If someone who used to live in your house 20 years ago came by wanted wanted to see inside...

[Phentex]

would you let them in?

I think I asked this question here 10 years ago when it happened before.

Before I give more details, I'd just like to know your first reaction. Thanks.

[dameatball]

1. Probably not.

[hlthe2b]

3. I'd be afraid they were "casing the place"...

I'd have been a lot more trusting a couple of decades ago, but now? Probably not.

[Phentex]

71. that's how I am leaning

mostly no

[donkeypoofed]

2. Only if there was a wife & kids with him

Otherwise it would be really embarrassing to have to tell police how you let your robber in your house. That would be a seriously good excuse (ruse) to get into a house to scope it out for future burglary or an imminent robbery. So no, I would not let a man in to see the house if I was alone or he was; actually probably not at all.

[Phentex]

72. It's possible he'd be here with the nosy neighbor who knows him...

and NO WAY do I want her in my house.

[Freddie]

4. Maybe if I kind of knew them

From sitting across the settlement table years ago, or if they had a family with them. Can't happen to me, we bought our house new construction (20 years ago).
Was almost in that position, DH was talking to a co-worker and found out that this person's uncle lives in our former home from the 80s. Was curious to see it again but the uncle does not allow visitors as he is a hoarder and apparently this 900 sf townhouse is filled to the ceilings with crap. And still has the carpets and wallpaper that we put in back then.

[Phentex]

73. I'm not a hoarder but I'm not a house person...

and I've got two large dogs that add to the ambiance so there's that.

[Mike Rows His Boat]

5. I have a while back

Only to find out that my daughter’s room (where she was seeing ghosts) was the room the person’s dad had died.
Needless to say, it was a mistake. Had to rearrange the house sleeping arrangements.

[3catwoman3]

44. That is very eerie.

Kinda makes one's neck hair stand up.

[Phentex]

74. another good point...

[msongs]

6. no thanks politely first nt

[Phentex]

75. basically I said I wasn't comfortable with it...

haven't seen the guy in person yet

[GP6971]

7. No Chance.

Even if they described the place as they remembered it.

[Phentex]

76. just makes me wonder...

what good it would be for anyone

[Glamrock]

8. Happened to me.

Told him no. I thought it was a strange request.

[Phentex]

77. as I said above...

I'm not a house person. I don't ever want to see the places I got away from!

[SWBTATTReg]

9. I did, and I know that the reason is strange but I allowed it...

spoke to me in advance of when they were coming...

the folks lived in the house some time ago, I didn't get exactly when...

they offered to have a cop with them, and so forth...

it was a tragic story of when the girl apparently was sex. abused by a relative in what was a small office/bedroom back them (and I had turned the small room into a 'disney' room that had lots of my collectibles in it);

it was for therapy for this family (and of course for girl that was abused)...I didn't want to intrude in this family's grief/situation but they used the very positive msg. of the bedroom made into a Disney room into a positive thing, e.g., positive things do come out of bad things. They did bring an officer too...

strange situation around for all, but I was at all totally surprised to meet someone from the past at what was my home then...I lived in it for 37 years, so it was natural to meet various people over the years...

I was glad to help this one particular family...all of the rest of the folks I met over the years that lived formerly there, was nice to hear their feedback etc.

[Phentex]

78. That would make me consider it...

the therapy part and all. This is the son of the people who lived here before us but I really think the nosy neighbor is the one who wants to come inside.

[SWBTATTReg]

121. Seems like we all have nosy neighbors! A pox on nosy nieghbors! I

never did figure out who or what did the molesting, nor did I really pursue/care to know who.

It was just a sad situation and the girl/lady who was molested was, you could tell, upset/disturbed (crying, so forth when she visited), and they (her family/therapist) pushed the positive side of the event (the room she was molested in was now a studio/display room for Disney stuff/collectibles, etc.).

I'm not really sure of what 12 step paths to recovery that these folks who have been abused go through, but I'll do my little bit to help, and don't wish this on anyone.

Just a horrible, sad situation that unfortunately quite a few families go through in this country of ours.

[brush]

10. It happened to me and my wife once.

The family had lost the house and we bought it from the bank.

It was a wreck inside but had good bones, as they say. We re-did every surface in that house, put in a kitchen and bathrooms. The wife came back one time and we showed it to her. She was amazed at what we had done.

Not too long after that, the son came in a suit and brief case with 20k in cash and offered to buy the house back if we would carry the note—his father, once a connected repug who fell on tough times, had sent him.

Not being our first rodeo, we rejected him as we had already had it appraised at twice what their scheme was.

We got a kick out of that as we had found old newspaper articles about the father when we were cleaning out the house. He had had a contract with the government to supply meals-ready-to-eat to the military. He lost it and had been suing the government since then. Stupid, as the gov. can outlast most people with postponements and delays, and of course gov. lawyers.

[Phentex]

80. Wow!

That's not what I would have expected. Oddly enough, the last time this happened we had just had major damage done when some trees fell on the house. Everything was topsy turvy and we lived in a hotel for a while so there was no way I wanted people in the house.

[saidsimplesimon]

11. stranger danger

No, polite refusal.

[Phentex]

81. It's odd...

he was a boy when he lived here but must have been at least ten or older. That would make him in his 30's now. I just find the request odd.

