Roofing appointments for contractors: how booked inspections should work: full guide (8 sections)
This guide is about booked roof inspection appointments that a roofing company buys, where a homeowner asked about their roof and an inspection is set with your company. It is not about lead flashing or roofing materials. Everything below reflects the market and rules as of October 2026.
What is a booked roofing appointment?
A booked roofing appointment is a scheduled roof inspection at a homeowner's property, set on behalf of a named roofing company, at a date and time inside that company's availability. It differs from a lead, which is a contact you still have to call, qualify and schedule yourself. With an appointment, the scheduling work is done before you receive it.
The difference matters for how you judge price. A lead and an appointment are different products, so compare cost per signed roof, not cost per record. A cheap appointment that never sits costs more than an expensive one that does.
Set, confirmed, sat, no-show: why the words matter
Appointment vendors use the same four words for different things, and most disputes come from that gap. Get each one defined in writing before the first appointment is booked, because your credit rights depend on which status an appointment reached.
- Set. The homeowner agreed to a specific date and time for an inspection by your named company.
- Confirmed. The homeowner reconfirmed that time after it was set, before the visit.
- Sat. You met a decision-maker at the property and could inspect or discuss the roof.
- No-show. A confirmed appointment where nobody with authority was home at the booked time.
Watch for vendors who count a "set" as delivered and only credit unconfirmed sets, or who call a sit any visit where someone opened the door. Owners on r/RoofingSales describe paying for dozens of appointments where a large share never sat, with homeowners who did not know which roofer was coming. Clear definitions are the cheapest protection you have.
What a good appointment record contains
A usable appointment record tells you who, where, when, why and on what consent basis, before you drive out. If any of these fields is missing, you are guessing at the door.
| Field | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Homeowner name and address | Confirms the visit is inside your ZIPs |
| Date, time and your window | Shows it was booked inside your availability |
| Status (set or confirmed) | Decides whether the no-show policy applies |
| Reason for request | Replacement, repair or storm; tells you what to bring |
| Self-reported roof age | Screens out roofs that were just replaced |
| Decision-makers present | Fewer "I need to ask my spouse" visits |
| Consent record ID | Ties the appointment to the homeowner's own request |
A sample record, marked "Sample, illustrative", appears on the program section of this page. Ask any vendor to show you theirs before you buy.
How to verify an appointment before you drive out
Verification takes about two minutes per appointment and catches most problems before they cost you fuel and a morning. Do it the day before, from the record you were sent.
- Check the address against your territory. If it falls outside your ZIPs or counties, flag it now, not after the visit.
- Read the reason for request. A homeowner who wanted a gutter quote is not a re-roof inspection.
- Look up the roof if you can. Aerial imagery or a permit search can show a recent replacement.
- Call or text to introduce yourself. Use your company name. A homeowner who reacts with surprise is a sign the set was soft.
- Ask for the consent record if anything looks off. It should show the time of the request and the disclosure the homeowner saw.
Log what you find. If an appointment turns out to be outside the agreed filters, you want the evidence ready when you report it.
How homeowners should be contacted
Setting an appointment is telemarketing, so whoever places the calls carries real legal duties. A vendor should be able to explain, in plain words, who calls, when, and on what consent. If they can't, the risk can end up with your company's name on it.
The baseline federal rules, as summarized in our research file and current as of October 2026:
- Federal calling hours are 8am to 9pm in the homeowner's local time.
- Telemarketers must scrub the National Do Not Call Registry no more than 31 days before calling (16 CFR 310.4(b)(3)(iv)).
- Since April 11, 2025, consumers may revoke consent by any reasonable means, and requests must be honored within 10 business days.
- Private TCPA damages are $500 per violation, up to $1,500 if willful or knowing (47 U.S.C. 227).
Several states go further. Florida and Oklahoma limit calls to 8am to 8pm with a maximum of 3 calls per 24 hours on the same subject. Texas SB 140, effective September 1, 2025, brought marketing texts under Texas telephone-solicitation law, with registration required unless exempt (Morgan Lewis, Sep 2025). Maryland and Oregon have their own versions.
For buyers, the practical test is simple: inbound requests only, no AI or prerecorded voice, your company named in the disclosure, and a written answer on who handles DNC and state registration. See our TCPA and consent page for more.
General information, not legal advice. Confirm with your counsel.
After the inspection: the Cooling-Off Rule
If a homeowner signs at the kitchen table after an inspection, the FTC Cooling-Off Rule can apply. Under 16 CFR 429, many in-home sales of $25 or more carry a 3-business-day right to cancel, and the seller must give the buyer written notice of that right.
This is a seller-side duty, so it sits with your company, not the appointment vendor. Check that your contract and cancellation form meet the rule, and that any state rules on home solicitation or storm-repair contracts are covered too. General information, not legal advice. Confirm with your counsel.
How to judge a test batch
Judge a test batch on cost per signed roof, using your own numbers, over enough appointments to mean something. A handful of visits can swing either way on luck.
Track four counts for each batch: appointments delivered, confirmed, sat and signed. Then:
- Show rate = sat ÷ confirmed
- Close rate = signed ÷ sat
- Cost per signed roof = total spend after credits ÷ signed
Compare that last number with your average gross profit per job. If the margin covers it with room to spare, scale. If not, tighten filters (roof age, job type, territory) before you buy more. You can plug your own inputs into the cost-per-lead calculator. We do not publish show or close rates for our appointments; your numbers are the ones that count.
FAQ
Is a booked appointment the same as an exclusive lead?
No. An exclusive lead is a homeowner request sold to one roofing company, which your team then calls and schedules. A booked appointment goes one step further: the inspection time is already set and confirmed with your company named. Some owners buy both, using leads to fill a sales team and appointments to fill an owner's open calendar slots.
Can I get appointments for storm or insurance work?
Possibly, depending on your territory and what products are confirmed for your area. Storm inspections carry extra rules, such as avoiding any language about covering a deductible, and some states regulate storm-repair contracts. Raise it on your call and we will tell you what is available in your ZIPs and on what terms.