Last Updated on February 14, 2024 by Lifevif Team and JC Franco
You definitely don’t want to get on the wrong side of the neighbors! Chances are that you will be living next to each other for the foreseeable future. Because of this, most people do whatever possible to ensure that they nurture a healthy and happy neighborly relationship.
Having a healthy relationship with your neighbors is actually a lot easier to orchestrate than you might think. The below pointers should help you to get your relationship with your neighbors right on track. If you want to ensure that you have a great relationship with the neighbors and that it stays that way, try to incorporate the following behaviors into your daily life.
How to have a great relationship with your neighbors – 18 simple tips:
1. Keep the friendliness lighthearted.
You need to be friendly with your neighbors, but you don’t have to be actual friends. You don’t have to tell them your personal business or share intimate details with them. Instead, keep the conversation and the friendliness that goes along with it light and easy.
2. Greet them.
If you see the neighbors while entering or exiting your property, take the time to say hello and goodbye. This is a simple common courtesy that will leave both of you feeling good.
3. Join your local neighborhood watch.
The best way to get to know a few of your neighbors better is to find a common interest. A neighborhood watch is all about the safety and well-being of the community. That’s definitely a common interest you can share while living there.
4. Don’t be a stickler for the details – sometimes just let things go.
You might want to throw a fit about the neighbor’s kids who had a party last weekend and kept you up, but maybe just let this one slide. Give them a little leeway to make mistakes.
5. Always show respect towards them.
Being respectful is absolutely essential. For instance, don’t play your music extremely late at night or very early in the morning. Be respectful and courteous, and you will be given the same in return.
6. Own up and apologize when you need to.
There will be times where you make a mistake, and it impacts your neighbor. Let them know that you are sorry. Being able to say you are sorry means that you are a mature and levelheaded person. It makes it easier for other neighbors to own up to their wrongs and be sorry in the future. Be the neighbor that shows other neighbors how to be graceful and humble when you do things wrong.
7. Be helpful when you can see it’s needed.
Being helpful is something that doesn’t cost you any money. Lend a helping hand when you can, if you can. You don’t have to go all out, but a bit of help here and there will go a really long way. If you see your neighbor struggling to lock the car door with her arms full of groceries, offer a helping hand. A little helpful kindness really does go a long way.
8. Put them on your winter holidays card list.
Don’t forget your neighbors during the special holidays. While they aren’t your close friends or family members, they are the people you share community space with, so they are still of some importance. Send them a holiday card or a box of chocolates. It doesn’t have to be anything big and expensive. It should simply be a small token of neighborly kindness and appreciation.
9. Look after your home – keep it neat, tidy, and clean.
How much pride do you take in your home’s appearance? Are you spending much time maintaining and caring for it? If not, perhaps it’s time to start. If you let your home go to rack and ruin, it’s really disrespectful to your neighbors. It doesn’t only cast a poor image on the neighborhood but can also decrease the actual value of their property.
10. Encourage the kids to play together.
If the neighbors have kids the same age as yours, consider extending a playdate invite to them. If the kids get along and get to know each other, they could have great friends for life (who are conveniently next door – no driving around for you!).
11. Look out for them.
Good neighbors have each other’s backs, and that’s something you should consider doing. If you notice something suspicious happening in your road, let them know about it. If their alarm system is going off while they are away, check-up for them and let them know about it. Keep in touch when it matters. You may enjoy the same favor one day.
12. Hold back on the neighborhood gossip.
Sometimes it’s easy to get into a hot gossiping session, especially if some neighbors are prone to strange behavior. Whatever you do, just avoid it entirely with neighbors. Don’t get into the habit of gossiping about other neighbors. It will reflect poorly on you as they may believe that you gossip about everyone that way.
13. Deal with issues kindly.
How you deal with problems and issues will really set the scene for your relationship with your neighbors. If you have an issue with one of the neighbors, don’t go in with guns blazing. Rather approach the matter with kindness. Make sure that you also deal with problems in person. Avoid sending aggressive text messages.
14. Give them space (mind your own business).
Avoid poking your nose into the neighbor’s business. Don’t peer over the fence when you hear movement in the garden. Instead, allow them to be who they are in their own space. Respecting each other’s privacy is vitally important for the health of your long-term relationship. In short: mind your own business, and they too will mind theirs.
15. Arrange a neighborhood gathering once in a while.
Don’t just let the days go by. Try to spend a bit of time with the neighbors. Perhaps arrange a neighborhood barbecue or drinks evening. The neighbors will enjoy getting to know who lives next door to them, and it is a great idea from a safety aspect.
16. Don’t be “that person”.
You know “that person”? “That person” is someone who complains about everything and makes everyone as uncomfortable as possible. When you become that person, it doesn’t just make other people really uncomfortable and unhappy, but it will also eventually make you unhappy.
17. Be open to chatting from time to time.
Don’t duck behind the fence or run into your home every time you spot one of your neighbors outside. Be friendly and open to having a conversation with the neighbors from time to time. You don’t have to get too involved or talk for hours, but give them a bit of your time, and they will appreciate it.
18. Respect shared walls and common spaces.
If you share a wall or common area with one of your neighbors, be respectful. For instance, don’t set your sprinkler to spray your garden bed in a way that sends water over into your neighbor’s courtyard. Similarly, don’t just cut down a neighbor’s tree or creeper vine. Rather chat about it first to make sure that all parties are happy and on the same page.
Last Word
As you can see, being a good neighbor takes a lot less effort from you than you might think. Just being courteous and being considerate can make all of the difference to your relationship. Be willing to put in the effort as mentioned above and be prepared for your neighborly relationship to quite simply thrive.
This article was co-authored by our team of in-house and freelance writers, and reviewed by our editors, who share their experiences and knowledge about the "Seven F's of Life".
JC Franco
JC Franco is a New York-based editor for Lifevif. He mainly focuses on content about faith, spirituality, personal growth, finance, and sports. He graduated from Mercyhurst University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business, majoring in Marketing. He is a certified tennis instructor who teaches in the New York City Metropolitan area. In terms of finance, he has passed the Level I exam of the CFA program.