min read

Episode Overview

Podcast: Your Daily Real Estate Podcast with Tristan Ahumada
Episode: 702 – How I Revived 47% of "Dead Leads" in My Database
Date: November 1, 2025
Host: Tristan Ahumada

In this concise 5-minute episode, Tristan Ahumada shares actionable strategies and specific scripts for re-engaging non-responsive leads in a real estate agent's database. The episode focuses on practical call and text outreach methods, discussing what actually works to "revive" dead leads and spark new client conversations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Challenge of Non-Responsive Leads

Many agents have neglected portions of their database—contacts who haven't responded in years.
Even with AI and automated follow-up, human outreach is necessary for real connections.

Quote:
"There are parts of our database that needs love and we think maybe you know what, it's just not worth it anymore. They haven't responded in years." (00:04)

2. Why Text First, Call Next

Texting is currently the "easiest way to communicate" with leads since it feels less intrusive and often gets better response rates.
However, don’t neglect cold calling, which still has a place, especially for certain lead types like expireds or FSBOs.

Quote:
"If you're reaching out to them, I would suggest that you try text first. Text right now is the easiest way to communicate with people and people will respond typically well to that if they're engaging." (00:33)

3. Simple, Effective Call Script

Tristan shares the exact script he uses for calls to non-responsive leads and encourages listeners to modify it as needed.
The script emphasizes honesty (admitting you didn’t follow up previously), personalization, and posing an open-ended question.

Call Script Example (paraphrased):

“Hi Joe, this is Tristan with Y Realty. You came through our database a while back and I think you inquired about [buying/selling/specific property]. Honestly, I never followed up with you at the time. I’m reaching out personally now. I don’t know if you ever ended up buying/selling—Is that something you still want to do?” (01:15)

Alternative question: "Are you still thinking about it, or did you already get taken care of?"

4. High-Response Text Messaging

Scripts for texts mirror the call’s honesty and directness, but are shorter for quick engagement.
Customizing with city, property type, or timeframe improves personalization and response rates.
An emotional nudge – asking “Did you give that up already?” – often prompts a reply because people don’t like to see themselves as quitters.

Text Script Example:

"Hey Joe, it's Tristan with Y Realty. You inquired about real estate a while back. Did you ever buy, sell, or is it still on your mind?" (02:15)

Quote:
"That's what I've been testing out to be getting good responses. Because giving up on something makes people feel like, I didn't give up. I just put it on hold. No, I'm still looking. Or take me off your list. Regardless of what, this is what you get back. You get a response. That's what matters." (03:15)

5. The Main Goal: Get Any Response

Whether the reply is “Yes, still looking,” or “Take me off your list,” the objective is to prompt engagement and update contact records.
The next step: If someone is still interested, continue the conversation and ask clarifying questions about their needs and areas of interest.

Final Insight:
"The whole goal is to connect with people and give them exactly what they want. Where are you looking? Where are you looking at? And anyway, the rest is a whole different story. Today I just wanted to give you those two simple scripts." (04:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Database Neglect:
"There are parts of our database that needs love and we think maybe you know what, it's just not worth it anymore. They haven't responded in years." (00:04)
On Why Simplicity Works:
"The text is super simple along the same lines... we're always testing it out." (02:05)
On Emotional Triggers in Scripts:
"Because giving up on something makes people feel like, I didn't give up. I just put it on hold." (03:15)
On the Value of Any Response:
"Regardless of what, this is what you get back. You get a response. That's what matters." (03:20)

Actionable Takeaways

Revive your dead leads with honest, personalized outreach.
Start with a brief, direct text; follow up with a call.
Use scripts that acknowledge your previous lack of follow-up and open the door for conversation.
Test tweaks to your language, especially phrases that tug on the idea of “giving up.”
Focus not on immediate deals, but on rekindling engagement and updating your database.

Important Timestamps

00:04 – The problem: Neglected, unresponsive leads
00:33 – Why text (and then call) is best
01:15 – The call script in detail
02:15 – Sample text messages
03:15 – The psychology of “Did you give that up already?”
04:00 – Next steps after getting a response

Summary by: Podcast Summarizer AI (2024)
This summary covers all actionable strategies and memorable advice from episode 702, ensuring agents can put these tactics to work immediately.

Loading summary

Transcript1 lines

[00:00]
A
Let's talk about how to reach out to the non responsive database that we all have. There are parts of our database that needs love and we think maybe you know what, it's just not worth it anymore. They haven't responded in years. You don't have AI set up to automatically nudge them or reach out to them. And even if you do, you might be reaching out to them in the wrong way. So let's get into this one. I'm Tristan. This is your daily real estate. It's a podcast. It's a show, five minutes about every day. We're on like episode now, 702. If you need this, message me on Instagram. I'll send this over. Let's get into this non responsive database leads. You can call them, you can text them. If you're reaching out to them. I would suggest that you try text first. Text right now is the easiest way to communicate with people and people will respond typically well to that if they're engaging. You also want to call. Don't let go of that. I know cold calling in some instances is doing really good. I know it is for us. This is just cold calling in general, like just listed, just sold, expired, for sale by owners. But today we're talking about non responsive database leads. Here's how the call script would sound and you can modify this. So just created it. This is exactly what we use. Okay, so. Hi, Joe, this is Tristan with why Realty. You came through our database a while back and I think you inquired about and this is where you would put buying, selling specific property, whatever. And honestly, I never followed up with you at the time. Easy, right? I'm going through and reaching out to people personally right now. I don't know if you ever ended up buying or selling and then just say, is that something you still want to do? And then just let them talk. Right? Or you can even twist it a little bit and say, are you still thinking about it or did you already get taken care of? Now the text is super simple along the same lines and it's hey Joe, you could put your name here or at the bottom. I alternate but hey Joe, it's Tristan with Y Realty. You inquired about real estate a while back. Did you ever buy, sell, or is it still on your mind? Now there are some tweaks to the text because we're always testing it out. You could send out something like, hey Joe, you inquired about real estate in. You could put the city in Malibu, in Thousand Oaks. You inquired about a mobile home or a condo or land or a house or whatever. A while back, did you ever buy if you know they're coming as a buyer, did you ever buy? Or did you give that up already? Did you give that up already? That's what I've been testing out to be getting good responses. Because giving up on something makes people feel like I didn't give up. I just put it on hold. No, I'm still looking. Or take me off your list. Regardless of what, this is what you get back. You get a response. That's what matters. Now the rest is up to you. Hopefully, if they are texting you back and saying, you know what, we're still looking great. Just want to make sure I have the right areas, right? And in conversation, make sure you're listening. Because the whole goal is to connect with people and give them exactly what they want. Where are you looking? Where are you looking at? And anyway, the rest is a whole different story. Today I just wanted to give you those two simple scripts. If you need this message me. It is episode 702. Have an awesome day.