I just read Bridget Fredericks blog Safety? or Stupidity?.  My comment started to become way too long, so I decided to write a blog on it instead.  If you haven't read her post yet, please read hers before continuing here.

I had a similar experience to Bridget's a few months back.  I was showing a new client a vacant home, and I of course left the front door open because it was a beautiful day and it was warmer outside than inside.  It was also the first time that I was meeting him, and though I knew he was married, his wife was not going to be at the showing and Jim wasn't either.  So it was kind of like my escape route.

He spent almost an hour going through the home over and over again, which didn't bother me at all because I wanted him to gather all the information he wanted about the house, and neither of us was in a rush.  About 2 minutes into the showing, a couple walked into the house while we were in the back and started looking around.  I came into sight and asked if I could help them.  They assumed that it was an open house (5pm on a Thursday evening) and just wanted to stop by and check it out.  It took several minutes of explaining to them that I was not the listing agent but that I was showing one of my clients the home.  I didn't show them the door, but instead let them continue to look around while I stayed close to my client.  They spent about 10 minutes in the house, and then left.  I felt much better.

Another few minutes go by and another man walks into the house saying "Hello?"  We're still in the back of the house, so I move towards the front to see who is now in the house with us.  This man claims to be the next door neighbor and he just wanted to take a look around because he had helped the seller renovate the home and wanted to see the finished product.  My first though was that he should have already seen the finished product if he helped with it, but I held that one back.  I explained that I was showing the home to a client, and that he could look around for a few minutes, but that he really needed to contact the listing agent to see much more.  He understood and left a few minutes later.  After he left, I SHUT AND LOCKED THE FRONT DOOR.

I've never had anyone just walk into a home that I was showing like that, so I was really surprised when it happened, not only once, but twice in the same showing.  My client was very laid back and didn't really seem to mind, but I was really glad to have a guy there and not another female. 

It just goes to show that you have to watch out for yourself at all times!  No matter how nice the day is, shut and lock the front door behind you!