[LuckyCharms]

12. I actually did this.

I had to go see a lawyer, who had an office directly across the street from the house I grew up in. I left the lawyer's office, and I saw a man working in the driveway of the house.

He had construction equipment everywhere, as well as materials. The guy looked tired and dirty, and he was working on something while cursing. I walked over and introduced myself, and told him that I lived in the house 45 years ago. He said he was having a huge problem in his remodeling...there was something going on with the way the interior walls were configured and he couldn't figure it out. I told him I would be happy to help him if he would give me a tour. He did, and I was able to explain a few things to help him.

I should add that no one was living there yet. The house was very run down. He bought it to improve and flip.

[Phentex]

82. I've got people and dogs...

and not a lot of patience.

[no_hypocrisy]

13. I would b/c I know the names of the family members who sold us our house 60+ years ago.

While this hasn't happened to me, when we were getting ready to sell the house, I sent the video of the "house tour" to one of the daughters. She was delighted.

[Phentex]

84. When you were selling you probably had it all fixed up and ready to see...

we have more of a lived-in look. Ha!

[catrose]

14. My reaction would be no

But in fairness, I should say that I once went back to my old neighborhood and snapped photos from the street. During this time, a family drove up and entered the house. I debated with myself, and then I knocked on the door to explain why I was taking photos of their house--I'd lived there when I was 13. The mom (just her and the kids there) invited me in. It was very nice of her, and I praised all the work they'd done and told her how much it meant to me--all the while wanting to say "DON'T let strangers in your house." This was in Houston, btw, not some trusting little town.

[Phentex]

86. But they invited you...

which was extremely nice of them. She might have said "oh this isn't a good time" and I don't think you would have been offended. Honestly, I don't think this guy would be offended because I don't know him and I suspect it's the neighbor putting him up to it.

[catrose]

124. Oh, I wouldn't have been offended at all

And I wasn't asking to come in, just explaining why I was taking photos of their house (having lived in neighborhoods where people freak if there's a parked car they don't recognize). I really appreciated her kindness; it was a special moment to see my old and favorite house.

[Polly Hennessey]

15. No.

[Phentex]

87. to the point

Thanks.

[HeiressofBickworth]

16. Not possible

Our dog loses his shit if strangers even pass by on the sidewalk.

[Phentex]

88. I've got two...

rottweilers. One would lick you to death but the other takes no prisoners.

[nadine_mn]

17. Nope..because the police have been here looking for them before

We have rented the same old shitty house for 16-17 yrs. In our first year or two living here, we had the police over twice, both times looking for the previous occupant. Once was for a parole violation and a second time tracking his ankle monitor.

Plus whoever lived here before did some shitty wannabe McGyvering of remodel...it's crap...crappy wiring, illegal plumbing etc. I have no desire to meet them...well one of the guys lives across the way and he seems pretty cool. Our landlords bought the house for the land behind it to sell to developers and rent to us basically out of pity. They are developers, so our monthly rent is just pocket change and they are reluctant to make repairs or investments.

Why do we still live here...shitty credit (student loan debt in the 6 figures) and it's a roof over our heads. I'm not fussy where I live (and at the time we moved in we had two large dogs and a cat...finding someone to rent to us was impossible).

[Phentex]

89. That's more than I want to know about the previous owners...

What little I know is from the neighbors and also the way they treated us before and after the closing. I don't want to get into all that and maybe they had reasons but they did some crappy stuff to us before they moved out.

[Awsi Dooger]

18. Definitely, if I knew it was legit

Might benefit them and no harm to me

[Phentex]

90. I just can't imagine the benefit to him...

but it's because I can't relate. Seeing my old homes would be re-living nightmares I don't want to re-live.

[sinkingfeeling]

19. Depends. If a lone man, no. If a family or husband and wife, yes.

[Phentex]

92. As far as I know, he isn't married...

is passing through town and staying with the neighbors a few doors down. In my imagination, I picture the nosy neighbor bringing him down and then coming in with him and opening my pantry and closets and being sure to comment on everything.

[pnwest]

20. It would completely depend on the vibe I get from the people. But I would

invite them in if they felt trustworthy, if someone else was home with me.

[True Dough]

40. I often make such decisions

based on my judgement of character as well. My intuition has rarely let me down.

[Phentex]

93. someone would need to keep an eye on the dogs...

and it's too wet for them to be outside so I dunno.

[llmart]

175. That's what I would have said.

I'm a pretty good judge of character. I have actually done this one time years and years ago. The woman who came to the door was so grateful after she got to look around for a little bit (I was always with her) that I was glad I let her. She had grown up in the house. I could relate to wanting to do that.

Besides, I have absolutely nothing of value that anyone would want to take or that I couldn't live without. I live a somewhat minimalist life. I don't keep cash in my house and don't have jewelry. Just never cared much for "things". I guess my computer would be the most valuable thing I have, but it's a cheapie desktop.

I always tell people that if anyone ever breaks into my house to steal something they are going to be like, "WTF??? This poor woman needs US to put some stuff IN her house, not take it out." LOL

[Delmette2.0]

21. I was asked and said no.

The former owners left the house in such a mess I never wanted them back in. I almost refused to sign the loan papers. Before she had come back she had contacted a neighbor to ask me for her windchime ( cowbell ). I had thrown that out on my second day in the house.

