@Allison23
Yeah Allison I can understand you feel violated, it is your home but, as you were not there, you don’t know the circumstances! It may be that, after knocking, with no answer they decided to try the door to attract someone’s attention, found it open and took the opportunity to pop their bags inside. After all they would not have regarded themselves as complete strangers to you, From their perspective, they had paid to be there and were expected during that day. Although they took something of a ‘liberty’ doing what they did, I wouldn’t read anything too sinister into their actions Allison.
I would be more concerned as to why the door was unlocked and open to the ‘public’ in the first place!! You are inviting people you don’t know into your house and, like a hotel, you need a door that shuts and locks every time someone passes through it! After all you have far more valuable things in your house than would be found in a standard hotel room!
When you host Allison, your property (to a certain extent) becomes public, and you have to make allowances for that, and having a front door that can’t remain unlocked is one of the trade-offs you will have to make.
If you are doing any reasonable amount of hosting and spend a considerable time away from the property, it may be advisable to put in a ‘smart lock’ so that the door always shuts and locks itself. These locks are not expensive. Or alternatively, in place of the existing lock, just install a key operated standard deadlock! Our cottage requires a key to be inserted to open the door and that works ok. The ‘knob’ is like a large brass wardrobe knob and is simply to pull the door shut and does not perform any security function. This arrangement cost a minimal amount of money to install and guarantees the situation you have just experienced cannot happen!!
Good luck with these guests Allison, I hope they turn out to be a pleasure to host…..just like most guests….cheers…..Rob