---
title: "What to Text Past Clients: 40 Templates That Don't Sound Like Marketing"
description: "The best texts to past clients have a reason behind them and ask for nothing. Here are 40 templates sorted by situation: reconnecting after a long gap, news about their house, local tips, life events, holidays, invitations, thank-yous, and replies for when they text back. Download all 40 as a spreadsheet."
canonical: https://getdex.com/blog/what-to-text-past-clients/
source: https://getdex.com/llms.txt
---

# What to Text Past Clients: 40 Templates That Don't Sound Like Marketing

_By Kevin Sun_

**Tags:** Networking, Personal CRM

Most agents don't have trouble with the idea of texting past clients. They stare at a blank message and can't think of anything to say that isn't "just checking in."

So here are 40 texts you can send. They're sorted by situation, not by month, so you can find one for whatever's in front of you today. None of them asks for a referral or a listing. That's on purpose: the texts that keep you in someone's life are the ones that don't want anything.

These are different from the ones in our other guides. The [12-month past-client plan](https://getdex.com/blog/how-to-stay-in-touch-with-past-clients/) has a text for every month of the year, the [home anniversary guide](https://getdex.com/blog/home-anniversary-ideas-for-realtors/) covers close dates, and the [referral guide](https://getdex.com/blog/how-to-ask-past-clients-for-referrals/) covers the ask itself. Between the four, you shouldn't run out.

**Fast facts:**

- A text with a specific reason ("saw a house on your street sold") is easier to answer than a generic check-in.
- Keep it to one phone screen. Short texts get read and answered.
- End with a question when you want a reply. End without one when you don't need one (condolences, congratulations).
- Federal telemarketing rules limit calls and texts that count as solicitations to between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in the recipient's time zone. Some states are stricter.
- Personal one-to-one texts from your phone are different from mass texts sent through an app, which need consent and carrier registration.

[**Download all 40 texts as a spreadsheet (CSV)**](https://assets.ctfassets.net/u17em9tc1vdb/4VmD2vn7UybCvoN8kKd7is/46c15ed23e0411ab660b5c917f4446d6/what-to-text-past-clients-40-templates.csv)

![Dex Copilot logs a note and sets a follow-up reminder from one plain-English request](https://images.ctfassets.net/u17em9tc1vdb/5lAJwA9xLIfqU52Goo1tfU/39a68b715261b07880f84f3dc0a682b1/dex-copilot.png)

_Image: Dex Copilot drafting a check-in text from a contact's history_

## How to use these

Fill in the brackets from what you know about the person. If you don't know anything, that's the real problem, and no template will fix it. Start writing down one detail every time you talk to someone.

Change the wording so it sounds like you. If you'd never say "heads up," don't. Clients know how you text, and a sudden change in voice reads as automation.

And send them one at a time. These are meant to be personal messages from your own phone, not a blast.

## Reconnecting after a long gap

You haven't talked in a year or three, and it feels awkward. Keep it light, give a real reason, and ask one easy question.

**1.** "Drove past \[street\] today and saw the new paint. Looks great! How's everything in the house?"

**2.** "Found a photo from your closing day while cleaning out my phone. You two look so happy (and so tired). Hope life in \[neighborhood\] is treating you well."

**3.** "Was at a \[team\] game last night and thought of you. Still going to every home game?"

**4.** "Hi from your old neighborhood! I was at a showing two blocks from your old place. How's \[new city\] treating you?"

**5.** "Got a new phone and I'm going through my contacts. Your name made me smile. What's new with you all?"

## News about their house

These work because they're about the client's biggest asset, and you're the one person who'd think to mention it.

**6.** "Assessment notices just went out in \[county\]. If yours looks high, the appeal window usually closes \[timeframe\]. Happy to pull a few recent sales if you want to compare."

**7.** "A few clients have mentioned big jumps on their homeowners insurance renewals this year. If yours went up, \[insurance agent\] is good at shopping it around. No pressure, just passing it along."

**8.** "Saw a zoning notice for \[project\] on \[road\] near you. Didn't know if you'd heard. Here's the link: \[link\]."

**9.** "\[Utility\] is offering a rebate on \[heat pumps / insulation / smart thermostats\] right now. Thought of you since you mentioned the \[upstairs / old furnace\]."

**10.** "Heads up, your HOA has a vote coming up on \[topic\]. Thought you'd want to know before the meeting."

**11.** "A house a lot like yours just listed on \[street\]. I'm curious what you think of the price, since you know the street better than I do."

