How well do you know the people who live in the homes next to you? If you’re like most Americans, you probably don’t do much interacting with your neighbors on a regular basis. In fact, only 20% of Americans claim to spend time with their neighbors regularly. A startling one-third of Americans have never interacted with their neighbors at all.
This is a big change from a few decades ago. In the past, Americans placed a lot of emphasis on getting to know their neighbors. There were community groups, events, and parties to bring people together. Now, many homeowners are more isolated than ever before.
Is it worth taking the time to get to know your neighbors today? Believe it or not, there are more advantages to knowing your neighbors than simply having someone to ask for a cup of sugar when you run out. Here’s why you should befriend your new neighbors when you move into a new home.
1. Safety and Security
The biggest reason to introduce yourself to your neighbors is for security. There’s safety in numbers. When you know your neighbors, you get to know what’s normal for them and they learn the same for you. That means if there’s any unusual activity, you’ll be more likely to recognize it.
Crime is a big factor when choosing the right neighborhood, but don’t make the mistake of thinking your neighborhood is immune from any criminal threat. Introducing yourself to your neighbors and being friendly with them helps you keep more eyes watching your property even when you’re not around.
2. You Can Get Involved with the Community
Moving to a new place can be hard, especially if you’re particularly far from your original home. Connecting the new community isn’t always easy. Getting to know your neighbors is the best way to meet people and learn about local activities and events.
In fact, one of the best ways to meet local neighbors is by attending events. If your community hosts parties or get-togethers, stopping by is the best way to meet new people with similar interests.
3. Manage Conflicting Neighbors
We’ve all experienced neighborly conflicts in our lives. Whether it’s a loud partier next door or the couple with young kids across the street, the wrong neighbors can be disastrous when you move to a new home.
How do you manage these conflicts in a healthy, constructive way? By actually knowing your neighbors. If you don’t know your neighbors, these conversations about conflicts are often full of tense statements and arguments. That’s never fun, and it can spoil a good neighborhood. As long as you have a healthy, open relationship with your neighbors, you can feel more confident about handling minor issues respectfully.
4. Extra Supplies
That’s right, there is something to be said for having someone to go to for that extra cup of sugar. We’ve all ran out of supplies from time to time, whether you needed some baking help or an extra toolkit. While borrowing a cup of sugar might be a cliche, it’s true this is a convenient perk of having a neighbor.
Extra supplies come in handy especially if you experience any extreme weather. For instance, if you lose power, that neighbor with a generator will suddenly become your best friend. From snow shovels to storm supplies, neighbors can help in times of need.
5. Shared Responsibilities
Finally, neighbors can help cut down on the amount of work you have to do in the neighborhood. When your neighborhood looks great, it improves everyone’s property values. This is a win/win. But dealing with these chores can be time-consuming when they’re not shared evenly.
Knowing your neighbors makes it easier to join forces to beautify and improve your neighborhood. You might take turns mowing lawns, help each other with snow removal, or even build something together. Sharing these responsibilities and chores is good for everyone.
Start Introducing Yourself
It can be intimidating to put yourself out there and meet your neighbors once you’re in your new home. You’re already so busy with your move, but taking the time to say hello will go a long way.
As you can see from this list above, there are a lot of reasons to introduce yourself. It can be as simple as saying hello or go so far as you inviting your neighbors to a housewarming party, as long as you’re making an effort.