A better story is when my mother was going past her childhood home stopped because it was being torn down. The project boss happened to be a man from the neighborhood who she knew way back when. She couldn't go in but they had a nice visit. The next day the crew found a framed picture that had been left in a wall. I know that's weird. But he recognized my grandmother and passed the picture on to someone he knew would run into Mom. She eventually got the picture of her mother her older brother taken when he was an infant.

[Phentex]

94. I like the second part of your message...

that's cool.

I have to admit I have some unresolved bad feelings based on the way the previous owners treated us before and after the closing. You'd think I'd be over it after 20 years but it makes me think they weren't very good people.

[Delmette2.0]

97. Thank you.

I like my Mom's experience, too.

After 15 years I still get junk mail for the previous owners.

[Phentex]

100. We get some from the college of the previous owner...

guess those big databases are hard to clean up. And I think we once got something for the even previous owner who is long deceased.

[Delmette2.0]

108. Yep, that is the worst.

These data bases keep sharing information ( or selling it) with no care to the accuracy.

[Phentex]

110. I can't figure out email changes...

I changed my email address with many groups and even though I get some messages to the new email address, I still get them to the old email address as well. Just how deep has the info gone? I haven't deleted the old one yet but there will be a time when it's no longer valid.

[Delmette2.0]

123. My theory is...

That when you provide name and location, not necessarily your home address, any match get linked together.

My standard is, nothing is free. If you sign up for a free app, you are giving away information about yourself.

[struggle4progress]

22. Generally not, but once it might depend on various things.

Certainly not a second time, though

I knew a guy who grew up in a small Western town and spent the rest of his life thousands of miles away

When he was in his early nineties, he and his wife visited some of his childhood stomping grounds and spent some time looking at the outside of one of the places he had lived before he went to college

The owners finally wondered what was going on, as these two elderly people walked back and forth in front of the house and up and down the alley beside it, looking and pointing, so came out to inquire

When they learned he had lived there seventy years earlier and didn't remember it looking quite the same way, they invited him inside and showed him what they had redone

But I'm pretty sure it was all the owners' initiative: I doubt the old fellow and his wife would have asked to see the inside

[Phentex]

95. That's sweet...

I'm pretty sure my house is a tear down. When we decide to move, I'll probably take a ton of pictures which I'd be happy to share with anyone at that point.

[blueinredohio]

23. When we first bought the house we live in now

we were having a porch put on and a guy that was raised here wanted to see it. He even went to the nursing home to bring his mom over also shared some pictures of it. We learned slot about the house from them. I thought it was a nice visit.

[Phentex]

96. That's nice you had a good visit...

I guess it all depends on the circumstances.

[blueinredohio]

179. I'm also from a small town.

Most people are tolerable (some even nice) but seventy five percent are republicans. So I get along to get along.

[TlalocW]

24. I actually was the one asking

After college, mom, her sister, and their mom, moved further south to a city 30 miles away and sold the house (after renting it to the worst people ever before kicking them out). I still go back to the hometown to see friends if they happen to be in town visiting parents, etc., and I think it was about 20 years after the house was sold that I knocked on the door of my childhood home. The people who answered recognized me, and I tried to make small talk and get an invite in, but it didn't happen. Pretty awkward.

TlalocW

[Phentex]

98. Well, you tried...

as you can see from the responses, some are more comfortable with it than others. What would you hope to see? Changes in the house? Your old bedroom or something? I live in a pretty basic house. I'm not sure what the interest is.

[csziggy]

25. There are no houses from my personal history to visit

The house I grew up in was demolished a few years back. Most of the places I lived in were temporary rentals. I do drive by the double wide trailer we lived in here on the farm until ten years ago but have no desire to see the interior. I'm just happy that someone was able to take it off our hands.

But the house my great great grandfather built in 1887 in Escanaba, Michigan was visited by my mother in law once and by my sister once. The family that lives there now is the second family to own the house.

After my great grandfather died in 1941 the house was sold. The son of the man who bought it still lived there when my sister visited a few years back. My mother in law took photos of the exterior but didn't ask to see the inside. When my sister visited, the man remembered the previous visit and offered a tour of the interior, including the basement - with huge tree trunks that hold up the entire house!

In return I sent him copies of the pictures we have in our family archives of the house while it was being built and shortly after it was completed.

[Phentex]

101. There was an old country store in my family's history...

which basically fell apart and was torn down. Nobody has any pictures of it except for one exterior shot. It would be nice to see the inside of that place again.

I saw a picture of one of the shacks we lived in once and that was enough for me.

[janterry]

26. Of course I would

I'd want to be helpful to them

[Phentex]

102. That's nice of you...

I'm not feeling it.

[vlyons]

27. no absolutely not

I would suspect them of being thieves, casing my place to see what valuables I had. I would also say that they were not welcome and to leave immediately, or I would call the sheriff.

[Phentex]

103. I've got nothing decent to steal...

except my dogs and they would not go lightly. But it just doesn't make sense to me to let him in.

[ghostsinthemachine]

28. Its been done to me, and I've done it

Many times at the house my parents considered their dream home (which they lost to foreclosure). Even taken them back. That house is a jinx, everyone loses it.

[Phentex]

104. That's interesting...

a curse maybe?

I have zero good memories about the places I lived as a child (except for the woods we played in). And as much as I loved the house I first lived in when I got married, I don't have any desire to see what happened to it.

