An at-home roofing sales visit: what to verify before signing

Verify the company before discussing urgency

Record the legal business name, physical business contact, salesperson name and any license or registration required by the responsible authority. Confirm those details independently instead of using only a link or phone number supplied during the visit.

Ask whether the salesperson works for the roofing company, a lead generator or a financing provider. Do not treat a storm reference, neighborhood job or insurance statement as proof of authority or qualification.

Read the complete scope and payment path

Require a written description of materials, deck assumptions, permits, ventilation, cleanup, warranties, start conditions, payment stages and change orders. Do not sign a form with blank fields; cross through unused lines and keep the complete version you sign.

Identify who receives each payment and whether financing, an insurance check or an assignment document is involved. Do not rely on a promise that coverage, loan approval or final price is guaranteed.

Ask which cancellation rule actually applies

FTC says its Cooling-Off Rule provides a three-day cancellation right for certain sales made at a home or temporary location, but not every transaction is covered. State law or the contract may provide different rights.

If a cancellation notice is provided, save it and record the deadline and delivery method. If the rule or an exception is unclear, use the applicable consumer-protection or legal source rather than assuming every at-home roofing contract can be canceled the same way.

Use the pause to compare and verify

Before authorizing work, compare another scope where conditions permit, verify credentials and insurance, and check the company name for complaints or enforcement information. A legitimate provider should be able to explain the written proposal without requiring an immediate signature.

Keep messages, advertisements, the proposal, cancellation information and proof of any notice sent. If work must address an immediate leak, define the temporary emergency scope separately from the permanent contract.

Related guides

• How to choose a roofer without rushing the decision
• Check a roofing company's identity and credentials before hiring
• Compare roofing estimates: a worksheet for your next call