When Should You Open the Door to Strangers?

The neighborhood is safe, I'd say. Typical type neighborhood; single-family homes. But it’s not much different when you might live in a mix with apartment buildings and duplexes, condominiums and townhouses.  Most neighborhoods have some retirees and other mothers home during the day. My wife is one of those moms. She seems to always be home alone when the “traveling” salesman appears. We find this be more frequent in the summer months, probably since some young adults are home from college looking for new ways to make money and simply because the good weather seems to bring out everybody.  Whatever the reason, she says it happens several times a year.

If it’s clearly UPS or Postal worker, she’ll open the door. But when it’s a stranger, she has the presence to leave the door closed and ask what they are doing at her doorstep. So far, it's always been a solicitation of some kind - money for some program, or an offer to do home repairs and yard work. Our family is with the mindset and we are constantly speaking about what to do in certain situations.  And this situation dictates that we never open the door for strangers.  It’s the best suggestion or advice anyone can give.  Simply stated, she never say yes when they ask if they can come in, and she is always polite to them in directly replying with a no thank you -and then turning away from the front door.

So if you are wondering if it is a good idea to open the door at all? My answer is practically never.  Forget your curiosity of what they may be pedaling or how much they are saying they can save you, and think about home security and the safety of your family.

Related Content:
Practical Ways to Prevent Home Invasion
Home Security Begins Before Intruders Enter
Burglary & Loss Prevention Tips

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