people dropping by uninvited/unannounced

[ez]

This makes me nuts....we are the most social people I know, we entertain alot, but I hate when people just drop by without letting us know first. A couple weeks ago, a friend called, we let the phone machine take a message cause we were in the middle of something...so what does she do...comes over and walks right in the house...doesnt even knock! Then last week my other neighbor has company...and she brings them all over to my house...I didnt know they were coming, people I havent seen in a long time (her company) and I'm in a towel wethead and no makeup...lovely. And today my nephew comes, I guess hes in town, didnt answer the door cause I never do when I'm home alone during the day. So I guess this is my biggest peeve...why do people drop by uninvited, I never ever do that, not even to my parents...anyone else hate this????thank you!!!!

 

[beaucoup]

I hate that too. My DH is gone a lot. I have a neighbor who I swear waits for my DH to get home and then comes right over to see him. How about giving us some time alone first to talk and whatever. Call first and ask if this is a good time or not.

I tell DH not to answer the door if we are in the middle of something, but he won't.

 

[LuvLDM]

I hate it too, I find it very rude.

 

[Handbag Lady]

This makes me nuts....we are the most social people I know, we entertain alot, but I hate when people just drop by without letting us know first. A couple weeks ago, a friend called, we let the phone machine take a message cause we were in the middle of something...so what does she do...comes over and walks right in the house...doesnt even knock! Then last week my other neighbor has company...and she brings them all over to my house...I didnt know they were coming, people I havent seen in a long time (her company) and I'm in a towel wethead and no makeup...lovely. And today my nephew comes, I guess hes in town, didnt answer the door cause I never do when I'm home alone during the day. So I guess this is my biggest peeve...why do people drop by uninvited, I never ever do that, not even to my parents...anyone else hate this????thank you!!!!

Maybe they do it because you let them?


Everyone knows you may not just come over unannounced. I also don't go to anyone's house unannounced either.


ETA: Ooops. I did it once. We were on the other side of Los Angeles goofing around and we had to pee really, really badly. I called my sister and said we were 10 minutes away or I was going to ruin my car. Luckily, she laughed and understood. So the new rule is that you have to call at least 10 minutes first if you are in the area and need to pee.

(Our family is spread all over Los Angeles)

 

[tvguy]

Never had a problem with it myself. We just expect those folks to accept the house is a mess, and I may need a shave.

 

[ols386]

I'm not a fan of people dropping by unannounced either.

 

[SookieStackhouse]

I am so used to it, it has happened to me so much it doesn't even bother me too much anymore.

 

[LadyKay]

Well, I certainly don't ALWAYS enjoy it. Sometimes it's a pleasant surprise.
Sounds to me as though you are "that" person that people gravitate to because you're fun and out going. I know it's a pet peeve but take it as a bit of a compliment. If it gets further out of hand set clearer boundaries

 

[rn4val]

I think it is very rude. It's not so much the house is a mess but you could be sleeping, in the shower or.... People call and get an ok before coming over please

 

[Kim&Chris]

UGH. I hate that, too.

And the worst is when people drop in....and don't seem to leave. Then we end up feeding them, too.

Some people just don't have any courtesy. A quick visit can be nice, but there's a fine line between a "quick visit" and "overstaying your welcome".

 

[dmslush]

I am not very social.. when I am home, I really don't want company coming over unless I invite them. The only person that gets in without calling first is my daughter and that is because she has a key LOL. If someone else shows up uninvited or without calling first, I don't open the door.

 

[LuvLDM]

I am not very social.. when I am home, I really don't want company coming over unless I invite them. The only person that gets in without calling first is my daughter and that is because she has a key LOL. If someone else shows up uninvited or without calling first, I don't open the door.

Yeah, I've been known to play "not home" when my (former) obnoxious neighbor comes knocking...he also would peek in the windows when I didn't answer the door. No sense of boundaries, that one

 

[brenalexacamp]

In the grand scheme of things............think how lucky you are that friends want to be with you. Maybe set up some ground rules- but a full house is a sign of people hat love you!

 

[nathalee81]

Big pet peeve of mine, as well. I also don't even show up at my parents house unannounced (I'm sure I could, I just don't want to).

 

[lovetoscrap]

Never had a problem with it myself. We just expect those folks to accept the house is a mess, and I may need a shave.

Exactly the same here. .

 

[Saphire]

People that drop in unannounced are either really young, retired, or don't work for a living. OR they live in certain parts of the country where it is still acceptable. Here in the Northeast it is never done, unless you fit in to the above categories.

 

[MIGrandma]

I hate it too, unless it's my Mom or my kids/grandchildren. They are the only exceptions.

DH's Dad and step-Mom do it, and I know that's his Dad so I shouldn't hate it...but his step-Mom is a perfectionist in her house, nothing out of place, not a speck of dust anywhere, etc. and I just feel inadequate when they drop in without letting us know as our house is not dirty but "lived in" and just not as perfect as hers.

And it seems like nobody ever drops in after the house has been cleaned, but at it's messiest they all come in droves.

 

[emer95]

It's rude and I hate it!! My MIL likes to do it to us, and I say to her, "Please call first." She says, "Oh, of course!" but then still pops in, on Saturday or Sunday mornings, when we are still in pjs, the house is a mess, or sometimes when the kids are watching cartoons and mommy and daddy are.... busy!!

When I'm home, I am HOME. No makeup, slouchy clothes, etc. I only like to be around other people when I'm presentable and "on."

 

[msjprincess]

People that drop in unannounced are either really young, retired, or don't work for a living. OR they live in certain parts of the country where it is still acceptable. Here in the Northeast it is never done, unless you fit in to the above categories.

I have several relatives that drop by when they're in the area and they don't sit into any of those categories.

 

[Magpie]

I must be weird, because I love surprise visitors. I really do! And my visitors are rarely young, unemployed or retired.

I don't generally stop what I'm doing, I just include them somehow. Or I continue on with my projects and they can sit in the room with a drink and entertain me while I work. They're my friends and family, so I know they don't care if my hair's a mess or I'm in my PJs or the house is untidy.

I love having friends in my kitchen chatting with me when I'm cooking or doing dishes. My mom (okay, she's retired) stopped by the other day when I was washing paint off the windows. Her presence really made the chore a lot less tedious.

I prefer it when my friends just walk in without ringing the bell, because I don't like the sound of the doorbell. The dog lets me know if someone's coming in anyway, so it's not like we really need the darn thing. If the bell rings, it's usually a stranger trying to sell me something I don't need.

I like people, and I like company. So I try to make my home a welcoming place, so that people will feel free to stop by and stay awhile.