## Being useful locally

You know the area. Share it.

**12.** "A new \[taco place / bakery / coffee shop\] just opened on \[street\], walking distance from you. Have you tried it yet?"

**13.** "The \[farmers market / street fair / concert series\] starts this weekend at \[place\]. Thought the kids might like it."

**14.** "Quick question: do you still use that painter you liked? I have a client who needs one and I trust your taste."

**15.** "Read this piece on \[topic they care about\] and thought of you: \[link\]."

**16.** "Sign-ups for \[summer camps / swim lessons\] at \[rec center\] open Monday. They filled up fast last year."

Number 14 is the sneaky good one. Asking a client for a recommendation makes them the expert, and people like being asked.

## Life events

Check your notes and LinkedIn before sending these, and get the details right. A wrong baby name is worse than no text at all.

**17.** "Just saw the news about the baby. Congratulations! Welcome to the world, \[baby's name\]. Hope you're all getting a little sleep."

**18.** "Congratulations on the engagement! \[Partner's name\] is a lucky one. So happy for you both."

**19.** "Can't believe \[kid\] is graduating. I remember them \[detail from the house search\]. Congratulations to the whole family."

**20.** "Heard you're retiring! Congratulations. What's the first thing on the list?"

**21.** "I was so sorry to hear about \[name\]. Thinking of you and your family. No need to reply."

**22.** "Is that a new dog in your photos? I need a name and a breed immediately."

No questions in 21. A condolence text shouldn't ask anything of the person getting it.

## Holidays that don't sound like everyone else's

Everyone sends "Happy holidays!" These are more specific, which is why they get replies.

**23.** "Fourth of July plans? Your street had the best view of the \[town\] fireworks last year, from what I heard."

**24.** "Is your street still the big trick-or-treat street? Asking for a friend (the friend is me)."

**25.** "First snow! Hope the driveway isn't too bad. If you need a plow service, \[vendor\] is reliable."

**26.** "Opening day! Are you going this year?"

**27.** "Happy \[Lunar New Year / Diwali / Rosh Hashanah\] to you and the family. Hope it's a great one."

Only send 27 to clients you know celebrate. If you're guessing, don't.

## Invitations

Invitations are the warmest texts on this list, because you're offering your time.

**28.** "I'm grabbing coffee near you on \[day\]. Any chance you're free for twenty minutes? My treat."

**29.** "I have an open house on \[street\] Sunday from \[time\]. Come be nosy, no strings. I'll have snacks."

**30.** "Hosting a little homeowner Q&A at \[place\] on \[date\]: property taxes, insurance, the boring stuff that matters. Want to come? Bring a friend."

**31.** "A few clients and I are volunteering at \[food bank / park cleanup\] on \[date\]. Would you want to join us?"

## Thank-yous

The texts most agents forget to send.

**32.** "Just saw your review. Thank you so much. That made my whole week."

**33.** "Thank you for sending \[name\] my way. I'll take great care of her, and I'll let you know how it goes."

**34.** "Good news, \[name\] found a place! Thanks again for the introduction. That one meant a lot."

**35.** "Thanks for the \[contractor / plumber\] recommendation. My other client loved them."

**36.** "Thank you for coming out on \[day\]. It was really good to see you."

For more on referral thank-yous, including what you're allowed to give, see our guide on [asking past clients for referrals](https://getdex.com/blog/how-to-ask-past-clients-for-referrals/).

## When they text back

The texts above are the easy part. Here's what to say when a client replies with something you didn't plan for.

**37.** When they reply "Who is this?": "It's \[your name\], your agent from \[address\]! Sorry, I should have said. New phone?"

**38.** When they ask "So what's my house worth?": "Happy to tell you. I'll pull the recent sales on your street and send you a real number, not an online guess. Give me a day."

**39.** When they say "My cousin just got her real estate license": "Oh, that's great for her! Starting out is a lot. If she ever wants to grab coffee and talk shop, I'm happy to."

**40.** When they say "We're thinking about moving": "That's exciting! No rush at all. When you want to think it through, I'm happy to sit down and look at timing and numbers with you."

Number 39 is worth a second look. When a client has a relative in the business, the gracious move is to wish them well and mean it. You'll stay on good terms, and the cousin may send you a referral someday.

## A note on texting rules

Texting someone you know, from your own phone, about something relevant to them is ordinary communication. Things change when texts start to look like marketing.

