8 Steps To Prepare For A Stranger At Your Home
When a stranger is scheduled to come into your home, there are some precautions that you should consider to ensure your security during the visit and afterwards.
Since you don’t know that repairman or service worker or stranger, why would you trust your life or belongings to a complete stranger? While it may come across as a bit paranoid, common-sense precautions are smart in today’s world of the unknown.
Here’s how to prepare for and function during a visit involving a stranger (e.g. service visit)…
Isolate The Work Area
You presumably will know the area in which the work is to be done. The only areas where the worker(s) should be is the area from the door of the home to the room where the work is to be done. EVERY other room should be closed off by simply closing their doors. There is no reason for a stranger to see into your other rooms to discover information about you and to see your belongings.
Pepper Spray – Compact Size – 35 Bursts
Remove Valuables And Clues
Information can be discovered very quickly about a person by observing the clues that are around them. If you sterilize or depersonalize the work area environment, there will be less information for that stranger to discover. Consider removing pictures, valuables, and items which may reveal unwanted information about you or your family. For example, how many of you have a refrigerator with information, notes, or pictures stuck to the door? What if there was an invitation or calendar in plain sight which indicates an appointment when you will be out of the house? Get the idea?
Conceal or Hide Preps
For those who are preparedness-minded and may have inventory lying around, it might be prudent to conceal it. Why? Because unfortunately in today’s wacky world there are the majority who look upon being prepared as abnormal (crazy, but true).
Confident Attitude
When the worker/stranger arrives, Be confident when greeting at the door. Be in charge. This attitude will deter many of those with ulterior motives.
Don’t be a Victim – Be Confident
Avoid Vulnerable Positions
After the greet, direct the worker where to go by pointing and verbal commands. NEVER walk or lead the person to that place! This puts you into a very vulnerable position! ALWAYS walk behind them where you can see what they’re doing. This is a very common mistake that people make…
Have An Exit
Keep an exit or an ‘out’ between you and the worker. Avoid being cornered in a room with a stranger.
Stay Aware
While the work is being done, do not become distracted with other things. Be aware of what’s going on and what the person is doing (within earshot, etc..) without being a pain “looking over their shoulder”.
Check For Problems
After the work has been done and the stranger has left, look around and discover if anything is out of place or missing. Check windows to see if they have been opened or unlocked.
While the likelihood may seem very small where you might encounter a bad situation with a service worker or stranger in your home, IT DOES HAPPEN, perhaps more than you hear about…
Taking precautions for your safety and your families safety and be smart. ;)
