We were eating supper and two ladies with little kids knocked on our door and said they used to live in this house when they were little girls. They asked if they could come in and look around, just for nostalgia.
2006-07-24 11:07:20 · 13 answers · asked by mia2kl2002 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Thanks for your great answers so far!!
I promise to come back later and let you know how we handled this. First, I'd like to give more people a chance to think about and answer this.
2006-07-24 11:23:07 · update #1
My husband and I were split on this, and as Loka said, they caught us off guard. My first thought was that it used to be a rental home, so LOTS of people used to live here. I wasn't concerned about safety: it's a small town and they looked harmless. But sometimes, people get into your life & then it can be hard to get rid of them. I was a little creeped out about somebody having an attachment to my house, as Loka also said. Hubby invited them in, they looked around from the foyer, commented on our remodeling, but we didn't take them on a tour. I was not too friendly: I don't like it when people drop in, especially at suppertime. Some of the rooms have turned into storage so it's not a show place. Later, I wished I had asked them to come another time, or asked who they were. I might even have known their family. I'd say if you're going to do this, get the phone number of the residents & call ahead. We drive by our former homes, but have never thought about asking for a tour.
2006-07-24 16:15:16 · update #2
Well when they catch off guard like that, what can you do. I would probably ask them to come back some other time, make an arrangement. If they come back then let them look around, if your a kind trusting sort of person. If they dont come back then problem solved. But dont let any one just walk off the street who claims to have lived there, to enter your home that is not only creepy but dangerous. Its best for them to remember the house as it was rather than as it is now. People have enormous attachment to homes and places that they lived in as if they still own them in their hearts so be sensitive to their inquiry.
2006-07-24 11:19:20 · answer #1 · answered by Loka 2 · 13⤊ 3⤋
I did just that in Idaho Falls, ID about two years ago. I was in the area and went back after more than 30 years to my old house just to see it from the outside. The owner was just coming home from shopping and I don't know what possessed me to speak up, but I did and told her I used to live there in 1973-75. She invited me in and showed me everything she had done to improve the place. The house had been a rental before she bought it and it was a mess. She totally redid the inside and it was fabulous. I told her what we had in this room or this place, et cetera, when I lived there and told her how it was so much nicer now. She was genuinely pleased.
Going back after so many years put a "closure" to my days in Idaho Falls. Our house was directly across from Skyline High School. It had been expanded, too, since 1975. I walked through the halls and sat in the classrooms where I took math and history so long ago. It brought back memories, both good and bad. I let the bad ones go and kept the good ones...
If you had wanted to, you could have invited them back at a later time or just said "No, thank you" and slammed the door in their faces.
2006-07-24 18:31:53 · answer #2 · answered by christopher s 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that I would ask them a few questions to see if they were on the up and up - then if it wasn't a good time, I might ask them to come back later - if it is that important to them they will come back. Otherwise - it is your home now and you might not be comfortable with it. So did you let them come in?
2006-07-24 18:20:30 · answer #3 · answered by lady left the tramp 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a really good question, actually. If they look nice, maybe I'd let them in and just let them have a quick look around. It depends if my house is clean, though. lol. If not, they could always just go around the yard and look around. I think it's a good gesture, and I think it's nice to have people come back to their old house just to reminisce.
2006-07-24 18:10:38 · answer #4 · answered by bloake 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have it happen a couple of time. I live in a small farm town so as took them as face value. Nothing ever came of it. I guess in some places it could be a "casing" technique...
2006-07-24 18:14:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the type of neighborhood! I'd ask them to come back with a piece of paper that shows their name and this address on it. Then ck their ID.
2006-07-24 18:50:31 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, these days your safety comes first. Nice of you ladies to stop by, but I'm not really comfortable with that idea, or something to that effect. Or, just say no.
2006-07-24 18:15:31 · answer #7 · answered by Paleo C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Say "So glad to meet. Perhaps YOU can tell us about the bodies in the backyard. Wait here, and I'll call the detectives."
That ought to take care of it.
2006-07-24 18:14:36 · answer #8 · answered by © 2007. Sammy Z. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I might consider it but I would have a lot of questions to ask them.
2006-07-24 18:14:12 · answer #9 · answered by zarandipity 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would. I would like to visit my childhood home someday. I helped build it with my folks and it would be neat to just see how it is holding up.
2006-07-24 18:13:56 · answer #10 · answered by Carrie S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