Do you automatically open the front door yo a knock or bell ring?

I open the door during daylight but not after dark. We are open plan at the front and any intruders would be very visible from our road and the main road, both of which are very well lit.

I just open the door in daytime however if it’s after dark I put the chain on then open it

I keep my front and back door locked all the time .
If anyone knocks on the front door I look through the window to see who it is, I have a peephole in the door too .
You can't be too careful . The people who are usually up to no good have often staked out vulnerable people and know who lives where .

You’re right Nanato3
I keep a short sturdy chain on the door until I see who it is, never leave it unlocked, or the back door either.Times have changed.

Oreo

You’re right Nanato3
I keep a short sturdy chain on the door until I see who it is, never leave it unlocked, or the back door either.Times have changed.

Oreo I live in a village in a cul de sac comprising of bungalows and houses. A few weeks ago a young man knocked on the door , hubby answered and was asked did he want to buy anything , this person didn't have the usual case they usually come with . Hubby said no thank you and went to close the door when this person came closer to hubby he was a little aggressive, at this stage one of the dogs that had been sitting quietly by hubby's side started to growl , he turned tail and rushed down the path . We watched him from the window and he went to all the bungalows but none of the houses.
One of my neighbour in the house across the road was watching him too and taking a video of him . He looked really suspicious so neighbour reported him to the police .
I never trust anyone anymore .

If I dont expect anyone then I check through the peephole. If I dont recognise who is there & they ring or knock again I put the chain on before opening the door. Do not trust anyone I do not know!

I use a chain so the door only opens a little a way.

If the visitor is someone I don’t know I balance the house phone on my shoulder and have a pretend conversation as I open the door, so I don’t appear to be alone.

I've always kept my doors locked. When I was about 14 a young girl who lived nearby opened the door to a man who pushed her inside and murdered her.
It had an impact on me and my friends. We were very scared for a time and always kept doors locked since.

I always keep both front and back door locked. Sometimes dh returns from his polytunnel in a remote corner of the garden and gets agitated to find the door locked. My simple response is “ you could be the mad axeman for all I know.”

We have a Ring door bell, handy to see who's at the door, especially when we are not in.
Otherwise we just open it, wouldn't think twice about it.

We can see who is at the door nefore we get there, so obviously we do not have a problem.

We have a porch light that responds to light levels, we can see who is there even after dark.

my dog barks at strangers 4 barks if tell her more she does it again by then they are gone. screen door open 70% of the time
being paranoid is no way to live
even by 22lb cat stares at anybody that is close and meows to the dog if she is sleeping

dotpocka

my dog barks at strangers 4 barks if tell her more she does it again by then they are gone. screen door open 70% of the time
being paranoid is no way to live
even by 22lb cat stares at anybody that is close and meows to the dog if she is sleeping

Blimey! The thought of a 22 pound cat scares me more than the dog, I think.😅

I have a notice up which says 'No Cold Callers' and another which details many of the things I don't need: new windows, tree surgery, religious proselytisers, insulation, a conservatory, etc, etc.
These deter some callers who I've seen turn round and leave without ringing the bell. I have glass doors and large windows so I can see callers and generally don't bother to answer if they're not known or expected.

We have 25 steps up to our front door, so most knockers have a mission to see us. We also have two leaded glass panels in the door, so I can usually tell who it is, or at least the size of them!

I have a video door bell but more importantly, a strong small glass panel so I can see who is at the door. I also have two dogs and I haven’t trained them to ignore someone at the door, they make a huge racket, I leave them in the hall and open the front door as I stand in the porch. People look at my huge lab, and take a step back to

Blimey! The thought of a 22 pound cat scares me more than the dog, I think 😅
DD's cat is nearly 20lbs and he is enormous.

At 22lbs dotpocka, your cat must be a lynx!
Scary.

Unless I know who it is I don’t answer.

I used to just open it. One New Year’s morning about 1am (we were still up) a woman asked if she and her child could wait in my house for a taxi. She was calm but clearly wanted to get away from the area.
Gradually over the years I have become less mobile and less confident. I now check who is at the door by looking through the front window.

I always open the door. Many , many years ago, when my children were all small, hubbie went off one Sunday evening taking my parents back home. Six children under 8 years all in bed and asleep, I tackled washing up and the front door bell rang. 9.00 pm!!!

When I went to the door there were two young boys (15/16 years old), both taller and bigger than me. They asked to come in to ring their parents as they (said), they were being chased by a gang.

I was not sure what to do. The thought went through my mind of trying to explain to the police that I had allowed these two youths into my home........etc.......etc.

This was long, long before mobile or even cordless phones. Anyway,, I asked for one of their parents telephone number, which was in a town about 15 miles away from where I lived, left them on my porch, shut the front door, went in and rang that number. Yes, they were telling the truth..........so I brought them in to talk to that horrified parent. And, whilst waiting for them to drive to me gave them a cup of coffee.

They had told their respective parents they were just going into town (three of them - never found out what happened to third lad), but got on a bus and got off at the terminal which was close to Epping forest. As they did, they told me they were chased by a gang of boys and the two of them ran in one direction and their friend in a different direction. They rand down this road in our smart suburb and each time they saw a light on they tried to ring the bell, but no-one answered - until they got to my house!!!

So pleased I did answer that front door and was able to help. Those boys were terrified of that gang and also as to what their parents would say. As my own children grew up always hoped if they did something as silly, some adult would be willing to help them.

Don't rely on a walking stick or rolling pin to scare off a possible attacker, someone bent on violence will be stronger than you and will just take it from you and hit you with it!

I used to be very trusting until one day 3 young teens claiming to be my daughters friends asked to use the toilet. When they didn't come down I found them in her bedroom and chased them .She didn't know them.

No, not automatically.

Family and delivery people use a door within our back garden.

boheminan

I don't want a Ring doorbell, so have a peep keyhole fitted in my front door that enables me to see directly anyone standing outside the door. Works for me.

So have we and also have a sturdy chain on the door. I have had a couple of very unpleasant men trying to sell me things. Not happy when I told them I didn’t need anything and verbally abusive. I now never open the door after dark and will go upstairs if I’m in the house on my own. We have a long drive up to our house and I go upstairs if I want to see who it is. You can’t see the front of the house from inside. It’s not even once a year that anyone calls after dark. Last time it was a young lady with our Amazon parcel. 😊

RING doorbell brigade, me.

We live second from end in a quiet cul de sac. I would hear a car parking or van doors opening before a doorbell or would check for same from a window. We have a video doorbell but person is usually gone by the time I have checked the phone to see who it is. But it is a digital record of whoever was at the door so useful deterrant just for that reason.