Masaad Ayoob On Answering Your Door

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Thanks, Rider, it was indeed this video.

I too follow this basic principle.

The problem with the
ring footage that I have seen is that one does not get a view of other lurkers who may accompany the man or person at the door. We have put in additional cameras that will.

Our system has an intercom.
 
My living room extends out farther than the rest of the house, and I have a window that gives me a side view of whoever is at the front door. If I don't know them, I'm not opening the door. And I never know them, because everybody who knows me comes to the back door. Anybody ringing the front door bell is either canvassing for a political candidate or try to scam me for a blacktopping job.
 
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For a completely unexpected doorbell ring my response is to certainly remain well AWAY from the door.
A criminal could potentially ram the door or even (especially if a vicious one) shoot through the peephole.
There is zero upside to even vaguely approaching entry door if one is not specifically awaiting someone.
 
Blue Jays said:
For a completely unexpected doorbell ring my response is to certainly remain well AWAY from the door.
A criminal could potentially ram the door or even (especially if a vicious one) shoot through the peephole.
There is zero upside to even vaguely approaching entry door if one is not specifically awaiting someone.
Click to expand...
...or cannot identify the unexpected visitor.
 
Blue Jays said:
For a completely unexpected doorbell ring my response is to certainly remain well AWAY from the door.
A criminal could potentially ram the door or even (especially if a vicious one) shoot through the peephole.
There is zero upside to even vaguely approaching entry door if one is not specifically awaiting someone.
Click to expand...

For a completely unexpected doorbell ring I (or more likely the wife) picks up the phone, looks at the picture and if it's someone we know we let them in.

If not, we ask their business and go from there.
 
The interior door in my apartment opens inward, the screen door opens outward. Also seems like a good case for an old fashioned Dutch door. And a front porch/steep light that is either on a sensor/timer or turns on from the inside.
 
I'm up the eight surveillance camera with a set-top box and three Ring cameras. When an unexpected visitor comes they get to speak to the Ring doorbell camera. I don't go anywhere near the front door. I've gotten very good at unlocking my phone and opening the app. My 8 camera surveillance systems covers the entire house perimeter and grounds. No unseen lurkers hiding around my house. Total investment is under $700 and I pay Ring $100 per year.
 
I grew up in Chicago many years ago. Our front door had a small diamond shape glass at the top that was frosted. No way knowing who was there without opening the door. It didn't have a peep hole for quite a few years. If the doorbell rang we just opened the door. Of course that wasn't at 2 am either.

But that habit of opening the door has stuck with me all these years. I don't have a door bell camera. But my current front door does have a small square glass insert near the top where I can see who is there. And I have hardened my doors where you just can't kick them open easily.

Still I had a storm door with glass where between the two doors I felt I would have to practically shout to have a conversation between the two doors without opening my main door. And an all glass storm door isnt very secure. So recently I changed my storm door to a Larson security glass storm door.

I lock the storm door at night. Now I can open the main door and still be relatively safe as you can't just smash the glass and open it. You can't yank on it and open it easily either. I can talk with a raised voice vs yelling. Somone makes a move to try to open the storm door, I can slam the main door and lock it and call the police. And of course arm myself if I am not armed already.

Yes I realize still not as safe as if I had a doorbell camera. And I will probably invest in one in the near future. I haven't had anyone at night ring my doorbell. And not often during the day the times I am home either. I don't live my life in fear, but still try to be safe. It's a shame really that we have to be fearful of opening a door when the doorbell rings. But I realize times change and I must change with them.
 
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Blue Jays said:
@Tony50ae …What about just advising friends to call or text you upon arrival?
No need to repeatedly open the front door to unexpected doorbells or knocking.
Click to expand...

Good point! My friends will let me know they are on the way. Very few people have rung my doorbell when I am home during the day when I am not expecting anyone, and so far none at night. The security storm door is just an additional layer of protection for the unexpected. However I do concede that a video doorbell is good idea as it doesn't even require me to open the main door at all.
 
Tony50ae said:
I grew up in Chicago many years ago. Our front door had a small diamond shape glass at the top that was frosted. No way knowing who was there without opening the door. It didn't have a peep hole for quite a few years. If the doorbell rang we just opened the door. Of course that wasn't at 2 am either.

But that habit of opening the door has stuck with me all these years. I don't have a door bell camera. But my current front door does have a small square glass insert near the top where I can see who is there. And I have hardened my doors where you just can't kick them open easily.

Still I had a storm door with glass where between the two doors I felt I would have to practically shout to have a conversation between the two doors without opening my main door. And an all glass storm door isnt very secure. So recently I changed my storm door to a Larson security glass storm door.

I lock the storm door at night. Now I can open the main door and still be relatively safe as you can't just smash the glass and open it. You can't yank on it and open it easily either. I can talk with a raised voice vs yelling. Somone makes a move to try to open the storm door, I can slam the main door and lock it and call the police. And of course arm myself if I am not armed already.

Yes I realize still not as safe as if I had a doorbell camera. And I will probably invest in one in the near future. I haven't had anyone at night ring my doorbell. And not often during the day the times I am home either. I don't live my life in fear, but still try to be safe. It's a shame really that we have to be fearful of opening a door when the doorbell rings. But I realize times change and I must change with them.
Click to expand...

"I felt I would have to practically shout to have a conversation between the two doors without opening my main door."
Why do you feel the need to have a conversation??
Rather than opening the door, just a look thru the peep hole, if it's not someone you want to converse with, don't open the door, and just monitor whoever is standing there until they leave.
If they start causing any disturbance, do the stuff Massad recommends in the vid.
jmo,
.
 
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Brandy is my doorbell... Once she alerts me (and whoever's outside) they can decide if it's worth it or not.
By that time... I'm armed, and ready.

6BaJiXB.jpg
 
Space Ghost said:
Once she alerts me (and whoever's outside) they can decide if it's worth it or not.
By that time... I'm armed, and ready.
Click to expand...
How would arming oneself after having been alerted by the dog enter into the question of how to answer the door?
 
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