Hi diddly-ho, neighbors! Let us ask the question together, what does it mean to be a good neighbor? This can be tricky, because neighbor etiquette varies within different communities and cities. Some people also seem to think “neighbor” means “friend”, and this is not always the case. You don’t have to be best friends with your neighbors, but consider the impact just one person has on a community. The people that live in a city shape the atmosphere and character of the place. One small gesture begets another, and it sure is nice to know that you have some people to rely on if you ever need a hand.
Step 1 – Always be Respectful and Friendly
When we get right down to it, the simplest way to be a good neighbor is to be mindful of others. This takes barely any effort, so even if you don’t go out of your way, by simply respecting others and their property you’ll be a good neighbor by default. Consider other people’s quality of life before walking around your third-floor apartment in heels at 2 am. Keep the volume down in the evening. Don’t toss trash over the fence into the backyard next to yours. Always bring a pooper-scooper when you walk your dog. Simple things like this go a long way towards maintaining good neighborly relationships. And don’t forget to smile. If your neighbor has kids, don’t forget to ask about them—it never gets old. It will be easier for you to be comfortable being friendly with your new neighbors from the get-go if you research the area you are moving to—where are the places to go, how do you get around, etc. Asking some of these sorts of questions can be a great way to strike up conversations with neighbors, but you’ll be embarrassed if you come off as too “green,” so its best to be a little prepared with some research first. And don’t forget about the power of hot topics. If you moved to Mississauga, for instance, and you have a chatty neighbor with a teen you don’t know what to say to, remember my advice about talking about kids and ask them what they think about the recent talk about changing the legal driving age to 19. If you haven’t moved yet, keep in mind it doesn’t hurt to get some last minute scoops about recent activity in the area from your movers in Mississauga. But you’ll feel more prepared if you research plenty before you move; government sites, local papers, local blogs. Being prepared will make your move less stressful and more exciting.
Step 2 – Help Out When You Can
If you’ve got the respectful part down pat, the next step is to show you’re willing to give your neighbors a hand. When they’ve just arrived, the truck and movers Mississauga bound, introduce yourself. Shake hands with your weary neighbors. Offer to pick up a box and help out. I’m not asking you to invite them over for Thanksgiving dinner, but small gestures are always appreciated. If you’re raking your lawn, rake theirs. If you see them struggling with groceries, offer your services. And this one’s important: if you share a backyard, consult with them before putting up a new fence or cutting down a tree.
Step 3 – Shaping Your Community
If steps 1 & 2 are considered more or less compulsory in being a good neighbor, consider number 3 optional but strongly suggested. This is for the person who wants to not only be helpful and respectful, but who wants to make a real contribution to their community. One of the best ways that neighbors can benefit one another is simply by trading useful information about the area. For example, if you live in or have just moved to Toronto, where moving scams are a hot topic, you can break the ice with your neighbors by recommending Toronto moving companies you had a positive experience with, and asking how their experience has been with finding Toronto movers in the past. You can offer to trade services with neighbors in a way that suits everyone’s schedule, like walking the Jones’ dog twice a week in return for Mrs. Jones’ fantastic lasagna.
Everyone wants to live in a beautiful, vibrant community. We should all remember that it’s the people who live there that mold the community into something beautiful. If you don’t want to be a standout member of your community, that’s fine by us, but at the very least be respectful and try to help out. And whatever you do, don’t be Cosmo Kramer.
