by Raven Lebeau

Created on: February 09, 2010

No one wants to be a bad neighbor. Having a good relationship with the people who live near us can enrich our lives and make us feel like part of a real community. On the other hand, when relations between neighbors turn sour, every day can feel like a battle. Having friendly, helpful neighbors starts with being a good neighbor yourself. Here are a few ideas for making sure that you are an asset to your neighborhood:

1. Support your neighborhood kids.

If you have children, encourage them to make friends in the neighborhood. Offer to share rides and trade babysitting services. Even if you do not have kids, you can still be supportive by buying Boyscout popcorn, attending the school recital, or volunteering at a neighborhood event.

2. Keep your home and yard well maintained.

Peeling paint jobs, overgrown lawns, and old furniture on the porch all detract from property values in the neighborhood. Your neighbors will resent it if you do not maintain the quality of your home and landscape.

3. Control your pets.

Loose dogs and cats can damage neighbor's gardens by scratching, digging, or defecating. Keep your pets on your own property unless walking your dog on a leash. Keep your dog from barking by making sure he is not left outside for long periods of time.

4. Keep the noise down.

Never impose your musical preferences on your neighbors with outdoor speakers. If you have a party, keep the music indoors and make sure it stops at a reasonable time; your neighbors probably need to be up early for work or school. Plan noisy yard work or construction projects for a decent time of day. Mowing your lawn at 6 am or banging in your garage until the wee hours of the morning will not be appreciated.

5. Get to know your neighbors.

People tend to distrust others who “keep to themselves”. Be sure to attend neighborhood get togethers and learn the names of all of your neighbors. Take the time to chat if you run into your neighbor at the grocery store or if you are both outside doing yard work.

6. Be proactive about offering help.

Make sure your neighbors know you are there for them if they need someone to pet sit, baby sit, or watch the house while they are on vacation. If your neighbors are elderly, offer to help with household tasks like shoveling the driveway or mowing the lawn.

7. Pick your battles.

Your neighbors probably break a few of the rules above, but no one likes a chronic complainer. Instead of complaining to your neighbor or taking your gripes to the homeowners' association, try making friends with your neighbors in spite of your differences. Being able to overlook a few quirks will mean that your neighbors are more likely to take it to heart when you do have a legitimate concern.

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