[exboyfil]

29. Wait for the house to come up for sale

and then wall through in the open house or with the real estate agency.

I would not let them in.

[Phentex]

105. as I posted above...

that's a good idea. When we sell, I can send them video or pictures.

[babylonsister]

30. I've asked and been

let in by complete strangers. I think looking and acting trustworthy counts for a lot. But that was at least 20 years ago.

[Phentex]

106. Part of me wishes I could just say okay...

but then I think about the nosy neighbor.

[madamesilverspurs]

31. Well, I went to the house where I grew up.

In the runup to Mom's 90th (2009), I was taking photos of all the places we'd lived. When I rang the bell, an elderly man came to the door and I explained why I was there. He looked skeptical and asked my name, then introduced himself as the man who'd bought the place from Dad in 1964. He remembered my parents, and was happy to let me take pictures. It was amazing to see that Dad's basketweave fence was still in place, along with his brick driveway. We were talking about how Dad had built the brick and redwood patio, and laughing about the tree he'd only recently had to remove because it was too close to the house (said tree being illegally harvested by my grandmother and planted in the yard all those years ago). He was about to take me inside when his wife, quite a bit younger than him, took exception; she was glaring at me like she thought I had plans for him, and she literally positioned herself to block the door. He was clearly embarrassed, and I saw no reason to press the issue. I thanked him for his courtesy and we left.

I have a friend who is a realtor in that area, and she'll let me know if/when that house goes on the market. There's lots of stuff in there that was all Dad's design and handiwork, I'd like to have the chance to show and explain to any realtor.



.

[Phentex]

109. That's kinda funny about the wife...

she had her reasons I guess.

These people did not build the house. I'm pretty sure there were a couple of owners before them.

[democratisphere]

32. Not in these times.

Too many scammers around.

[Phentex]

111. He just the man who was a boy when he lived here...

he knows the nosy neighbor but I don't know HIM at all.

[mia]

33. Happened to me.

A woman came by with her daughter and said that she wanted to show her the house where her grandparents used to live. I welcomed her in and enjoyed hearing her tell her daughter where different events had taken place. This was a house built in 1924. It hadn't been updated except for the 1970s kitchen, and this happened in 2003 or so.

I've also driven by houses where I once lived and wished that I could go inside again.

[Phentex]

112. I don't think there's anything unique about my house...

it's just a basic house. The original kitchen cabinets are still here but painted. I think the more obvious changes are on the outside.

[heaven05]

34. hell no

I'd tell them where to go and what do when they arrive

[Phentex]

113. HA!

very to the point.

He communicated through the neighbor and I'm not even sure this was his idea.

[RockRaven]

35. As a hypothetical, probably not, and any exception would depend on the specifics

I'd be more inclined to do it if it were a one-of-a-kind, built by owner house (versus tract housing) and they were the original occupant or their kid.

Also it would depend on if I had been the person who had bought it 20 years ago (more likely) or if there had been many owners in the intervening time (much less likely).

It would also depend on how much had changed about the house since I bought it. If a lot, I'd be less likely. If it were largely unchanged, more likely.


In reality, in my specific case, I know the people who lived here 20 yrs ago, they're here all the time, so if some random person knocked on my door with that story I'd probably call the cops.

[Phentex]

114. all good points...

definitely not original owner or builder. He's not particularly random since his family has kept in touch with the nosy neighbor. But I don't know him or his family except from seeing the wife (this man's mother) at the closing.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

36. Since I'm only the third owner of my place

which was built in 1994, I'd probably say yes. Besides, anyone hoping to case the place to rob would be sorely disappointed, unless they were gleeful at the possibility of stealing however many hundreds of books I have.

I would love to be able to visit places I lived in before. Two have been torn down, but I believe all the others still exist. The place we owned in Phoenix, AZ, has gone on the market twice in recent years, so we've been able to see photographs of the remodelling a subsequent owner did.

[Phentex]

115. There's nothing to steal...

I might appreciate this old laptop being stolen.

I do think this house will be torn down once we sell so I would take lots of pictures prior to that.

[Kali]

37. sure

of course the two houses that would remotely happen at are and have been occupied by me or family for considerably more than 20 years

[Phentex]

116. Honestly, I could never visit you...

based on snakes, scorpions and the possibility of seeing a horse in person. Equinophobia

[Kali]

172. LOL

[Croney]

38. Since we've lived in this house 25 years, I'd know it was a lie.

And I know the name of the family who lived here the previous 30 years. If one of them stopped by, I'd say truthfully that the house has been remodeled and remuddled to such an extent, they wouldn't recognize it so it's better to just live with their memories.

[Phentex]

117. My sister said the same thing...

that someone she knew visited a childhood home and was unhappy at seeing how much had changed. I have no idea how this guy would feel or even how much he would remember.

[Grasswire2]

39. I asked to see the inside of my grandmother's house...

.....a great big stone house with Craftsman interior and many many happy memories of family members. The owner graciously showed me around. I was sad to see all the beautiful old woodwork was painted gray -- in fact everything in the house was gray! But it was very sweet to be in those rooms and I was able to tell the owner some things about the history of the house. The time a very old but live WW2 artillery shell was found in the basement! It helped that I lived a couple of blocks away. But I'm grateful to be in that space one more time.

[Phentex]

118. Sounds like a house with history...

maybe I could ask this guy if he remembered the crack houses that used to be behind us?

