You have one saved search with a name like off market, and everything that lands in it goes on the call list the same way. Two of those three statuses are fair game and the third can put you in front of your board, because that seller may still be under contract with the listing agent.
Listing Leads separates three MLS endings that look identical on a lead list, and says agents chase all three the same way. The definitions it gives:
Expired: contract ended, no sale.
Canceled: contract ended early, no sale.
Withdrawn: marketing paused, contract may still be active.
The third is the one that bites. In the article's words: "Withdrawn usually means marketing paused while the agreement may still be active, which can restrict solicitation in many MLS/ethics frameworks."
Its FAQ asks whether the three are the same thing and answers: "No, and mixing them up can waste time or create ethics problems." The habit it recommends instead: "The safest habit is to verify the status and the seller's current representation before you reach out, especially in markets where relists happen quickly."
This is the publisher's general characterization of what the statuses mean, not a citation of a specific MLS rule or a Code article. Definitions and solicitation limits vary by MLS, so the rulebook that governs you is your own.
“Withdrawn usually means marketing paused while the agreement may still be active, which can restrict solicitation in many MLS/ethics frameworks.”
What this costs you is not wasted dials, it is exposure. A withdrawn seller may still have a signed agreement with another broker, which makes the call a solicitation of somebody else's client. Nothing on your call sheet tells you that, because the status column is the only thing that carries it and most agents never split the list on it.
What changes takes five minutes and no money. Three separate alerts instead of one. Expired and canceled go on the call list, withdrawn goes on a list you verify before you touch. And if your MLS supports a soon-to-expire watchlist, that is where you get in front of the herd rather than arriving with it.