Itʼs essential that we build good
relationships with our
neighbors.
Here are some thoughts on how and why.
Making Good Neighbors
Living
next door to someone doesn’t make you a neighbor. It makes you the stranger next door! One of
the great opportunities we have in our communities is the chance to build real,
meaningful relationships with the people who live closest to us.
While
I understand the desire for privacy, I think it’s important we realize that
regular, helpful communication with our neighbors makes us both safer and paves
a smooth road for difficult conversations we might face with our neighbors in the
future.
It
doesn’t take much to start off the right way.
Consider leaving a nice note in their mailbox, a small “thank you” gift
for looking out for the neighborhood, or some other “olive branch” act that
will build rapport.
Small
gestures such as a nice note about landscaping, an invitation to a potluck, or
an “all hands on deck” community improvement project allow us to get to know
our neighbors. This is vital when you consider the people around you are the
most likely to spot smoke in a fire, clue you in to suspicious activity, and
have the opportunity to share vital local information.
What’s
more, if you build a positive base with your neighbors, when the time comes to
have a difficult conversation (such as a nuisance dog, kids running amok, or intrusive
lighting issues), you’ll have a buffer of mutual respect and goodwill to draw
on.
If
your opening conversation with a neighbor is a complaint, you’re setting
yourself up for a long, antagonistic relationship. Who wants to live next to that?
I
think a civil community depends upon our connection to our neighbors. We all benefit when we depend on and trust
one another.
If you
like this blog post, email me for my neighborly newsletter which includes even
more helpful information: Deborah@dsperkinshomes.com
Deborah Perkins
Keller
Williams Legacy
330-592-8785
http://www.deborahperkinsrealtyteam.com
http://www.dsperkinshomes.com
https://www.facebook.com/deborahperkinsrealtor
https://twitter.com/ds_perkins
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