[RandomAccess]

41. Yes, unless I got bad vibes for some reason

[Phentex]

119. My vibes...

seem to be more about the nosy neighbor than this guy. I just don't get it.

[gibraltar72]

42. We've done it.

[Phentex]

120. sounds like many people have...

Maybe I'm just weird.

[Shrike47]

43. Yes, at least the living room, dining room, etc, if I recognized their name and they looked OK.

The house is 70 years old and we know the names of most of the previous owners. We’ve been here almost 30 years.

[Phentex]

122. looks like many feel the same...

[3catwoman3]

45. The house my dad grew up in is in the...

...historic Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. He lived there from his birth in 1921 until he and my mom married in 1948. My grandmother died in 1958, and shortly after that, my grandfather started living a few month at a time with each of his 3 offspring. The house was sold to the current owner sometime in the next couple of years.

In 1994, we moved to the greater Chicago area, and the current owner has been kind enough to let me in twice. Once, a couple of years after we moved here, and my parent were here visiting. I think it meant a lot to my dad to see his childhood home. The second time was just a couple of years ago, when I was at an art festival just a few blocks from that neighborhood, and decided to go by.

Unfortunately, the current owner is something of a hoarder, so the inside is quite a mess.

We are the original owners of our home, so the reverse situation has not come up.

[Phentex]

125. some history there...

the next door neighbor when we moved here was a hoarder but she let me in her house once. After they moved, the new owners did a major renovation and are also complete neatnicks. Their home is like a magazine showroom. I dog sit for them so I am there all the time. She comes into my house all the time too but I'm sure she thinks it's horrible. Ha!

[MissB]

46. I probably wouldn't.

The woman that lived here died here. Her granddaughter was the beneficiary of the estate. We’ve lived here for 15 years and no one has come by to check it out. We’ve changed around a few rooms but overall the layout remains the same.

We’ve seen our old house a few times. We still know everyone in that neighborhood so it isn’t too creepy for us to show up for the annual block party and say hi to the current owners of the old house. I don’t like a lot of the work they’ve done but it’s their house now.

[Phentex]

127. Mine will be torn down...

I used to kinda love this house/yard. But the area has changed so much and the people aren't as nice. I'd move tomorrow but my husband isn't ready. I think once our college kids are gone, really gone, he will change his mind.

[sakabatou]

47. The only ones who lived in my place 20 years ago

would be family.

[Phentex]

128. That's pretty cool...

I don't think there are any original owners left on our street. One house was owned by the guy's parents and passed down to him but most have been resold several times.

[NNadir]

48. I didn't let the people in when they came.

They seemed like nice people, but, no I didn't invite them in.

[Phentex]

129. I think most understand...

glad to see I may not be that odd after all.

[Aristus]

49. Nope.

My house only had one prior owner, and I met him.

Anyone coming to my door claiming to have lived here, and it's not him, gets the boot...

[Phentex]

130. understandable...

See ya next buzz night!

[Aristus]

142. See you then!

[doc03]

50. When the people that owned the house I lived in from when I was 3 to 12 years old I asked their

son if I could see the old house before he sold it. Of course I have known him all my life. It brought back many memories of
those days.

[Phentex]

131. Nice you had good memories...

I'd see ghosts of childhood past!

[Hoyt]

51. If I knew they lived there, would probably let them in if it wasn't a mess.

I lived in a few houses when I was young that I’ve always wondered about, but would never impose on people.

[Phentex]

132. Well, he doesn't know us...

so I'm not sure if he'd come here by himself without the nosy neighbor and I don't want her in my house.

[patricia92243]

52. Yes. I think they would enjoy seeing the improvements.

[Phentex]

133. maybe you're right...

I think the biggest changes are on the outside though. We inherited a jungle.

[Chris Studio]

53. Depends

But probably... If they didn't seem sketchy

[Phentex]

134. Maybe I should actually meet him first...

but then it might be more awkward? He supposedly asked through the nosy neighbor.

[steve2470]

54. I went by my old childhood home (60's and 70's)...

The lady of the house was kind enough to give me a grand tour. I was extremely grateful and thanked her profusely.

Of course, she was a bit taken aback at first but I proved who I was pretty fast by my anecdotes.

If she had said no, I would have had to understand.

[Phentex]

135. I never do that...

I know people who invite you over for the first time and say "Let me show you the house!" at which point I am kinda uncomfortable seeing the bedrooms and bathrooms and whatever. I'm not a house person.

I DID take a grand tour of the friend's 15,000 square feet house because I was with others and also had to figure out what the hell you put in such a place. I am still flabbergasted by it.

[Rhiannon12866]

55. I experienced almost the opposite thing just last week

I was on my way home from a family event (my great uncle was honored for his WWI service) and to avoid traffic I drove through the town where I grew up and through my old neighborhood and down my old street. I do this occasionally when I'm in the area. We moved a lot when I was a kid, my Dad did well at his job and would be promoted to a larger area so we'd have to move again. But this was the place where I got to go to the same school for more than one year and I was happy there, I had 2 best friends and we lived there long enough - 5 years - that I was due to start high school there in the fall.

It was also the first new house that we had. I remember seeing it as it was being built, a new house on a new street and I made friends with the kids in the neighborhood, too. Before, my parents had rented, but this time I guess we were staying awhile. We even got a puppy! I was happy there and was devastated when we had to move again.

