How to Be a Good Neighbor
If you want the neighborhood you live in to be great, then you have to know how to be a good neighbor. There are many ways to be a good neighbor and here are some ideas that you can use to show those in your community that you are a good neighbor.
Share important information
Letting new neighbors know of great housekeepers, handymen, dry cleaners, dog walkers, lawn-mowing services, etc., is a great way to welcome them to your neighborhood. You can also make some recommendations of your favorite local restaurants, stores, pharmacies, etc.
Don’t gossip
If your neighbor is always telling you the local dirt on everyone, chances are they’re keeping tabs on you as well. When it comes to gossip, there is ‘good’ gossip and ‘bad’ gossip. If a neighbor’s family member passes away, talking with other neighbors about it so they can offer their condolences is good gossip. However, you shouldn’t be spreading negative rumors around the community.
Take care of your pets
Clean up after your four-legged friend. Don’t deposit your dogs poo bag in a neighbor’s trash can. Keep your pets in your yard and don’t let them run wild throughout the neighborhood.
Maintain your curb appeal
Even just one house without upkeep can reduce the property value for the entire neighborhood. The last thing you want is to be the owner of the house with knee-high grass, gutters that are overflowing, filthy windows, peeling paint or toys strewn all over the yard. You should make sure you clean up your yard as often as possible.
When hosting parties, be considerate
Keep the music at a reasonable level when having people over. Something that is easily overlooked is monitoring where your guests are parking. You don’t want your neighbor’s driveway to be blocked and you definitely don’t want your guests’ cars taking up the entire block. If a neighbor comes over and asks you to quiet down, be friendly and apologize to them. Then make sure to actually quiet down.
Abide by community rules
There are community rules you are required to follow if you live in a homeowners or condo association. Often, people don’t spend the time to read through these rules and end up violating items such as parking restrictions, trash and recycling schedules, landscaping requirements, move-in procedures, to name a few. Breaking these rules may not only result in a fine, but you could potentially upset your neighbors. You should also check your city’s local ordinances, regarding noise in particular. For example, Minneapolis prohibits shouting and other loud noises from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Share your phone number
Knowing the best way to keep in contact with your neighbor is always a good idea, considering how important technology is these days. For instance, what if a neighbor’s package gets delivered to you by mistake? What if you’re on vacation and your house starts on fire? To be safe, just jot down your name, phone number and email address and give it to your neighbor the next time you see them.
Invite your neighbors over
This is a great way to get to know the people in your neighborhood. If you just moved into your home, instead of just inviting your friends over for a housewarming party, add your new neighbors to your guest list! If you choose to invite neighbors, make sure you let people know you aren’t accepting gifts and that it is simply a social event.
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