I opened the door. Standing there was a large, middle-aged man I had never seen before. Keeping the door only slightly cracked, I asked how I could help him.

“I’m here to fix your hot tub,” he replied.

I had no idea the hot tub needed fixing. To be honest, I rarely use it. Swimming in my own swill, let alone someone else’s, is not my idea of a good time. Still, I assumed my husband must have scheduled an appointment and forgotten to mention it to me. Even so, something didn’t feel right. It was after 7 p.m., and I found myself wondering what kind of hot tub repairman made house calls that late in the evening.

I wasn’t comfortable inviting him inside, so I told him he could go through the gate and access the hot tub in the backyard. I also warned him to be careful of our big white dog because she was very protective. That part wasn’t exactly true. Our more than friendly 4-year-old Husky would happily welcome anyone into the yard and likely give them a tour. But the stranger didn’t need to know that.

I watched him from inside as he walked around back and began working on the hot tub. He appeared legitimate, but my instincts still wouldn’t let me relax. I locked every door in the house, retrieved a baseball bat from the closet and tucked it beneath a blanket in the living room — just in case. I sat on the couch, hand on the hidden bat, and waited. A few minutes later, I heard his voice. It sounded like it was coming from right inside the kitchen door. I leaned back to look, and he was literally in a crouched position talking to me through the doggy door he had propped open. He asked if I could come outside to see what was wrong with the hot tub.

“I want to show you what I found,” he said. I peeked through the door and told him I trusted his judgment and asked him how much I owed him. He gave me the amount, and I told him I would be right back with a check. Yes, a check. That’s how he wanted to be paid.

I went into my office, wrote the check and returned to the living room. When I came back, he was standing inside my house. My heart nearly stopped. I hadn’t invited him in. I hadn’t opened the door for him. Yet there he was, standing in my living room. At that moment, I realized just how many mistakes I had made in a very short period of time. Honestly, it was a master class in what not to do.

Looking back, I can identify at least half a dozen safety mistakes — mistakes that many homeowners make every day without thinking about them. As real estate professionals, we spend a lot of time talking about protecting our homes as investments, but we don’t always talk about protecting ourselves inside those homes.

Tip No. 1: Stop opening the door every time someone knocks. As a Realtor, I have the distinct habit of answering the phone every time it rings and that has clearly transferred over to opening the door for every knock. Unless company is expected or Ed McMahon has reincarnated with a Publisher’s Clearing House check, you are under no obligation to open the door. A closed door is a boundary. It’s not a crime.

Tip No. 2: Verify before you trust. Just because someone says they’re there to fix something doesn’t mean they’re actually there to fix something. Before allowing a contractor, repair person or service technician onto your property, verify the appointment.

Tip No. 3: Trust your gut. One of the biggest lessons I learned is that our instincts often recognize danger before our brains catch up. I knew something felt off. The late hour bothered me. The unexpected visit bothered me. Yet I kept explaining away those concerns. If something feels wrong, pause. Ask questions. Take your time. The inconvenience of caution is far preferable to the consequences of regret.

Tip No. 4: Lock the door and leave it locked. A surprising number of home invasions and thefts occur because someone found an unlocked door and simply walked in.

Tip No. 5: Technology is our friend. Nearly everyone has video doorbells, security cameras, smart locks and motion-activated lighting. Technology can save lives, as well as the contents of your home. As a Realtor, I’ve seen buyers get excited about granite countertops, walk-in closets and oversized garages. Those are wonderful features. Personally, I’d argue that knowing who’s standing on your porch at 9 p.m. is every bit as valuable as a double oven.

Tip No. 6: Don’t worry about being polite. This may be the hardest lesson for many people. We are taught to be polite from a very young age. But your safety is more important than someone else’s opinion of you. You don’t owe a stranger access to your home.

And if you happen to own a large dog, that’s great. If you happen to own a Husky like mine, who will happily help a burglar carry the television to the car, you may need a backup plan.

Jen Fischer is an associate broker and Realtor. She can be reached at 801-645-2134 or jen@jen-fischer.com