15 Ways You Can Be a Good Neighbor
Updated: Sep. 23, 2019You can be a good neighbor without having to bend over backwards. Here are some ideas.
Offer to Get Their Mail While They’re Out of Town
Some people like to stop their mail delivery when they go out of town, but some burglars who case a neighborhood for a while will notice a postal worker not delivering mail there.
Watch Their Dog
Dog watching can be a huge help to neighbors because pet boarding is expensive. If you’ve got a dog, check out some of these awesome products like a treat-dispensing camera.
Shovel Their Driveway
If you live in a snowy climate, one of the most neighborly things to do is to shovel or plow their driveway for them. In Minnesota, there’s a famous story about neighbors who shoveled former Vikings quarterback Case Keenum’s driveway last year. Take a look at one of these 14 awesome tools for dealing with snow.
Share Baked Goods
Sometimes a recipe makes too much for your family, so when you have extras, it’s the perfect time to share with a neighbor. Plus, it’s always a great icebreaker to introduce yourself to the neighbors. Have some fun with meal prep when you mix in power tools.
Try a Block Party
Block parties don’t have to be big events. Many neighborhoods hold Night to Unite (also known as National Night Out) block parties each year. It’s a great way to get to know people. Try these 12 tricks to throw the ultimate backyard barbecue.
Trim Tree Branches and Bushes
Your neighbor doesn’t want to see overgrown bushes or gangly trees, so do yourself and your neighbor a favor by keeping things trimmed neatly. Check out these tree pruning techniques to do the job right.
Help Rake Leaves
Raking leaves is one of those fall chores that has to be done, but you can make it easier for a neighbor by lending a hand. Plus, it’ll go faster if you know these 5 ways smart homeowners deal with leaves. Plus, these 15 super-useful tools for dealing with leaves will make it more of a breeze. Just be sure you don’t do one of these things with fallen leaves.
Offer Help With Work on the Home
If you can provide some help to a neighbor working on a home project, you’ll be a super helpful neighbor. People often have trouble asking for help, so if you offer, they’ll likely appreciate it. Check out these totally realistic home projects new homeowners can take on without any trouble.
Let Them Know if You See Suspicious Activity
Neighbor vigilance is a pretty good way to prevent theft. It’s important to alert neighbors about suspicious activity because thieves will often return to the same area. Be sure to check out these 50 secret hiding places thieves will never look.
Bring Your Trash Bin In
Trash day was Monday, but it’s Wednesday and your busy schedule has led you past your trash bins on the street two days in a row for that restful seat on the couch. While you may not care, your neighbors have to wake up to the eyesores on the street each morning, so just take the extra time and roll them in! Speaking of unsightly trash, here are 9 ways to disguise your trash bin.
Help Pick Up Trash if it Blows Over
The last thing anyone wants to come home to is a trash can that has blown over or one that blew over before the trash collector came. Help a neighbor out by picking up the trash. Here’s how to keep that trash can from blowing over and 24 things your trash collector wants you to know.
Don’t Hang Laundry Over the Fence
So, you and your neighbor built a fence to define your space. That’s good! But if you’re constantly draping your wet towels or other laundry over the fence, that’s just annoying. Keep the peace by keeping your stuff on your side of the fence. Don’t have a fence? Here’s how to build a fence for privacy.
Don’t Clean at Odd Hours
Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, neither is the best time to turn on the vacuum with the music booming to boot. What may seem a reasonable time to you may not be acceptable to others. For instance, if your neighbors have small children, try not to fire up the leaf blower at naptime. Here are more annoying noises and how to eliminate them.
Don’t Try to Keep Up with the Joneses
In case you didn’t know, waxing your Maserati every morning in the front yard so the neighbors can see is obnoxious. And, there are other ways you can annoy neighbors regarding possessions and prosperity. When a neighbor tells you about their new washer and dryer or barbecue grill, don’t always feel you have to one-up them with a detailed description of what you just bought. Be gracious and grateful. There’s no point in even trying to match the grandeur of these 50 extremely remote castles!
Know the Property Lines
If your neighbor didn’t locate their property lines before building a shed or other outdoor structure along the edge of their yard, there’s a chance it’s at least partially on your property. If that’s the case, it’s up to you whether you want to have the structure moved. It will almost certainly create tension between you and your neighbors, but property line markers are there for a reason.