SAHMs, do you answer when someone knocks on your door?

[Anonymous]

I'm in an apartment so no one knocks unless its UPS or someone we are expecting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot stress this enough: YOU MUST LET THE CALLER KNOW YOU ARE HOME.

Call through the door, look out the window and be seen, whatever. YOU CANNOT LET THEM BELIEVE THE HOUSE IS UNOCCUPIED.

I never open my door, but I always look out through the sidelight to say no thank you, put it in the mailslot, whatever. There have been quite a few cases of break-ins while non-answering residents were at home. When the initial knock gets no reaction, the criminal thinks the house is unoccupied and breaks in. And then where are you? Stuck in your house with a criminal who, with the charge (if caught and identified) upped from B&E to home invasion, becomes dangerous.

Well, I'm not going to look out the window, in my schlep clothes, to say, 'HI, neighbor! I'm here but I'm just not answering the door b/c I am wearing schleppy clothes and have no make-up on, my teeth are not brushed, and my hair is up in a scrunchy bun! But I really am here, just letting you know in case you were a robber testing the waters to see if I am home in order to plan a home invasion!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So weird. I am home and always answer the door. Sometimes I look to see who it is first but I answer it. Never taught the "rule" to not answer. I feel safe.

Same here. I was beginning to think I was alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So weird. I am home and always answer the door. Sometimes I look to see who it is first but I answer it. Never taught the "rule" to not answer. I feel safe.

Same here. I was beginning to think I was alone.

Me too. It would never occur to me to not answer the door.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all of the replies. Seems the way to go is to peep out the window to make sure it's not a delivery and just kind of wave people away. I did answer the first door knock yesterday since the guy saw me and there was a work truck outside, but I could hardly hear him over my dog going insane (she's been extra protective since the pregnancy started... and she's still adjusting to the new place). He wanted to access my power outlet in the backyard since my neighbor wasn't home and he was doing some yardwork or something, which would have meant me going outside and letting him in the back gate. Told him no and he left. Haven't answered any of the other knocks, but they have all been Hispanic men, which is not surprising given the area where we live. We haven't met any neighbors so I'm fairly certain none of them would be dropping by. I've smiled and said Hi to a few of our neighbors when we've seen them outside, but they just kind of walk by or look away, except for one mom at the playground but she only spoke Spanish. Just so different from our last neighborhood where everyone knew everyone and was super friendly... within a couple weeks we knew the name of everyone on our street where we've been here 2 months and don't know the name of a single neighbor . Makes me said, but also doesn't help me feel safe at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So weird. I am home and always answer the door. Sometimes I look to see who it is first but I answer it. Never taught the "rule" to not answer. I feel safe.

Same here. I was beginning to think I was alone.

Me too. It would never occur to me to not answer the door.

Where do you guys live?

I don't answer the door when strangers knock. We have a dog who barks like mad when anyone comes to the door and most people leave without waiting very long after hearing him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So weird. I am home and always answer the door. Sometimes I look to see who it is first but I answer it. Never taught the "rule" to not answer. I feel safe.

Same here. I was beginning to think I was alone.

Me too. It would never occur to me to not answer the door.

Where do you guys live?

I don't answer the door when strangers knock. We have a dog who barks like mad when anyone comes to the door and most people leave without waiting very long after hearing him.

Or, where did you grow up? Maybe you grew up in a smaller town where it was safer to open the door? I grew up in NoVA in the '80s and our rule was to not open the door if our parents were not home and, even if they were home, to let them open the door. I do have friends, however, who did not have this rule, so I understant it was not "universal" or anything around here.

[Anonymous]

I live in a "nice neighborhood" but we get a lot of people knocking on doors that frankly, seems to be just about casing houses. I don't answer the door unless it is someone I know (and sometimes not even then). If they are persistent and keep knocking, I will yell (politely) through the door "I'm sorry, I can't come to the door right now." Reason being mostly because my time is important and I hate door-to-door sales, but also because it would be way too easy for someone to force their way in once the door is open. Not worth the risk.

[Anonymous]

Can I answer? I work at home....

I do not answer the door because we have the most annoying solicitors that come to the door and those super sketchy people "selling magazines" like they are on some sort of work release program.

I have a hand made laminated sign on my door that reads:

PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU KNOCK OR RING the BELL

NO SOLICOTORS,CARPET BAGGERS, or PEDDLERS this includes pest control, lawn care, magazines, driveway repair, vaccuum sales, political groups, alarm companies (we are happy with ours and our vicious killer attack dog), Jehovah Witness, and anyone raising money for any such cause or selling any product or service.

Those excempt and welcome include Boy and Girl Scouts of America, Mormons (we like you, but just a warning we are happily Methodist and not looking to change), and anoyone from the local schools/sports teams looking to raise money.

If they still ring, I peek through the side window and point towards the sign and mouth "Did you read this first?"

[Anonymous]

No, I don't answer the door. I do look out of the peephole and then watch from an upstairs window to be sure the person leaves my property.

[Anonymous]

No, only when they ring the doorbell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So weird. I am home and always answer the door. Sometimes I look to see who it is first but I answer it. Never taught the "rule" to not answer. I feel safe.

Same here. I was beginning to think I was alone.

Me too. It would never occur to me to not answer the door.

Where do you guys live?

I don't answer the door when strangers knock. We have a dog who barks like mad when anyone comes to the door and most people leave without waiting very long after hearing him.

Or, where did you grow up? Maybe you grew up in a smaller town where it was safer to open the door? I grew up in NoVA in the '80s and our rule was to not open the door if our parents were not home and, even if they were home, to let them open the door. I do have friends, however, who did not have this rule, so I understant it was not "universal" or anything around here.

I grew up in Cambridge, MA (so, urban) and live in Bethesda. Nice areas, but there was crime and we were robbed when I was a kid. Still, I don't feel unsafe opening my door for someone, though I usually will step out rather than allow them to step towards the inside of the house. I was the PP who said. "me too."

[Anonymous]

They could just as easily force you back into your house with or without a weapon.

[Anonymous]

I feel very safe in my neighborhood, but I don't answer mostly because I don't really want to deal with anyone selling me something. Usually I run and hide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can I answer? I work at home....

I do not answer the door because we have the most annoying solicitors that come to the door and those super sketchy people "selling magazines" like they are on some sort of work release program.

I have a hand made laminated sign on my door that reads:

PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU KNOCK OR RING the BELL

NO SOLICOTORS,CARPET BAGGERS, or PEDDLERS this includes pest control, lawn care, magazines, driveway repair, vaccuum sales, political groups, alarm companies (we are happy with ours and our vicious killer attack dog), Jehovah Witness, and anyone raising money for any such cause or selling any product or service.

Those excempt and welcome include Boy and Girl Scouts of America, Mormons (we like you, but just a warning we are happily Methodist and not looking to change), and anoyone from the local schools/sports teams looking to raise money.

If they still ring, I peek through the side window and point towards the sign and mouth "Did you read this first?"

I like your sign!