How to See Who's at the Door When You Live Alone

The setup

In a shared home, an unexpected knock is easy: one person answers, the other is in the next room. Alone, the knock lands differently. You want to know who's there before anyone knows you're home.

Why it's hard alone

You have no backup and no second opinion. Opening the door to check is the one thing you don't want to do, and a peephole shows a fish-eye view of a hat. You need to see, and ideally speak, without unlocking anything.

The solo method

1. You don't have to answer. Not answering a door you weren't expecting is a complete response.
2. Look before you speak. Use the peephole, a side window or a camera. Speaking first tells them someone's home.
3. Talk through the door, not across the threshold. Deliveries can be left. Utility and service workers can wait while you call their company to confirm, using a number you look up, not one they give you.
4. Don't rely on a door chain. Chains feel secure but give way to a firm shove. A door is either locked or open.
5. Say "we." "We're not interested" or "We'll call the office" costs nothing.
6. Have a plan for the bad version. If someone won't leave, tries the handle or makes you uneasy, call the police non-emergency line, or 911 if you feel threatened.

What nobody tells you

A video doorbell's best feature isn't the video. It's two-way audio from your phone: you can answer the door from the couch, the bedroom or another city, and the person outside can't tell where you are.