It doesn't look much the same, it's kind of overgrown, it's a different color with different doors and someone built a carport. Back then they built houses with one car garages. So I stopped in the road (it's a side residential street) and took a couple of pictures with my phone, I've done this before. And as I got towards the end of the street, a truck caught up with me and when I didn't stop, he started blowing his horn.

So I stopped and this angry older guy pulled up next to me, rolled down his window and demanded "Why are you taking pictures of my house?!" Oh boy. I kept smiling and said "Because I used to live in that house," told him my parents built that house, when we lived there and named my local school, figured the facts had to be pretty convincing. He calmed down and told me he'd redone the house and the yard (which I could see), apparently he'd lived there awhile. I told him that I had little turtles and goldfish buried in that yard, pets I'd had before we got the puppy.

I also hope I straightened him out, he insisted that house was built in the '50s. I told him that I was there when it was built and that was in the '60s. I doubt that the street existed in the '50s. And he actually mellowed and said if I was in town I could stop by sometime and see the house. Then he asked me if I'd been around at about 2am recently - which I obviously had not - so if someone had bothered him late at night, I can understand his alarm at seeing me taking pix.

I'd actually really love to - my grandmother and I had stopped by one time back when I was in college when the house was for sale, but no one was home - but now I have the opposite problem - I don't know this angry guy!

[Phentex]

136. Fascinating!

I can FEEL the joy you experienced in your childhood home. And now the angry guy!

I don't think this guy's history is the same as yours but I don't know much about him other than he was a boy when he lived here. Not the original owners by a long shot.

I just remembered that a large science project was left in this room. I wonder if he remembers it and wanted to take it.

(I recall all the trash and other stuff that was left behind. )

[MaryMagdaline]

56. Probably would let them in

Purely hypothetical. Our house was new construction but I’ve let neighbors come in to see what we’ve done.

The house I lived in between ages 6 and 11 is actually on line. I’ve taken a virtual tour. It was once a rundown area, now gentrified, outside DC. The house is much fancier now, very modern inside.

The house was solidly built, brick. Always had potential and now someone has made something of it.

When we lived there in the 60s a woman who used to live there came by to see the house and seemed very moved. My mother let her in. It was a rental but something cool about that house.

My brother visited the house when he was in DC and took photos of outside, sent copies to all of us.

[Phentex]

137. I can say our house is solid...

having had trees down on it twice and it's still standing. But it's a basic house.

[RobinA]

57. This Actually Happened

at my parents' farmhouse when I was in college. They did let the elderly woman and her daughter in and she gave us a lot of interesting information about the house back in the day. My mother struck up a relationship with the woman and they exchanged letters for quite some time. The woman came by before she moved to Texas to live with the daughter because she wanted to see it one last time. She corresponded from Texas for a number of years. I think she has passed away by now, but she did provide a lot of good information. Mabel.

[Phentex]

138. That's cool!

I have sour feelings about the previous owners based on the stuff that happened when they moved. It's irrational because so much time has passed.

[gratuitous]

58. I've thought about re-visiting the childhood home

But if I had an irresistible urge to poke around inside, I'd send the current owners a letter first. I would identify myself, the years I lived in the house, and politely request a look in the house on a date when I'd be in the area (I live 75 miles away, and go through that town from time to time). If there was no response or a negative response, I'd get over my urge. If I got a positive response, I'd offer to tell them some tall tales of a time when I was just a little gratuitous and the neighborhood adventures from days of yore.

[Phentex]

139. It's possible I'd feel differently if

the request came as you say instead of via the nosy neighbor. I try to avoid her if possible.

[bif]

59. I did.

A woman rang our doorbell and introduced herself. She mentioned her father's name, which we recognized. So we let her look around.

[Phentex]

140. interesting...

you are a very trusting person.

[dixiegrrrrl]

60. I think the decision depends on where you live.

I live in a friendly little Southern town, in a neighborhood which was built in late 50's/early 60's. Our house was built in 1958.

Our house had 3 previous owners.
A minister raised his family in it, there are names of the kids and their heights on an interior closet door. They lived here for 30 some years.
the next owners painted the house Pepto Bismol pink! with dark green shutters.
when I asked my next door neighbor, who has lived here since the homes were built, how the house came to be painted pink, she said they were from Fla. and wanted Fla. colors. She said the house used to be grey, but when she came home after a brief trip, it was deep pink. Poor thing had to see that house every day, from her kitchen window and her deck.

She's pretty happy that we painted the house a nice calm light grey with white shutters.

The 3rd owner only lived here about 10 years, she died, the son sold the pink house to us,

I met the woman who used to care for the first owners kids and house during the day, for years.
She now does light house work a couple of times a month for the neighbor.
I am going to ask her if she would like to see the house now, because of her attachment to it. I think she will want to.

[Phentex]

141. It probably does...

this house was so yellow when we moved in, we had people tell us they would never have even looked it when it was for sale. And for a while we were known as the people in the yellow house. I don't think they make paint that color anymore.

The interior was all pastel colors. But no wallpaper which was very different for the time period.

[Harker]

61. Yes.

I have always been grateful to Chief Crystal Lake, as I knew him, for allowing my mother and I to revisit my childhood home in Illinois. My uncle built the place, and I was delighted to be invited in and allowed to see his family photos and personal belongings and decorations. Lots of nice rugs overlaying the original carpet, as I recall. He'd also had a crane drop a huge, jagged boulder from a considerable height into the center of the yard so as to let it find its own position.

