What it is and why it works
A roof job is loud. There is a dumpster in the driveway, trucks on the street, and a tear-off crew starting early. The neighbors did not sign up for any of that. Most roofers just show up. A few knock first.
A short note, dropped off a day or two before the job, changes how the street feels about you. It tells people what is coming, how long it lasts, and who to call if something bothers them. It says you will sweep for nails when you leave. That is simple good manners, and people remember it.
It also puts your name in front of the people most likely to need a roof next. Houses on the same street were often built in the same years, and they took the same storms. When the neighbor sees the finished roof, your note may still be on their counter. Cost: some printing and about an hour per job.
Who gets a note
| Who | How many | Why them |
|---|---|---|
| Houses on both sides of the job | 2 | They hear the most noise and see the dumpster up close |
| Houses across the street | 3 to 5 | They look at the work all day and see the finished roof |
| Houses behind the job (backyard neighbors) | 2 to 3 | Debris and noise carry over the back fence |
| Rest of the block or cul-de-sac | 10 to 20 | Same age homes, same storms; good for re-roof and storm work |
| HOA manager or board, if there is one | 1 | Some HOAs want notice about dumpsters and contractor parking |
Start with the close houses on every job. Add the rest of the block when the roof is a good showpiece, or when a hail storm hit the whole neighborhood.
What to prepare
- A half-page or postcard note (template below), printed on your letterhead with your logo
- A space to hand-write the job dates and the crew lead's cell number
- Your license or registration number printed on the note, if your state issues one
- A yard sign with your name, phone, and website, and the homeowner's OK to place it
- A rolling magnet sweeper on every truck
- A second, shorter "all done" note for after the job
- A simple log: address of the job, which houses got notes, and any calls that came in
Step by step
- Ask your customer first. When the contract is signed, ask: "Is it OK if we drop a courtesy note at the neighbors' and put a sign in the yard while we work?" Most people say yes. Some do not want the attention. Respect that.
- Check the rules. Look up your city's or county's door-to-door solicitation rules. Some towns need a permit even for handing out flyers. Do not put anything in a mailbox; that is for mail only. Skip any house with a "No Soliciting" sign, or ask your city whether a courtesy notice counts.
- Fill in the notes two or three days before the job: start date, expected finish, working hours, where the dumpster goes, and the crew lead's number.
- Deliver one to two days before. Knock at the close houses and hand it over with a smile. Leave it at the door (not in the mailbox) if no one answers.
- Place the yard sign the morning work starts, where the homeowner said is fine. Keep it off the city right-of-way if your town requires that.
- Run the job clean. Keep the street clear, keep trucks out of neighbors' driveways, keep music off, and keep the crew polite.
- Sweep for nails in the yard, driveway, street, and anything close on the neighbors' side. Ask before stepping onto a neighbor's lawn.
- Drop the "all done" note the day you finish, with a thank-you and your card.
- Log any calls that come from the notes, so you know which streets and which kinds of jobs bring in inquiries.
Scripts
The courtesy note (before the job)
Hello, neighbor!
We're [company name], and we'll be replacing the roof at [street name, not the house number, unless the owner says it's OK] starting [day, date]. We expect to finish by [day, date], weather permitting.
What to expect:
• Work hours: about [7:00 am to 6:00 pm]
• Some noise during tear-off, mostly on the first day
• A dumpster in the driveway at the job
• Crew trucks parked on the street near the job
When we finish, we run a magnet sweeper for nails in the yard, driveway and street. If you find a nail or anything else that bothers you, please call or text our crew lead, [first name], at [cell]. We'll take care of it.
Thanks for your patience.
[Owner name], [company name]
[phone] · [website] · License #[number, if your state issues one]
At the door
Hi, I'm [name] with [company]. We're putting a new roof on your neighbor's house starting [day]. I just wanted to let you know before the noise starts. Here's a note with the dates and our crew lead's number. If anything bothers you, call him directly. And we'll sweep for nails when we're done. Have a good day.
If the neighbor asks about their own roof
I'm happy to take a look. I can't tell you much from down here, but I can set up a time to get on the roof, take photos, and show you what I see. There's no charge for the look. Would [day] or [day] work?
The "all done" note (after the job)
Thanks for your patience!
We finished the roof on [street] today and ran a magnet sweep for nails. If you spot anything we missed, call or text [crew lead] at [cell] and we'll come right back.
If you ever want someone to look at your roof, we'd be glad to. Just call [phone].
[company name] · [website]
How to price the follow-on jobs
The notes themselves are free to the neighbor. What follows is usually an inspection request, a repair, or a quote for a full re-roof. Keep your prices clear and the same for everyone on the street.
| Follow-on job | Example price (example only) |
|---|---|
| Roof inspection with photos | Example: no charge, or $150 credited toward any work |
| Small repair (a few shingles, one boot) | Example: $350 minimum trip and repair |
| Gutter clean with roof check | Example: $175 |
| Full re-roof, architectural shingles | Example: priced per square after measuring; no quote from the street |
These numbers are for illustration only. Build your real prices from your material, labor, dump fees, and overhead. Never quote a re-roof without measuring and getting on the roof.
Timing
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Contract signing | Ask the homeowner about notes and a yard sign |
| 1 to 2 days before | Deliver the courtesy notes |
| Start day | Yard sign goes up |
| Finish day | Magnet sweep, "all done" notes, sign comes down within a week or as agreed |
| After a hail storm | Use the whole-block list; many neighbors may be checking roofs at once |
Checklist
- Homeowner OK for notes and yard sign
- Local solicitation rules checked; permit if needed
- Notes printed with dates, hours, dumpster spot, crew lead number, license number
- Notes delivered 1 to 2 days before; no mailboxes; no "No Soliciting" houses
- Magnet sweeper on the truck
- "All done" notes delivered on finish day
- Calls from notes logged by street
Mistakes to avoid
- Ignoring solicitation rules. Check your local door-to-door rules and permits, and respect "No Soliciting" signs.
- Using the mailbox. Leave notes at the door or hand them over.
- Putting the full address on the note without the homeowner's OK. Use the street name.
- Turning a courtesy note into a sales flyer. Keep it about the job. One line at the end about your services is plenty.
- Storm talk that crosses the line. If a neighbor has hail damage, you can inspect and document it and meet the adjuster. Don't negotiate their claim unless you're a licensed public adjuster in your state, and never offer to waive, pay, or "eat" a deductible. In many states that is illegal.
- Skipping the sweep. A nail in a neighbor's tire undoes all the goodwill.
- Working without the basics. Be registered or licensed as your state requires, pull the permit, and carry the insurance your state requires.
Turning one job into repeat business
- Photograph the finished roof from the street (with the owner's OK, and no house number showing) and post it with the neighborhood name.
- Ask your customer for a review once the sweep is done. See C6 for how to ask every customer, not just the happy ones.
- Add every neighbor who calls to your past-customer and prospect list, with their permission. See C10.
- Come back to the street after the next big storm with a short "we're working in the area" note.
- Offer the neighbor who calls an annual check. A repair customer this year can be a re-roof customer in five years.
Want Annie's to do this for you? We can design your courtesy note, yard sign, and "all done" card, and set up a simple log so you can see which streets your calls come from.