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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

RING doorbell brigade, me.

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. 😊

No, not automatically.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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.

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

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!

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.

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

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.