He was a warm, gentle old man then, and it's been 40 years since that day.

My sweetie and I are just the third owners of a hundred year old house in western PA now. If anyone who has ever lived here wants in, they'd be most welcome.

[Brother Buzz]

62. If this dude dropped by and he had lived there fifty years ago - absolutely!!!!

>>>>7:40<<<<<

[Phentex]

144. OMG!

I've been posting all morning so I don't have time to watch the whole thing but I will. How fun.

True story. Oprah was filming nearby and I had fears that she would just drop by my house and I'd have to tell her I could not let her in.

[mnhtnbb]

63. My oldest son did this at two houses

where he grew up in Missouri and Nebraska. The woman let him in the Lincoln, Nebraska house. He said his room was much smaller than he remembered it. At the St Joseph, Missouri house a baby sitter answered the door and declined to let him in. Can't blame her.

He did get a kick out of visiting the houses where he lived from age 2-14. He was 30 when he asked to see the houses.

[Phentex]

145. I remember visiting my aunt's house

as an adult and thinking how small it seemed. Now, compared to some of the places I had lived, it wasn't that small but in my childhood mind, it had seemed huge.

[Luciferous]

64. Depends on the situation. The house we just bought, yes because we met

the previous owner at the closing. He is an older man who lived here for decades with his wife, who passed away a few years ago. He got pretty choked up at the closing and we promised we would take good care of his house. I could see him maybe coming back to see the house. Other houses I've owned, probably not.

[Phentex]

146. I could see that...

I've never built a house but I would imagine you get very attached.

[whistler162]

65. 20 years ago I would scratch my

head and wonder who they are. Since my family has lived here since '68. Now a family member, daughter, of the people who owned the house before my parents did stop by to see the next door neighbor, family was first owner and he bought it from the estate. She asked to see the inside of the house and was shown it.

My mom did knock on the door of the house her grandparents owned and IIRC did see inside.

[Phentex]

147. the more I read...

the more I think this may not be such a strange request. But I still don't feel comfortable with it.

[jalan48]

66. Yes, I did this a few years ago for a woman who said she grew up in the house.

[Phentex]

148. basically same response as above...

I think this is just part of my own issues.

[jalan48]

174. She was elderly and it had been over 50 years so maybe a bit different.

[Tikki]

67. They have stopped by a couple times. Years apart. Sisters who lived in our back house...

with their grandmother who rented the place some years before we bought the property.

Their parents were divorcing at the time and they spent a lot of time in the little house
with their grandmother.

We could tell by how they talked that they were revisiting a time in their life.


The Tikkis
ps neither of them live anywhere near here now.

[Phentex]

149. Maybe that's what he's up to...

hard to say without having met him.

[Fla Dem]

68. Sure if they seem like ok people.

I'd just keep an eye on them. Who knows. They may have had a secret hiding place in the house and they are trying to retrieve something valuable.

[Phentex]

150. We found an old Coke bottle in the walls...

but that would have been from before he lived here.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

69. I'd have to ask them a question, ...

... like, was that you that painted over the stained and varnished wood trim? I wanna meet that moran.

[Phentex]

151. HA!

There was a lovely wagon wheel light fixture in the dining room. Coulda been before him though.

[Iggo]

70. Not sure how I answered 10 years ago, but today I'd say No. (n/t)

[Phentex]

152. that's how I'm leaning...

but I have enjoyed all the viewpoints from others.

[DBoon]

79. maybe

depending on whether the house was presentable

We met the prior owner of our house, so this would not be a total stranger to us. We ended up inheriting his dog when we moved in.

[Phentex]

153. Presentable is relative...

There's nothing filthy. But there's clutter like my sewing stuff covering the dining room table. And my son's crap that he just brought home from his apartment that has yet to be dealt with. And my bras hanging in MY bathroom that only *I* use. A boatload of dog towels that I'm washing in the laundry room.

It's lived in.

[DBoon]

161. in my house, it is presentable when my wife says so

nothing relative about that

[Phentex]

163. Ha!

I love that.

[Freddie]

83. If you're curious about your old house

Plug the address in Zillow. If it was listed anytime in the past few years the pics will still be there, most likely including the interior. That's how I found out that one of our former houses was turned from a modest little rancher to a huge breathtaking showplace. We sold it to a contractor in 1998 for 110k and he's asking 450k (!) for it now. Since the rest of the neighborhood is still modest ranchers, he's way overpriced IMO.

[Phentex]

155. My sister said the owner of our last childhood home just died...

of cancer. I never knew them. I looked at google satellite about a year ago and saw that the road had been paved (it was dirt when I lived there). It even has a different address now. I'm not sure how that works but the numbers changed.

[ooky]

85. Yes, if that someone could prove to me that someone had actually lived there.

I would step outside on my porch and as, him what he remembered about the house, and chat for a few minutes. If I was convinced, yeah, I would say to come on in.

[Phentex]

156. I don't have any doubt he lived here...

the family kept in touch with the nosy neighbor. I question how much the nosy neighbor knows about him since he was just a kid when he lived here but must be in his 30's by now.

[TubbersUK]

91. It happened to me and I let them in (same person twice) n/t

[Phentex]

157. Twice even?

Why would they need to see it twice?

