Door knocking built half the roofing companies in America. It’s also getting harder. More HOAs ban it, more cities require permits, and more homeowners don’t open the door.
Noah and I posted a reel asking a loaded question: Is door knocking over? The reel showed a different approach we’ve been testing at Owl Roofing: measuring roofs from satellite imagery and mailing homeowners a real estimate, a “bid mailer,” instead of knocking cold.
The comments turned into a great debate between knockers, skeptics and roofers already running it. Here’s the best of it.
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The short answer: no, door knocking isn’t dead
Almost nobody in the thread said stop knocking. What changed is how the best roofers are using it. They pair the knock with something the homeowner can hold onto.
It’s definitely not over.
Derrick Uribe
Like it, but just knock the door.
Shane Elder
The hybrid play: knock, then mail (or mail, then knock)
Our strategy: I got one sent to my house. We’re knocking and showing homeowners the estimate I got in the mail. It’s a warmer knock in my opinion.
We’ve sent a few rounds, about 1,200 so far. We signed a $13,000 job off our first round of mailers.
Chad Bates
That’s smart sales psychology. Showing a homeowner a real price on paper turns “who are you?” into “oh, that’s not what I expected.”
It also works in reverse. You cold knock and they don’t want an appointment. “No worries! I’m going to put together an estimate and send it to you in the mail. Hold onto it until you’re ready. I’d love to earn your business.” Then walk away with a smile.
Matt O’Dore, Bid Mailers
We knock the door. If they aren’t home, we send them a mailer. If they don’t want an appointment: “Hey, would it be okay if I send you a custom quote in the mail? It’ll be there in a couple weeks. Hang onto it for when you’re ready.”
Taylor Root, Co-owner, Bid Mailers
Note: Matt and Taylor are with Bid Mailers, the company behind the tool in our reel, so take their answers as the vendor’s side. But the script is useful no matter what you mail.
This is a good practice during canvassing hours: find the storm damage you’re going to knock later, and send bid mailers to the old roofs. I might have to implement that in the new roofing company I just started.
Tara Riggins
The objections roofers raised
“Three weeks is too slow.” This was the most common pushback. Josh Ross, Daryl Byerly and Allan Lebel all said the turnaround was too long, and Jason Hicks added that someone else would have sold the roof by then.
It’s more like 2 to 2.5 weeks. But if that bothers you, you’d hate how long some homeowners hold onto them before calling you.
Matt O’Dore, Bid Mailers
I got a call last week from a bid mailer that was sent in May 2024. Usually they say, “I’ve had this for a while, I’m assuming the price has gone up.”
Taylor Root, Co-owner, Bid Mailers
My take: bid mailers aren’t a storm tool. If hail hit last night, knock. Bid mailers are for the 25-year-old roof on a quiet street that nobody’s chasing, the homeowner who’ll replace in six months and wants to know the number now.
“How can you bid without seeing the attic?”
It’s an honest guesstimate. There are plenty of disclaimers on the mailer. Homeowners are more reasonable than you think. It’s meant to be honest and transparent, not a bait and switch.
Matt O’Dore, Bid Mailers
Fair question, fair answer. Price it honestly, say what could change and you’ll earn trust instead of losing it at the kitchen table.
Beyond roofing
A few contractors saw the idea for their own trades. Chris Olsen refinishes fences and has always wanted to mail quotes when he spots a weathered fence. Josh Bardwell thought it would work for solar. Any trade where you can measure from the street or the sky can use the same play.
The funny answers
How do you bid a roof without knowing what quality they want? Ohhh, cheapest everything.
David Greene
Ya, 10 years ago.
Rocco Scalmato
Takeaways: door knocking in 2026
- Keep knocking. Nobody serious said stop. Storm response is still a door-to-door game.
- Leave something behind. A real estimate in the mail beats a flyer in the door.
- Use the knock-then-mail script. “Can I mail you a quote to hang onto?” turns a no into a future yes.
- Match the tool to the roof. Knock fresh storm damage. Mail old roofs nobody’s chasing.
- Be honest on price. Disclaimers up front protect trust at the appointment.
- Track it. Count mailers sent, calls, appointments and closed jobs, same as any lead source.
