What is the cooling-off rule for door-to-door sales?
The FTC rule giving a buyer three business days to cancel a sale of $25 or more signed at their home — with written notice of that right required at signing.
The Federal Trade Commission’s Cooling-Off Rule generally lets a buyer cancel a sale made at their home, or away from the seller’s normal place of business, until midnight of the third business day after signing. It applies to sales of $25 or more at the home, and the seller has to hand over a written cancellation notice at the time of sale.
Many states layer their own version on top, and several extend the window specifically for insurance-restoration contracts — sometimes tying the right to cancel to the carrier’s coverage decision rather than to the signing date. Storm work draws that extra attention for obvious reasons.
For a roofer the rule is a reason to be precise, not a reason to rush people. A contract signed by a homeowner who felt cornered is a contract that gets cancelled on day three anyway. Handing over the notice, saying the window out loud, and letting the damage do the selling costs you nothing and cancels far fewer jobs.
This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice — read the current FTC text and your own state’s statute before writing your contract language.