When you see that “For Sale” sign pop up in the yard across the street, there are mixed emotions. You might be sad to see someone go or excited for someone new to move in. But there’s always a little tinge of worry.

You might watch from the window as people come to look at the house. Taking note of their cars, their clothes, and their family, you worry if they’ll end up being a good neighbor. It’s a fair worry with all the ways a new neighbor can disrupt a neighborhood.

Top 9 Good Neighbor Tips

With all the worry of new people moving in, have you ever thought, “Am I a good neighbor?” It might be worth using these 9 tips to ensure you’re bringing peace to the neighborhood as well.

1. Noise Etiquette

This might be one of the most common complaints. Excess noise is definitely one way you’re going to turn off your neighbors. No one would expect their neighbors to be silent, but there is some etiquette for noise.

Most of it depends on where you live. An apartment with young twenty-sometimes will definitely have more noise than a tree-lined street of young families. It’s important to take that into consideration when determining an acceptable noise level.

But wherever you live, there is a universal noise etiquette rule. Avoid unnecessary noise of any kind or from any source from 9 pm to 9 am.

2. Embrace Curb Appeal

An unsightly space is often the mark of a bad neighbor. Maintaining the exterior of your home is the neighborly thing to do. If all the homes on the street have manicured lawns, it might be worth mowing your grass and planting some flowers.

In an apartment, you want to keep the space outside your door clean. That means not leaving trash outside the door, bringing bicycles or skateboards inside, and not leaving shoes in the hallway.

Taking care of exterior and shared spaces ensures that the value of the neighborhood remains high.

3. Have Good Guests

Guests are tricky because even though they don’t live there, the homeowner is still responsible for them. That’s not a reason to never have guests over, but be sure they don’t intrude or impose themselves on your neighbors.

Try to have late-night gatherings only occasionally because one every single weekend is inconsiderate to those living around you. Try to keep the noise at an acceptable level. And if it’s going to be a large party, invite your neighbors.

Make sure your guests park in your driveway, in front of your house, or in guest spots. You wouldn’t want to block your neighbor from going out or coming home.

4. Introduce Yourself

Be friendly from the start and introduce yourself. Meeting new neighbors will not only make them feel welcome but also set the foundation for a good neighbor relationship.

Giving the new neighbor your phone number, bringing over treats, or offering to watch any children while the furniture is unloaded are all efforts of goodwill. This kind of effort early on will create an inviting neighborhood and better relations.

5. Keep Clean

A clean home is a happy home and a happy neighborhood. Keeping your space clean is a benefit for everyone.

Don’t overload your trash cans as that can attract unwanted critters. Try not to put the trash out days before trash day and take the can back once the trash has been picked up.

If you have pets, be mindful of their poop. Don’t take them on a walk only to leave a mess in a neighbors yard. Pick up after your pets every time.

6. Be Active in Neighborhood Affairs

This doesn’t mean be a gossip. No one wants a neighbor in their personal business or to spread that business around the neighborhood. Be active by attending neighborhood meetings and events.

You only have to volunteer as much time as you want, but it’s worth it to active and involved. Attend neighborhood meetings with representatives every once in a while. Or stop by a neighborhood garage sale.

Being involved can make you more connected with the neighborhood.

7. Resolve In-Person

If there are disputes, it’s best to solve them in person. A face to face meeting usually goes over much easier than any other method. Being passive-aggressive only makes the issue worse because nothing gets solved, and relationships get strained.

Instead of ranting in a Facebook group or leaving little notes, it’ll be better to sit down and work things out. If a face to face conversation doesn’t seem like a viable plan, a posted letter or a meeting with mediators may help settle the differences.

8. Be Generous

Every once in awhile, it may be nice to be generous and do something for your neighbor. Shovel out their driveway after a heavy snow or offer to mow their lawn. Compliment them on some work they did on their home.

Thank your neighbor for picking your packages by bringing them cookies and offering to do the same. A good neighbor goes out of their way to say and do something nice.

9. Neighborhood Watch

It’s nice for neighbors to look out for each other and their property. If your neighbors have gone out of town, it’s nice just to keep an eye on things while they’re gone. Collect packages from their porch or watch for anything suspicious.

Of course, you don’t want to take it too far and call the cops on their cousin who’s dog watching. But taking the step to look out for the home around you will make you a great neighbor.

Being a Good Neighbor is Good for Everyone

The perfect house can suddenly become less than ideal when you have bad neighbors. It’s a worry for both new people moving in and current neighbors. No one wants their home life to be stressful from exterior sources.

As much as you may worry about the new people across the street, you don’t want to be the bad neighbor for them. Being a good neighbor is just means being considerate.

You can still do what you want to do with and inside your home. But if everyone kept their neighbors in mind, the neighborhood will be great for everyone.

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