Everyone knows that one of the most important factors in shaping a rental experience is the actual physical home itself. However, what many people don’t realize before they move into a new rental home is that neighbors can be just as important and influential to the living experience.
One of the keys to having a good experience with your neighbors is to be a good neighbor yourself. Want to know more about how to get along and befriend the people around you? Check out these six tips. They can help you be sure that you’re not only respected by the people who live nearby but are also looked after by them, too.
1. Communicate
One of the keys to any relationship—but particularly the neighborly kind—is communication. It’s tempting to leave your neighbor be and stick to yourself, but if you want to be a good neighbor, it’s important to communicate from the get-go.
Introduce yourself after you move in, then continue to say “hello” when you run into one another. Some other important things to communicate about are problems with the building, times you’ll be away from your home, or any other problems you might have with them.
By communicating with neighbors, you not only show them that you are a nice person who can be trusted, but you also create an ally in your living space. Maybe you’ll even make a new friend.
2. Be Social
Another great way to establish communication (and also establish yourself as a friendly person) is to be a social person. Organize a potluck or picnic for everyone that lives in your building or neighborhood. Show your neighbors that not only do you want to know them, but you also want them to know each other and are interested in fostering a community where you live.
3. Be on the Lookout
One of the best parts about a neighbor is that they can be around your home to help you out when needed, so you should be there for your neighbor, too. Always keep watch and be protective of your neighbors’ homes, as well as your own.
This means that should something bad happen, you’ll be able to stop it or fix it so they won’t have to. Showing that you care about their space as well as yours is an excellent way to endear yourself to neighbors and to ensure you have someone looking out for your place and belongings as well.
4. Be Respectful
Everyone wants to live their own life, but it’s important to be respectful of other peoples’ time and space, particularly when you’re sharing a living area like an apartment complex. That means don’t have loud parties late at night and warn people who will be affected by noise from your home if you are planning to have a loud gathering.
Also, being respectful entails being mindful of shared walls, keeping your outdoor/shared space clean, and not using your space for anything dangerous or unpleasant.
5. Do Favors
It doesn’t have to be an everyday thing, but every once in a while you should do a generous favor for your neighbor. Putting out a little energy to do something nice will show that you’re a generous and considerate person, and it may end up in favors being done for you.
6. Train Your Pets
Pets can be great additions to life, but they can also be a nuisance to other people. So, for your neighbors’ sake, train your dog. Your pets shouldn’t be noisy, and they should know only to go to the bathroom in designated spots. This is a good way to ensure your neighbor loves your pet and doesn’t resent him.
Have you had any experience with great neighbors? Let us know what made them so great! Share your experiences in the comments below, or tweet @ApartmentGuide.