Can I cancel a home improvement contract I signed at my kitchen table?
Researched by the LokalMatch editorial team1 answer
A salesman came to the house, we talked for an hour and I signed. It is two days later and I want out.
Answers (1)
LokalMatch EditorialLokalMatch editorial
Very likely, until midnight of the third business day. The Federal Trade Commission's Cooling-Off Rule covers sales of 25 dollars or more made at your home, and 130 dollars or more at a temporary location, and it lets you cancel for any reason you like or none at all.
The seller has obligations at the moment you sign, and this is where most of these deals fall apart. They must give you two copies of a cancellation form, plus a copy of your contract or receipt showing the date of sale, who they are, and your right to cancel — written in whatever language the pitch was given in.
The carve-outs are narrower than doorstep salespeople claim. The rule does not reach real estate, insurance or securities, anything bought to meet an emergency, or a visit you requested so the seller could repair or maintain your personal property. The plumber you phoned is in that last category. The man who knocked about your roof is not.
Your state may give you more. California, for one, gives anyone aged 65 or older five days rather than three on a home improvement contract. Look up your own state before you decide the window has closed.
Answers come from pros and are reviewed by LokalMatch before they’re published. They’re general information — for regulated or safety-critical work, have a licensed professional assess your situation.
Sources
Where the facts on this page come from.
Buyer's Remorse: The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule May Help — Federal Trade Commission (accessed September 24, 2026)
Home Improvement Contracts: Warnings and Exceptions — Contractors State License Board (accessed September 24, 2026)