Communicating Openly with Your Neighbors
Posted on January 22, 2021 9:00 AM by Admin
Getting along well with your neighbors makes your community a happier and safer place to live. The key to being a good neighbor is clear and consistent communication. Introduce yourself to your neighbors and then stay in contact over time. Be courteous on noise levels and keep your yard well-maintained. If you want to go above and beyond, you could even participate in a neighborhood association or watch.
Introduce yourself. If you’ve recently moved in, go over to your neighbors and say “hello.” If you’ve lived in an area for a while, then take the initiative and reach out to new arrivals yourself. As part of welcoming someone to the area, feel free to offer them a small moving in gift. A welcoming gift can be anything from a friendly card to a basket filled with local foods or produce.
For a more informal approach, say hi to your neighbors when they (or you) are outside walking their dog or working on their lawn.
When you first meet your neighbor you might say, “Hi! I’m Fred Thompson. I live 2 doors down from you and just wanted to come over and welcome you to the neighborhood.”
You can also give you neighbor any friendly local tips, such as what time the garbage or mailman stops by.
What can I do when there is a problem?
Stay calm when talking with your neighbor. If your neighbor comes to you with a concern or problem, it’s important to respond calmly and rationally. If you start to get frustrated, take a few deep breaths before answering. You can also ask to postpone the conversation until you have a bit of time to think.
For example, to give yourself a few days to think everything over, you might say, “I understand where you are coming from, but I need to consider how to fix it on my end. Can we talk about this over the weekend again?”
Deal with any problems face to face. If you have any issue that involves your neighbor, it’s important to act fast. Go to them directly and tell them what is going on. Ask for their help in finding a solution that will work for both of you. Giving your neighbor a chance to come up with a solution is better than immediately reaching out to local authorities.
This doesn’t necessarily apply if you feel as if the safety of you, your family, or the neighborhood is at stake. In those situations, you might want to reach out to local officials for assistance.
Avoid gossiping about any issues with your neighbor to other neighbors or people in the community. This only creates additional problems.
