While it may be a bit daunting at first, introducing yourself to your new neighbours and forming a relationship with them is totally worth it! Being friends with your neighbours comes with quite a few perks — a walking buddy, pet sitter, helping hand, friendly face and much more.
Here are our top 10 tips to meet your new neighbours after a move…
The period just after a move, while you’re still settling in, can be quite a stressful and tiring time, and you may not always be in the friendliest of moods. But even if you’re yet ready to meet your neighbours, you can still take baby steps with small friendly gestures.
You can start by smiling and waving when you drive past them or when you spot them on your way to your car.
This will make the first proper introduction so much easier because you’ll already be familiar with each other.
When the moment feels right, don’t hesitate to make your first official introduction. The sooner you do it, the sooner you can get over the awkwardness and the sooner you can become friends. You might be nervous, but sometimes you got to fake it til you make it!
Walk up to your neighbour confidently, say hello, introduce yourself and lead with a question about them — this is bound to get the conversation going. For example:
“Hi, I’m Sarah. I recently moved in. How long have you lived in the neighbourhood?”
And don’t forget to ask to exchange numbers — this will be super helpful in the long run.
Going on regular walks around the neighbourhood not only helps you get to know the area better but also opens up the opportunity to bump into your neighbours along the way.
You have a few options when it comes to making your way through the neighbourhood:
Go on regular morning walks before work and possibly find some morning walk buddies.
Take your dog on walks (if you have one) where both you and your furball can find a friend.
If you have kids, take them on bike rides around the quiet streets of your neighbour and maybe meet some other children in the area for your kids to play with.
Some of the best places to meet new friends in the area are to visit some community hotspots. This includes:
Popular coffee shops and restaurants
The nearest gym
Community park
Sports facilities, like swimming pool, tennis courts, football fields, etc.
Local shops
Nearby markets.
This is your key to getting on the inside. Often neighbourhoods will have a group chat with everyone on the street or in the area to share information.
Maybe someone’s dog got out, maybe there’s suspicious activity in the area and everyone should be on alert or maybe your lights went out and you want to know if it was just you. The community group chat is also a great way to find out about community events or socials.
This is why exchanging numbers with the first neighbour you meet is so important because it could be your way in. And now you have access to the contact details of everyone in your area.
If you have any questions about the neighbourhood, don’t be afraid to ask. Most people love sharing their local knowledge, so it’s a great conversation starter. You may have questions like:
Where is the nearest grocery store?
Are there safety tips for walking or running in the area?
What day is bin day?
What are the best restaurants in the area?
What are the best routes to avoid traffic?
Is there a security service in the neighbourhood
Children, if you have them, can be an easy way to meet other like-minded parents in the area.
Arranging play dates gives you the perfect opportunity to connect with parents in the neighbourhood. And because your children are around the same age, you’re likely to relate with each other on quite a few things. An easy way to meet other parents is through going to local playgrounds with your children, kids' birthday parties and school events
There’s no better way to get to know the people in your community than to get involved! You can:
Attend community events.
Get involved in the local school.
Volunteer at any nearby charities.
Invest in community projects.
Join your Homeowners Association Board.
Neighbours are there to help each other. So if you’d like to be able to ask your neighbour for a helping hand here and there, then you first have to be open to helping them. So if your neighbour asks you for a small favour, offer them your help.
Try to be enthusiastic about it as well:
If you make it seem like a drag or a big mission for you, they may be less likely to want to exchange favours in the future.
Once you’ve met a few of your neighbours, what better way to get to know them all better than hosting a housewarming party or dinner?
Bringing everyone together not only makes it easier and more time-efficient for you to connect with each of your neighbours, but you may also be bringing the neighbourhood together and introducing neighbours that haven’t yet met. Plus, it may also be less intense than a 1-on-1 dinner with every neighbour individually.
Now that you have the best tips and tricks to meet your new neighbours, what are you waiting for? Get out there and make some new friends!
And don’t forget to be yourself! There’s no point trying to be someone you’re not. When you’re being your best authentic self, you’ll attract the right neighbours who you’ll be able to form real and genuine friendships with. Just remember that and you’ll be besties with your neighbours in no time!
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