Federal rules limit telephone solicitations, including texts, to between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in the recipient's local time, and some states set tighter windows. If you send the same message to many people through a texting app or platform, you'll generally need their prior consent, and your provider will ask you to register for business texting with the carriers. Mass marketing texts also need an easy way to opt out.

The simplest way to stay on the right side of all this is the way these templates are meant to be used: one person at a time, from your own phone, at a reasonable hour. If you're planning anything bigger, ask your broker what your brokerage requires.

## Sending these from Dex

Full disclosure: [Dex](https://getdex.com/) is our product. It's a personal CRM. It won't send texts for you, but it helps with the part templates can't: knowing who to text and what to mention.

[Keep-in-touch reminders](https://getdex.com/docs/workflows/keep-in-touch) show you who's due each day. Open their record and your [notes](https://getdex.com/docs/workflows/new-note-creation) are there: the dog's name, the deck project, the kid's school. That's what fills the brackets. [Dex Copilot](https://getdex.com/docs/ai/copilot) can draft a check-in based on your history with someone, which you then edit into your own voice.

![The Dex home screen with today's calendar events, birthdays, Keep-in-Touch contacts and reminders](https://images.ctfassets.net/u17em9tc1vdb/17nnLeYPMpSY8tDOXUXiQr/45d0d1f8299acb0da964079f7610cbb0/dex-home-screen.webp)

_Image: The Dex home screen lists who's due for a text today_

When they reply, the conversation syncs back to their record through [iMessage sync](https://getdex.com/docs/integrationsandfeatures/syncfeatures/sync-imessage) on the Mac desktop app (or [WhatsApp](https://getdex.com/docs/integrationsandfeatures/syncfeatures/sync-whatsapp)), and the keep-in-touch clock resets on its own. If you text a lot of past clients, here's [how Dex works for a sphere-based business](https://getdex.com/realestate/).

## Who this isn't for

If you're following up with new buyer inquiries from Zillow or your website, these aren't the right scripts. Those people don't know you yet, and texts that assume a shared history will feel odd.

And if you're already in regular contact with most of your past clients, you don't need 40 templates. Keep doing what you're doing, and borrow a few from the "when they text back" section.

## FAQ

### What should I text a past client?

Something with a specific reason behind it that doesn't ask for anything: a sale on their street, a new restaurant near them, a congratulations on a life event, or an invitation to coffee. Avoid "just checking in."

### How often should I text past clients?

Every two to three months is plenty for most past clients, plus personal dates like their home anniversary. Your closest clients and best referral sources can hear from you monthly.

### Is it okay to text past clients without asking first?

A personal, one-to-one text from your own phone to someone you've worked with is ordinary communication. Mass marketing texts sent through an app need prior consent, carrier registration and an opt-out. Ask your broker if you're unsure.

### What time of day should I text clients?

Late morning or early evening on weekdays works well for most people. Federal rules restrict solicitation texts to between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in the recipient's time zone, and some states are stricter.

### How do I text a past client I haven't talked to in years?

Keep it short and give a real reason: you drove past their street, found a photo from closing, or got a new phone and saw their name. Ask one easy question and don't add a pitch.

### Should I ask for referrals in a text?

Not in a cold text. Ask when a client replies warmly or mentions someone who's moving. Our guide on asking past clients for referrals has scripts for those moments.

## The bottom line

You don't need clever texts. You need a reason, a detail about the person, and the habit of sending a few every day. Pick five of these, send them this week, and write down what people say back. That's what next month's texts will come from.

If you want a daily list of who's due and the notes to make each text personal, [start a 6-day Dex trial](https://getdex.com/pricing/).

---

**Related guides**

- [How to stay in touch with past clients: a 12-month plan (+ scripts)](https://getdex.com/blog/how-to-stay-in-touch-with-past-clients/)
- [Home anniversary ideas and text templates for realtors](https://getdex.com/blog/home-anniversary-ideas-for-realtors/)
- [How to ask past clients for referrals without being awkward](https://getdex.com/blog/how-to-ask-past-clients-for-referrals/)
- [The 33 Touch plan, updated for 2026](https://getdex.com/blog/33-touch-plan/)
- [How to follow up with past clients](https://getdex.com/blog/how-to-follow-up-with-past-clients/)
- [Real estate sphere of influence: how to build one and maintain it](https://getdex.com/blog/real-estate-sphere-of-influence/)
- [The real estate agent's guide to sphere, past clients and referral partners](https://getdex.com/guides/real-estate-networking/)