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

Before about nine in the evening, and after I am dressed in the morning, I would probably just answer the door.

Late in the evening, during the night or when I am only partly dressed, or draped merely in a bath towel, I would call through the door to ask who was there.

Have a buzzer at the gate, used to open them from indoors every time it sounded but try not to do that now and use the intercom instead. Had a couple of unwanted and persistent callers who were difficult to get rid of - religious and seller of aerial views of property.

Yes, but if in on my own, just look through lounge window and can see who is at the door.

My front door is always locked day and night as I am often in the back garden with the dogs. I never answer the door to unexpected callers. On Sunday the bell rang and it was obvious they were Jehovah’s Witnesses. I was sitting at the dining room table and they saw me but I’m not bothered. It’s my door and if I choose not to answer that’s up to me.

Yes. It’s why we live in a road with neighbours both sides and opposite. As we get older I like to feel safe.

If I'm in on my own, I usually look through the peephole first. One day last year, during a family gathering at my house, the doorbell rang and I immediately answered it. It was a young chap who I noticed was wearing a lanyard. I quickly said I was sorry that I didn't have time to speak as I had visitors. Before he had time to say anything, I saw that he had a parcel under his arm. I immediately said that I wasn't expecting anything. He then quietly said that he had come to tell me that my car window was open!!. I was mortified.

Yes I do answer the door, and have enough confidence in my own judgement at 79 to decide whether to smile and invite my friends in, or send them packing. Have never had any problem, but sometimes the caller gets more than they expect. Various occasions come to mind. Once when a Jehovahs witness came to the door and began to quote from the bible, he was unlucky enough to find my sister, (who has that ability to retain word for word thing) correcting him, and informing him that he had missed half the quote and thus changed the actual meaning . He looked a bit taken aback, tried another quote, which she again told him it was only half the actual quote and then he beat a hasty retreat. Another time when I just did not trust something about this particular person, and so I asked him which was his best side, as I already had a photo of him as he came up the path!! There have been many people in many countries but I can say truthfully that I have never felt afraid to open the door so far. It doesnt mean I am too trusting, and as others have said I always have the door locked if doing something upstairs or usually lock the door once it is dark, in the winter, but have a light that comes on with movement anyway.

I don’t open the front door if I’m alone either and would definitely check first, I shout who is it?
We do have a Eufy doorbell too, but OH has it on his phone, so it’s not much use if he’s out. I must put it on my phone. Just did it!👍

We had a youth kick our door twice and run away, he wore a tee shirt round his face to cover himself. It horrible when you are alone, quite frightening.

I no longer open the door unless I’m expecting a caller. I feel it’s an invasion of privacy and in any case, it’s never important!

Skydancer

Yes. It’s why we live in a road with neighbours both sides and opposite. As we get older I like to feel safe.

You're not always safe even surrounded by neighbours.

When I lived in Bristol a woman answered the door to a knock around teatime. She thought it was family who often call in around that time. 3 men barged in, one pinned her behind the door with a knife up to her throat while the other 2 robbed the house. Thankfully she wasn't hurt just badly shaken by the experience
We have a ring doorbell here and a camera on the back door.
Go careful who you answer the door to, and keep it locked even when in the front gardening. My late MIL had someone walk up her front path while she was tending the garden. She thought he was just delivering leaflets. He walked in the ajar front door and left with her handbag
It was found in a local allotment minus her purse and rings she had in it.

We lived in a small village for 30 years and I never locked the door but as soon as we moved into the small town I kept it, and the side gate locked. Having said that I open the door without checking, so totally illogical! If DH wasn’t here I think I’d get a ring doorbell.

Yes, always answer the front door, also my kitchen door which has a big window so I can already see who’s there.

If it’s cold callers for instance I quickly get rid of them.

Don’t really get anyone calling except deliveries etc.

No. Likewise I don't answer the phone to an unexpected caller or an unknown number

We have CCTV so can see and hear people approach. I'll answer if I know who they are - but generally open in the daytime to most knocks. We don't get uninvited callers as a rule as we have the Police No Uninvited Callers sticker on the door that is a great deterrent.

I live in a first floor flat and my living room window, from where I sit as I type this, directly overlooks my front door so I can easily look out of my wondow and see who's at the door.

I have a doorbell installed but it doesn't work, and delivery people don't seem to have the sense to knock on the door if they don't hear a doorbell ringing.

I dont sleep well and was up at 4am watching TV. Someone knocked the door and I was terrified. I certainly didn't go near the door. The next morning we realised our car lights were on. Someone had been passing by and knocked to tell us!

I always keep my doors locked, for me it's just common sense to do that.
I have a peep hole in my front door and part of the glass is transparent so I can see who is there....my next 'line of defence' is my very large German Shepherd, after losing my much loved dogs I wasn't going to get another but she needed a home and I had space in my heart. I think it's her size as she's also a visual deterrent!

I have two front doors both with glass frames so it is easier to decipher who is ringing the bell. If someone does ring the bell who I am not sure about I open the door with the chain on first

I would normally answer the door without thinking, in the daytime.
However, unless I was expecting a call, I would not answer at night, without knowing who it was.

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Sazzl .......

So good of you to pinpoint Bristol at the start of your comment. Probably the safest of the Top10 British cities (by size).
Lived and worked here all my life and never witnessed a crime or been the recipient of one. Nor know of anyone who has.
.

No

An old lady told me of a little trick of hers should the doorbell ring unexpectedly.
She told me to put my coat on, then if it's someone you want to see you've, just got back but if it's someone who is unwelcome, then you are just on your way out.
It works a treat for me & no-one gets hurt or upset 😉

Have a video door bell and a spy hole in the door so can generally see who is at the door. I do though open the door to unexpected callers.

We have a non-video spy-hole in our front door which I use. I've just put a sticker outside which I got free from the council. It is like the ones they have here: www.surreycc.gov.uk/business/trading-standards/consumer-advice/rogue-traders-scams-and-cold-callers/door-step/sticker-scheme

Unless my neighbour wants something or I have a delivery it is unlikely I'd have a knock at the door that wasn't some sort of cold-call, so I'm cautious about answering it.

If it was someone in a high viz jacket I'd look out the window to see if there's a water, electric, gas or similar van on the street. Sadly this is common as we seem to have one service or another cut-off quite frequently.

Once there were roadworkers who needed to block the drive for a while and wanted to know if I'd like to move the car off the drive first.

We used to have a system of calling others in the village if there was a cold caller but it isn't as neighbourly now.

We get cold-callers in the nicer weather (hence my new council sticker). They are transported into areas with all sorts of sob-stories.

It's awful to hear some people have had their homes broken into after not answering the door. Perhaps, the calling as suggested by 25Avalon is a good idea.

If I don't see someone leave the drive after knocking I go and look out the back to make sure they've gone.

Your caution seems like a good idea to me.