Guide · Scams
How to handle a door-to-door contractor pitch
The short answer
Do not sign or pay at the door. Take the company’s information, end the conversation, and independently verify the business, licence, insurance and need for work. Get multiple written bids. Some off-premises sales qualify for the FTC’s three-day Cooling-Off Rule, but exceptions apply and state rights may differ.
Editorial status: source-checked on 2026-08-22; not reviewed by a lawyer, licensing authority, engineer or trade professional. United States; federal Cooling-Off Rule coverage has exceptions and state cancellation rights differ.
Recognize and stop the pressure
The FTC flags unsolicited visits, “leftover materials,” immediate decisions, cash or full upfront payment, contractor-arranged financing and requests that the homeowner pull permits. FEMA also warns after disasters about unsolicited, unlicensed or out-of-state contractors.
A knock is not proof of fraud, but urgency removes your chance to verify. Do not share financial details or permit work until checks are complete.
- No signature or payment at the door
- Independent licence and insurance check
- Multiple written estimates
- Permits confirmed
- Contract and financing reviewed off-site
- Cancellation notice saved if applicable
Use cancellation rights carefully
The FTC’s Cooling-Off Rule provides three business days to cancel certain sales made at a home, workplace, dormitory or temporary location, but excludes some transactions. Follow official instructions and get local advice rather than assuming every home contract qualifies.
Sources
Primary government and consumer-protection sources checked for this guide:
- How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam, Federal Trade Commission. Accessed .
- Buyer’s Remorse: The FTC’s Cooling-Off Rule May Help, Federal Trade Commission. Accessed .
- Contractor Fraud Prevention, Federal Emergency Management Agency. Accessed .