Just Moved? How to Introduce Yourself to Your New Neighbors!

When you’re new to the neighborhood, it’s like being the new kid in school. You want to make friends, but you might not be sure how to go about doing it. You might be a little shy, but you’re definitely curious as to who lives around you. It’s always a good idea to meet your neighbors so you can be friendly and aware at the same time. When you move to a new place, here are some tips on how to introduce yourself to your new neighbors.

Knock on Their Door

Ah, the old fashioned way! Unfortunately, lots of people don’t do this anymore. For whatever reason, we don’t want to bother people by actually physically coming to their houses. In the past, they didn’t have cell phones or Facebook, and they knocked on doors. Why are we scared to do it now? Don’t be.
The majority of people will not be upset if you knock on their door, as long as it’s not in the middle of the night, of course. Pick a good time during the day that’s not super early or at a traditional dinner time, and just go over there. Knock on your neighbor’s door, and tell them with a big smile that you just moved next door and wanted to introduce yourself. They might politely engage in some small talk or even invite you inside, but it’s highly unlikely that they’ll slam the door in your face.

A Casual Coincidence

If you’re very timid, knocking on the door won’t be for you. The other option is to simply wait for you to coincidentally meet your neighbors. Perhaps you’ll both be walking to your mailboxes at the same time, or you’ll be outside gardening. Whenever you see your neighbors, smile, wave, and go over to shake their hands. It’s good to do this as soon as possible after you move in. Don’t worry, they won’t know if you’re peeking out the window so you can “just happen” to take your dog out for a walk when they step onto their porch.

Host a Get-Together

After you’ve met everyone, or mostly everyone, you could take it a step further and invite them over for a small get-together. A casual evening invite is a great way to get to know your neighbors better. There’s only so much you can talk about when you casually see each other getting the morning newspapers. Over appetizers and cocktails you can learn more about each other and hopefully begin to form some good friendships. A get-together will show the neighbors your good intentions, and it will likely gain you some invites in return.

A Word of Advice

No matter how you meet your neighbors, remember to treat it just like any new relationship. Don’t reveal too much too soon, and nurture it. On the other hand, if you don’t want to make friends or are trying to avoid your neighbors, they’ll be able to tell. If that’s the case, be friendly and wave, then politely excuse yourself before a conversation begins.

Ashley Cole is a stay at home mother and avid gardener who loves to blog whenever she gets the chance. However, she does not love grammar rules and often finds herself consulting a grammar checker to ensure her work is professional, clear, and free of any embarrassing mistakes.