# Someone who used to live in your house knocks on your door. Do you let them in? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 28, 2014, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-who-used-to-live-in-your-house-knocks-on-your-door-do-you-let-them-in/691856 "2014-06-28T13:17:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-who-used-to-live-in-your-house-knocks-on-your-door-do-you-let-them-in/691856/81 "2014-06-30T19:07:00Z")
Even though it isn’t wheelchair accessible anymore, I’m kinda interested in seeing the house I spend most of my childhood in. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-who-used-to-live-in-your-house-knocks-on-your-door-do-you-let-them-in/691856/82 "2014-06-30T19:43:46Z")
I picked “Absolutely!” but it wouldn’t be with that much enthusiasm if they just showed up. That said, I did meet the guy that built my house at a party, he is the brother of my neighbor. I of course asked him some things about the house and invited him over to see it, and he accepted. I think he appreciated seeing it again. I think it had changed quite a bit, the previous owner added on and upgraded quite a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-who-used-to-live-in-your-house-knocks-on-your-door-do-you-let-them-in/691856/83 "2014-06-30T20:26:15Z")
My current house - sure. It’s a semi-detached victorian villa, that’s been subdivided into apartments at some point last century - I would love to hear about that decision and what went on. My next house - hell no. It’s a re-possession I’ve got cheap from the bank, previous owners are NOT welcome to try and get it back. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-who-used-to-live-in-your-house-knocks-on-your-door-do-you-let-them-in/691856/84 "2014-06-30T21:58:55Z")
I can’t imagine anyone even asking. if they did, no. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-who-used-to-live-in-your-house-knocks-on-your-door-do-you-let-them-in/691856/85 "2014-06-30T22:56:02Z")
I’m autistic, and I can’t read body language. So fakes and poseurs can’t get past my rational analysis. I let people in, or not, according to whether it is safe to do so. I also do not live as a Drone on Planet Scaredy-Cat, so I let just about anybody in. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-who-used-to-live-in-your-house-knocks-on-your-door-do-you-let-them-in/691856/86 "2014-07-01T17:25:08Z")
It depends. Is she a gorgeous, 21 year-old redhead whose kinky fantasy is to lose her virginity in her childhood bedroom? Then no, my wife wouldn’t let me. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-who-used-to-live-in-your-house-knocks-on-your-door-do-you-let-them-in/691856/87 "2014-07-01T19:34:49Z")
Considering 4 of the 5 people who lived in this house before me are dead, I’d have to say: Hell No!! And the 5th technically didn’t live here. ---
**Author:** ![civvi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@civvi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/civvi)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-who-used-to-live-in-your-house-knocks-on-your-door-do-you-let-them-in/691856/88 "2014-07-01T19:39:10Z")
I would peek through the door hole and maybe invite him in for tea. ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-who-used-to-live-in-your-house-knocks-on-your-door-do-you-let-them-in/691856/89 "2014-07-01T19:42:06Z")
Years ago I purchased a host that had been built in the 1880’s. One of the previous owners - a child of the family that built the house - came by with his daughter (granddaughter?) while they were visiting other friends in town. The old man was in his late nineties by then, and we had a nice chat. He’d been born in the house, and described how the property looked when he lived there (an apple orchard instead of the monolithic silver maple tree that’s there now). I was on my way to a class and didn’t have time to show him the inside, but I probably would have if he’d asked. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mask\_behind\_the\_Mask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ebca7d/32.png) [@The\_Mask\_behind\_the\_Mask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mask_behind_the_Mask)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-who-used-to-live-in-your-house-knocks-on-your-door-do-you-let-them-in/691856/90 "2014-07-01T21:18:59Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > Why not, specifically? It’s not a matter of fright; I just don’t want to deal with unexpected visitors (and never have a reason to). I wouldn’t even open for the police. If the previous owners contacted me in advance to ask, I’d still feel uncomfortable, but I would at least consider it. Without knowing anything more about them or the request, my default stance is no. My home is my sanctuary; friends and family only. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2014, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-who-used-to-live-in-your-house-knocks-on-your-door-do-you-let-them-in/691856/91 "2014-07-02T01:01:38Z")
Our house only had one previous owner, and we got to know them a bit during the sale. So sure, we’d let them back in. And if I ever wanted to see the house I grew up in from age 6 to 18, it would be no big deal: my parents sold it to friends of the family who are still living there, \>40 years later. I would kinda like to see the house in Los Angeles that I spent the first four and a half years of my life in. But if I were intending to be out in L.A., I’d send a letter to the address first, giving enough detail about myself and my recollection of the house so that they’d have some basis for deciding. I wouldn’t just knock on their door out of the blue. ---
