How to be a Good Neighbour
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January 29, 2021
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February 12, 2021
How to be a Good Neighbour
If you read our last blog post, 5 Signs it Might be Time to Sell, you know that bad neighbours are one of the top reasons why people want to move. However, having great neighbours can be a huge reason why you would want to stay where you are. Hitting it off with the people you live near can have huge benefits and sometimes these people can turn into your lifelong friends. You want to make sure that you not only have great neighbours living near you, but that you are also a great neighbour yourself. If you aren’t really sure what you can do to get your neighbours to like you, read on for these 5 tips on how to be a good neighbour!
Introduce Yourself & Say Hello
This seems like such an obvious thing to do, but not everyone takes the time to do it. Some people like to keep to themselves and don’t enjoy socializing, and that’s okay! But if you have the chance, you should at least introduce yourself to your neighbours. If you don’t want to go over to their house for dinner, that is no problem! But, be sure to wave and say “Hello” to them when you walk by. You may even brighten their day with a smile and a wave. The smallest human interactions can have such large impacts on people’s mental health. On the flip side, you may have a miserable neighbour who doesn’t want to speak to you. Try not to annoy these people by trying to make them like you, just let those ones be.
Be Respectful
Every other tip in this article revolves around this one. First and foremost, being respectful to your neighbours will automatically make you a good neighbour. There are so many ways you can be respectful, but the biggest one is when it comes to making noise. Show your respect by turning your loud music down at night or mowing your lawn later in the morning. Everybody has different sleep schedules and you don’t want to interrupt. Another way to be respectful is to keep the peace between yourself and your neighbours. If a conflict does arise, be polite and kind about it. Don’t go around gossiping to other neighbours. Make sure that if there is a problem with 1 specific person, to handle it with that person and be mature about it.
Keep Your Yard Presentable
A rule of thumb is to mow your lawn once per week during growing season. Your grass is more likely to grow faster in the spring when the temperatures are warming up and there is lots of rain. Be sure to keep your grass a reasonable length and your lawn looking presentable. This does not mean you need to go overboard with gardening and create the most unbelievable lush flowerbeds (unless this is your thing, then go right ahead!). Just make sure your lawn looks presentable. This means removing things like bicycles, toys, garbage, debris, or anything else that might be unsightly. It is your property and you are free to decorate it however you would like. However, if you want your neighbours to like you, it may be a good idea to try and keep things looking presentable.
Give Holiday Cards or Baked Goods
Not everyone is an expert baker, or celebrates Christmas. If you don’t have baking skills or celebrate, you don’t need to learn how to bake cookies just to be a good neighbour. Giving around the holidays (or whenever, really!) is just a nice thing to do. Even if it is just a box of chocolates or a card, a little goes a long way in a neighbourhood. You don’t need to expect anything in return, but it will feel good to give a gift of some sort. It may seem cliche, but when a new person moves onto your street, it may actually be a nice thing to go and bring them muffins or chocolates, maybe even a bottle of wine! Remember to keep it simple if you do bake for people, try not to use high allergen risk ingredients such as peanuts. If you really want your neighbours to like you, giving them a gift is an easy way to do it!
Be Mindful of Your Pet
If you have a dog or a cat who may do their business in your neighbour’s yard, make sure you clean it up. There is nothing worse than stepping in something you don’t want to step in… especially when it’s not from your own pet! If your cat is an outdoor cat, it is best to keep it in your fenced in yard so it isn’t bothering your neighbours. If your dog likes to bark outside late at night, it might be a good idea to bring him in. Just because you love your pet with all your heart, it does not mean your neighbours do. Make sure that Fluffy & Fido aren’t do anything that might upset your relationship with the people around you.
In conclusion, you really don’t need to do a whole lot to be a good neighbour! Just be respectful and keep things tidy. This should do the trick! Remember to be kind to people and say “Hello” when you see them out walking or at the store. You never know, you might even end up having something in common! Neighbours can become your greatest friends and you don’t even need to get in your car to go and visit them!
If there isn’t anything that can be done to win your neighbour’s hearts, remember to just leave them be.
You never know what might be going on in their personal life.
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