Compliance

What to do when a seller asks about your DNC status

When a seller asks about your Do Not Call (DNC) status, he or she is likely concerned about how you obtained his or her number and whether your outreach is compliant. You should calmly and directly explain your process for contacting him or her and offer to place him or her on your internal do not call list if he or she wishes, without admitting to any wrongdoing.

October 15, 2026 · 4 min read

Understand the seller's underlying concern

When a seller asks, 'Are you on the Do Not Call list?' or 'How did you get my number?', he or she is often expressing a general unease about unsolicited contact. He or she might be on the national or a state DNC list and feels his or her privacy has been invaded. He or she might also be simply testing your professionalism and legitimacy.

Your goal is to address this concern without being defensive or accusatory. The seller is not necessarily accusing you of a violation, but rather seeking reassurance or clarification. A calm and direct response can defuse the situation and keep the conversation productive.

Explain your contact method transparently

You can explain that you text homeowners who have publicly indicated an interest in selling their property. For example, you could say: 'We reach out to homeowners who have responded to a text message about selling their house, often through a marketplace like Speed to Seller. You replied to one of those messages, which is why we are contacting you now.' This clarifies the 'why' without divulging proprietary information.

This approach establishes that the contact was a reply, not a cold call or text to an unconsenting party. It shifts the focus from your DNC status to the fact that he or she initiated the interaction, or at least responded to an offer for one. Do not elaborate more than necessary; stick to the facts.

Offer to add him or her to your internal DNC list

Regardless of how he or she replied, if a seller expresses any desire not to be contacted further, you must respect that. A simple and effective response is: 'I understand. If you would prefer not to receive any more communications from us, I can certainly add your number to our internal do not contact list right now.'

This gives the seller control and demonstrates your compliance. Make sure you actually follow through and add his or her number to your internal DNC list immediately. This is crucial for avoiding future compliance issues and maintaining a good reputation. Keep clear records of these requests.

Differentiate between DNC and prior express written consent

It's important to remember that DNC rules primarily apply to cold outreach. When a homeowner replies to a text message about selling his or her house, he or she has provided a form of 'prior express written consent' for you to respond to that specific inquiry. This consent generally overrides DNC status for the purpose of continuing the conversation he or she initiated. However, this is not legal advice; always consult with a legal professional.

Your explanation to the seller should focus on the reply he or she sent, which is the basis for your current communication. You are not cold calling or cold texting; you are following up on an initiated interaction. Do not use legal jargon with the seller, just simple, factual statements.

Maintain a calm and professional demeanor

The most important thing is to remain calm, confident, and professional throughout the conversation. An agitated or defensive tone can escalate the situation and make the seller more suspicious. You are simply explaining your process and offering him or her options.

Your goal is to either continue the conversation about his or her property or to gracefully end it while respecting his or her wishes. By handling the DNC question effectively, you can either build trust with a potential seller or ensure you are compliant if he or she prefers no further contact.

Questions people ask

If a seller texts me back, does that mean I can call him or her even if he or she is on the DNC list?

Generally, yes. A reply to an initial text often constitutes prior express written consent for you to continue the conversation related to that inquiry. This is not legal advice, so always check your state's specific regulations.

Should I apologize for contacting him or her?

No, you don't need to apologize if you are following up on a reply he or she sent. Simply explain your process and offer to remove him or her from your list if he or she wishes. Apologizing can imply wrongdoing where there might be none.

What if he or she insists he or she never replied?

Politely state that your records show a reply from his or her number. Offer to reconfirm the exact message or time, but if he or she still insists, simply offer to place him or her on your internal do not contact list immediately. Do not argue.

Where can I find information on compliance with cold outreach?

You should review cold outreach rules every investor should know about to stay informed and compliant with contact regulations. /learn/tcpa-and-cold-outreach-basics