I never open the door unless I am expecting someone, and I always look first to see who it is.

If someone knocks and I don't know them, I open a window which is near the front door (but not able to be reached from the front door/porch) and ask how I may help. Usually it's a religious group or political campaing or someone selling something. No thanks.

I did have an experience once where I was home alone and someone started knocking. I had just gotten out of the shower, came out to the living area with my towel on to peek around the corner and see who it was.... It was a contractor who had done some work on our home recently. When I didn't answer the door he tried the handle - tried to open the door to see if it was unlocked. It was locked.

I think about that every time I have to reinforce the household rule about locking the door when we are at home.

I once donated money from some kid going door to door. You make a donation then get a box of Krispy Kremes (a couple weeks later). 8 years later, I'm still waiting for my doughnuts....Scammed by a seemingly nice 6 year old....
Now I keep my door shut!!!

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?"

Love your sign, but I hope you were just providing a quick summary and not a copy/paste from the actual sign. Your wit is lost in all of the spelling errors.

Anonymous wrote:Some of you sound very naive. Lets see how snarky you are when something happens to you.

Not living in fear of every knock on the door is not being naive- it's just living. Odds are, nothing will happen and I will keep living my life feeling okay about the world. Seriously, stop watching local news- it's not news- it's fearmongering.

11:03 here- that was to OP

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.

So, you don't fraternize with any neighbors, then?

I used to open the door. No more. The last time I answered there was a kid (maybe 16 or 17), he was giving away Baltimore Sun newspaper (I live in Frederick). He said he was on the Frederick HS football team and was taking donations for the team. He showed me a couple of the checks that he said my neighbor had written to donate to the team. I said "no thank you." He said I could make the check out to his coach's name. I said "no thank you." Then he asked me why I didnt want to donate. I said "excuse me, get off my property." What an ass. Now I only answer the door for my neighbors (usually they have a piece of our mail) or someone I know. No strangers.

Some of you sound very naive. Lets see how snarky you are when something happens to you.

PP, my mother lives in a different area of the country. If anyone could find her house, they deserve everything they get!

I agree with the other post that there are too many looking for snark on here, and too few looking for reason.

Anonymous wrote:I used to then I almost got had by these "Capitol Meats" "salesmen" turns out they will lie their way into you home to sell sub-par meat. Disgusting practices. Not going to do that again.

Whaaaat???!

I have dogs who make a lot of noise, and I won't come to the door but will usually stick my head out the window upstairs, listen to about three seconds of their sales pitch and then say thanks but not interested...

I used to not answer the door (damn solicitors) but also understand what others have pointed out, that someone may try to break in if you don't answer and they think nobody's home.

Definitely don't and I have a peep hole. I talk to them through the door. Usually it's people trying to get business. No need to open the door. If my younger kid didn't give me away by running to the door with glee and if my dog didn't bark I wouldn't have to say anything.

I also stopped andwering the door when 2 of my elderly neighbors show up. I am the one who posted suspecting one of her neighbors may have demetia because she will knock on my door and yell at me about something inane and then she doesn't seem to recall doing it. The other neighbor is an elderly woman I at one point felt like was stalking me because she kept appearing when I arrived home and if I spoke with her she would not leave me alone. Scared my kids. Very sad, but don't know what the deal is with her.The rest of the elderly folks in my neighborhood seem to have more of a life.

Be really quiet and don't answer. Sit in the middle of your living room with your gun ready. Wait until they break in. Self defense.

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I don't care if they think I am home or not. I just ignore until they go away. Easy. Why is this so hard for some people?

Because it is a common practice for thieves to knock, wait to see if anyone is home, and if not, break in and ransack the place. If you ARE home, and they know it, they will say something like "Does Mrs. Smith live here? No? Thanks."

Imagine how you'd feel if you're happily reading DCUM in your basement rec room, ignoring that knock on the door, and the next thing you know, a window is being smashed and someone is entering your house hoping to make off with your laptop. And instead they find you and the kids inside. All because you didn't get off your ass to look through the peephole and say "sorry, can't help you". No, seriously. Imagine it.

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.

I agree, when I lived in Alexandria I heard a knock at the door, but I never open the door so I ignored it. Next thing I know the person is trying to push the door in. I am at home with a sleeping 1 and 3 year old and am freaking out about how the hell do I get out of the house with two sleeping toddlers..the person walks around to the back of the house where the window was open-in the room I was in folding laundry notices the tv on and leaves. I should have just said not interested through the door since this person was obviously looking for an empty house.