[TubbersUK]

170. It seemed to be an emotional thing for him

He was the adult son of the recently deceased, previous owners and was slightly drunk when he turned up a few months after we moved in - he seemed to be grieving and we hadn't the heart to turn him away.

The second time was 20 years later and was a much happier affair - he was pleasantly nostalgic about his childhood in the house and shared a lot of interesting information about its history.

On balance, I'm glad we let him in.

[The Genealogist]

99. I've visited z couple of ho,es with significance to me

One was a house my grandparents lived it in the late 50s and early 60s. It was practically right behind the house I was renting at the time. It was for sale and the realtor was delighted to see my old pics of the house. By that time, the home was a rental and looked run down. Fun to be in my grandparents old house just the same. The other was when I visited a home I rented and loved. It was for ent at the time. Good vibes in that place. My half sister visited my other grandparents home once or twice after it had passed out of the family. I'd never go to someone's house and just ask for a tour but would go if it was for sale and an open house.

[Phentex]

159. For people with good memories...

sounds like fun.

[Renew Deal]

107. Say no

Nothing good can come of it.

[Phentex]

160. the correct answer is...

I know, right?!

[hunter]

126. All the houses I grew up in have been radically "modernized" by dull people with too much money.

Beautiful trees cut down, gardens and fruit trees ripped out for swimming pools and pool houses and water wasting lawns, second stories added, and on one house a huge wall and motorized gate.

Driving by there is no way in hell I'd want to meet any of these assholes.

[Phentex]

162. I'm pretty sure that's what will happen to this house...

it's only valuable now because of the location and the large lot. And from the things that are going in now, there won't be a tree left that isn't a Japanese maple or crepe myrtle. There is one house in the neighborhood with a motorized gate to nowhere. It only goes across the driveway but is not fenced in on any side. Just keeping people off the driveway?

[Rorey]

143. I think it's a mistake for them to ask

And usually not a good idea to allow it.

We've bought old, run down houses and renovated them to use as rentals. Several times people have stopped by during renovation and asked to check out the house. One time a lady literally burst into tears. Usually the people will compliment the work, but it's kind of a sad thing to see work done that they had never been able to do themselves.

Also, houses are filled with good memories (hopefully), and also sad memories. I don't think they necessarily offset each other. My husband and I were in the neighborhood where I had rented a house for 17 years. It was a house that my kids grew up in. The woman who bought it after we moved out had done a beautiful renovation, and she invited us to tour it. (We didn't ask.) It was a very sad visit for me. My previous husband had died during the time we lived in that house, so there were lots of memories.

My brother still owns the house where we grew up. It's out in the middle of nowhere. He uses it as sort of a vacation home. The property was once an active small farm, and now all that remains of the buildings that were there is the house. I haven't been there in a six years, and have no intention of ever visiting again. I don't like the feelings I have when I'm there.

[Phentex]

164. Certainly a mixed bag of feelings...

My bad memories are just too strong at this point.

[mahina]

154. Nope

Nope nope nope.

Walking down the street is enough memory lane. Measure upsides (all theirs) and potential downsides (all yours).

But that’s just me.

[Phentex]

165. I feel like it's me too...

My dogs are wrestling right now. It would scare most people but I know they are just playing. They sound ferocious.

[mahina]

171. Right? What's the worst that could happen? Is it compensated by the possible best outcome?

Risk is all yours. Of course I don’t give a rats if anybody likes me or not so it’s easy for me to say, plus I’m not there. But have been in the situation and said the same.

Loving the dogs.

[randr]

158. I have met some very interesting people that way

[Phentex]

166. If there was some sort of history...

I could see that. The fact that he is visiting the nosy neighbor tells me I don't really want to know him.

[Turbineguy]

167. A few years ago I drove by a house I'd lived in

when I was a child. It might be called, "the House of Pain". I would not want to burden the current occupants with that.

[Iggo]

168. I do go by the old house every now and again...

...just to show the kids where I was a kid.

It ain't that far and it's no big deal.

But I'd never even think of asking the current residents if I could go inside.

[lamsmy]

169. Wow - There is no trust left in America.

Why not? I don't get it. Unless its a bunch of shifty looking guys asking then why not? I don't get it.

Happened to me here in Kenya. Fellow was visiting from UK and wanted to see the house he had grown up in. It was fascinating. Our house was one of the original colonial homes in Nairobi and we learned all sorts of delicious gossip from the past.

Our homes hold special places in our hearts. I would hate to think that anyone would wouldn't be allowed to revisit it just once.

[kimbutgar]

173. The guy who we brought our house from was really nice to us

Left his satellite dish, washer and dryer, refrigerator, and his lawn mower. And then mailed me the instruction manuals for those appliances. If he rang my door bell I’d definitely let him in.

[TygrBright]

176. Heck no. Our house was built in 2004.

Anyone claiming they lived here "20 years ago" would be running a scam.

I'd probably call the cops after I sent them away, too.

cautiously,
Bright

[dem4decades]

177. That happened to me. A woman, she told me

Her name , and I recognized that her father owned our house for years. In fact some of my older neighbors would tell me of his gardens and how he kept beer in the well.

She told us stories of how her and her brother played in the house and thanked me.

All in all a wonderful guest and a good day.

[dameatball]

178. No. I barely have time for all the Jehovah's Witnesses dropping by.