Do I have to let a tradesperson on my property?

No. You have no obligation to allow anyone onto your property or to engage with an unsolicited caller. You can decline politely from the doorstep without explanation. If someone becomes aggressive or refuses to leave after being asked, you are entitled to call police.

Is it ever legitimate for a tradesperson to knock on my door?

Yes — some legitimate trades do door-knock, particularly roofing and gutter companies who operate in areas after storms. The problem is not that they knock; it's that high-pressure tactics and fabricated urgency are used to get a commitment before you can think or get a second quote. A legitimate tradesperson will give you a written quote with no pressure to sign immediately.

What is the cooling-off period for door-to-door sales in Australia?

In Australia, the Australian Consumer Law provides a 10-business-day cooling-off period for unsolicited consumer agreements (contracts valued over $100 entered into after a door-knock or unsolicited phone call). During this period you can cancel the contract without penalty. The trader must give you a notice of your cooling-off rights in writing — if they do not, the cooling-off period extends indefinitely until they do.

What should I do if a tradesperson says damage is urgent and I need to sign today?

Do not sign anything on the day. 'Urgent' pressure is the most common tactic used by door-to-door traders to prevent you from getting comparison quotes. Ask them to put the concern in writing and give you a written quote you can take to a second tradesperson. If the issue is genuinely urgent (e.g. structural damage after a storm), an independent building inspection will confirm it — at which point you choose your own tradesperson.

Tradesperson at the Door — How to Handle an Unsolicited Quote

Plan

Why door-knock trades work — and why the pressure is deliberate

The real issue

The goal of an unsolicited trade visit is not to give you the best price — it is to get a commitment before you have time to think or compare. The doorstep is their best opportunity. At home, in the moment, with someone standing in front of you pointing at damage on your roof, you are at a natural disadvantage. Knowing this in advance is the protection.

Some door-knock traders are legitimate businesses who simply acquire customers this way. Many are not. The tactic is widely used by high-pressure sales operations who rely on the gap between the price they quote and the price a properly tendered job would cost.

The pattern is consistent: identify an issue (real or exaggerated), create urgency ("if this gets into winter it'll cost three times as much"), present a discounted offer available today only, and request a deposit or signature before you can verify anything they've said.

After storms: Door-knock activity increases sharply after hail, high winds, and flooding. Legitimate companies do operate in affected areas. The risk increases because urgency is real for many homeowners — which makes it easier to exploit. The response is the same: written quote, no same-day commitment, verify credentials before work begins.

Prepare

The tactics — named and explained

Manufactured urgency
"We're in the area today only / storm season is coming / this will get much worse." Real damage does not become catastrophically worse in 48 hours. Take the time to get a second quote.
The today-only discount
"This price is only available if we can start this week." Artificial scarcity. No tradesperson has a price that expires at midnight. This exists to prevent you comparing quotes.
The free inspection upsell
They go on the roof (or under the house), come back with photos of "serious problems" you weren't aware of. Photos can be from other properties, or real issues exaggerated. Get an independent inspection before agreeing to anything they've found.
Deposit to "lock in the price"
Once you've paid a deposit it becomes much harder to walk away. Never pay a deposit to a door-knock trader before verifying credentials and getting competing quotes.
Social proof pressure
"We've just done your neighbour at number 14." May be true, may not be. Does not mean the price is fair or the work is quality.
Reciprocity after the free inspection
They've spent 20 minutes on your roof for free — you feel obligated. You're not. The "free inspection" is a sales tool, not a favour.

Respond

Exactly what to say — at the door

If you want a quote but won't commit today

"Thanks for coming by. I'd be happy to get a quote from you — could you leave that in writing and I'll be in touch once I've had a chance to look it over and get a couple of comparisons?"

If they push urgency

"I understand you think it's urgent — if it is, I'll get it looked at by someone this week. I'm not going to commit to anything at the door. If your quote is competitive you'll hear from me."

If they offer a same-day discount

"I appreciate the offer, but I don't make decisions like this on the day. If the price is still available in a few days when I've done my research, I'll be in touch."

If you want to decline entirely

"Thanks, but I have trades I already use for this kind of work. I'm not in the market at the moment."

You do not have to justify your decision. "I need to think about it" is a complete sentence. You don't owe an explanation to someone who has knocked uninvited.

AU — cooling-off rights: If you do sign anything at the door and regret it, the Australian Consumer Law gives you a 10-business-day cooling-off period for unsolicited consumer agreements over $100. You can cancel in writing within that period without penalty. The trader must have given you a written cooling-off notice — if they didn't, the period extends until they do. Contact your state's consumer protection agency (NSW Fair Trading, Consumer Affairs Victoria, etc.) if you need to exercise this right.

UK: The Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 gives a 14-day cancellation right for contracts entered into at your home. US: FTC "Cooling-Off Rule" provides 3 business days for door-to-door sales over $25.

Verify

If you want to proceed — what to check first

Verify their licence In AU, most trade work requires a contractor's licence. Ask for their licence number and check it on your state's licensing authority website (Service NSW, VBA in Victoria, QBCC in Queensland, etc.) before any work begins.
Get the quote in writing A written quote should include: scope of work, materials to be used, total cost including GST, payment terms, and timeframe. If it's verbal, it doesn't exist.
Get two more quotes For any job over a few hundred dollars, three quotes is the minimum. Ring two other local trades with the same scope of work. Use the written quote from the door-knock trader as the benchmark.
Check insurance Ask for evidence of public liability insurance. A legitimate tradesperson carries this and will provide it on request. Work done by an uninsured contractor leaves you liable if something goes wrong.
Don't pay more than 10% upfront For most residential trades work, a deposit above 10% is not standard. In AU, for home building work, there are legal caps on deposits — check your state's rules.
For roof inspections specifically If they've told you there's damage and you want to know if it's real, engage an independent building inspector or a separate roofing company for a second inspection before agreeing to any work.

The rule that protects you

A legitimate tradesperson will never pressure you to decide today. They want the work — they will wait two days for you to compare quotes. Anyone who tells you the offer expires today is not someone you want on your property unsupervised.

Related VALORE Guides — Home & Consumer

Getting three quotes — what to compare and what tradespeople don't tell you→ Pressure sale tactics — how to recognise them and what to say→