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2014, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-who-used-to-live-in-your-house-knocks-on-your-door-do-you-let-them-in/691856/92 "2014-07-02T04:32:17Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I’ve experienced the other side. I drove to the house I lived in from 3-13, and just sat in the car and took in the ways the house had changed. A woman came out and asked me why I was staring at her house. I told her, and she wrote down my plate number, and said she was calling the cops. My experience was more pleasant. While visiting our home state, my sister and I drove to the house in which we used to live, 40 years prior, and got out of the car to look at the house from a parking lot next door. The folks living there noticed, and came over to ask us what was up. We told them, and they invited us in for a full tour. They were a little weirded out, I think, but they were very kind. I voted absolutely yes, but it’s an easy one for me. Despite the fact that my home was built in the 1930s, I would recognize every living former occupant on sight. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2014, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-who-used-to-live-in-your-house-knocks-on-your-door-do-you-let-them-in/691856/93 "2014-07-02T04:48:55Z")
I’ve actually gone back to house I lived in my childhood, and introduced myself to the current residents. In both instances, they didn’t seem to have any hesitation about admitting me, and one even invited me to bring my whole family back for a tour of the place, which was a historic old house that they were in the process of restoring. They were, in fact, excited to have a chance to talk to people who could describe things as they were 50 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2014, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-who-used-to-live-in-your-house-knocks-on-your-door-do-you-let-them-in/691856/94 "2014-07-02T06:03:13Z")
Well, considering I’m semi-regularly daydreaming about a trip to my childhood home (and high school), I’d be a massive hypocrite to deny other people the same bittersweet pleasure, right ? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2014, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-who-used-to-live-in-your-house-knocks-on-your-door-do-you-let-them-in/691856/95 "2014-07-02T17:33:31Z")
The previous owner would have just turned 96 this year, and we met him and one of his two daughters when we closed on the house. I’d probably let them in. No one else who has ever lived here is alive (the 96 year old bought the house off an older couple back in 1961), so I’m unlikely to face much other than that particular family. So I went with “absoutely”. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_York](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_York](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_York)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-who-used-to-live-in-your-house-knocks-on-your-door-do-you-let-them-in/691856/96 "2014-07-04T01:18:38Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > I guess I don’t understand why someone won’t even answer the door when someone knocks Reminds me of the old saying, " A coward dies a thousand deaths, a brave man only one" But there again, the brave mans death may come a lot earlier. ---
**Author:** ![Bibliothecarius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@Bibliothecarius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliothecarius)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2014, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-who-used-to-live-in-your-house-knocks-on-your-door-do-you-let-them-in/691856/97 "2014-07-05T05:33:25Z")
I answered Other because I live in an apartment currently so no one is even going to get inside the building unless they already live here. If I lived elsewhere, I guess it would depend if I was alone, if they seemed sketchy, if they were thoughtful enough to perhaps bring along an old utility bill or something to prove they used to live in my place. I did once visit an old childhood home that I lived in as a baby so I don’t remember anything about the place from when I lived there. I always just kinda wanted to see the house out of curiousity, this lost kinda part of my history. So one time when I happened to be in town (it’s in another state), I went to my old address and was just standing out on the street looking at the outside of it when the current owner drove up and into his garage. I decided to knock on the door and do the “I used to live here a long time ago” spiel and hopefully get a look inside, though I wasn’t expecting anything. But the guy was an elderly Asian gentleman who didn’t seem to speak English very well and I don’t think he understood what I was saying. I think he thought I was trying to sell him something! Haha. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2014, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-who-used-to-live-in-your-house-knocks-on-your-door-do-you-let-them-in/691856/98 "2014-07-05T11:40:13Z")
The family from whom I bought my flat: sure, they’re nice folk. The previous family, it would depend on such things as the status of the house and how nicely they asked, as I don’t know them from Adam. The people who grew up in my second home are my maternal family; while sometimes I wouldn’t mind tossing most of them down an appropriate gully, it wouldn’t be polite not to let them in occasionally. ---
**Author:** ![Absinthe\_Anecdote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f6c823/32.png) [@Absinthe\_Anecdote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absinthe_Anecdote)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2014, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-who-used-to-live-in-your-house-knocks-on-your-door-do-you-let-them-in/691856/99 "2014-07-05T12:40:34Z")
The notion of visiting my childhood home seems overly nostalgic and far too syrupy for my tastes. I can’t imagine that I would want to impose on total strangers, just so I could wallow in past memories like some sentimental refugee from a crappy 1980s made for TV movie. No, I would impose on strangers in this manner, and I really don’t want anyone picking their emotional scabs in front of me either. Look at the house from the street and leave it at that. The only way you are getting into my house to look around is if you are a super hot female, otherwise, stay in the car. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-who-used-to-live-in-your-house-knocks-on-your-door-do-you-let-them-in/691856.md?page=4)