6 Qualities of A Good Neighbour

 

Bad neighbours. Every neighbourhood has them. What’s more unfortunate is that they can make or break your neighbourhood experience and even cause you to want to move. While you can’t prevent how other people act,  you can make sure that you are the best neighbour you can be. Here are some tips on how to be a good neighbour.

 

Be Friendly And Kind

Friendly neighbourhoods are genuinely a much more enjoyable place to live. Do your best to inspire neighbourhood camaraderie by being friendly and polite with your neighbours. When outside at the same time give polite smile and wave of acknowledgement. Compliment them if they’ve put a lot of effort into keeping up their curb appeal. When it comes to a friendly neighbourhood, a little goes a long way.

 

Help Your Neighbour

There are plenty of opportunities to help your neighbour and brighten their day. If you have adjoining properties, this is even more important. Go the extra mile and mow their side of the lawn or shovel their half of the driveway if you’re able. Chances are the favour will be returned somewhere along the line. If you have elderly neighbours and you’re able-bodied, shovel their sidewalk and driveway (they will appreciate this more than you know). If you see your neighbour struggling to bring in groceries, offer to help. Even if they turn down your offer, it’s still the thought that counts.

 

Know Your Boundaries

There is an old saying ‘fences make great neighbours’ and that still rings true today. More or less you need to know and respect your boundaries. Keep your greenery from growing over into your neighbour’s yard. Let them know if you are going to be having a get-together or are doing renovations and expect there to be more noise than normal. If you have a shared driveway, make sure to stay on your side unless there is a special arrangement in place. Treat your neighbours the way you want to be treated.

 

Keep Up Your Property

This is a probably one of the most important things on the list of tips for being a good neighbour. Keep up your curb appeal. No, you don’t have to be the Joneses in the summer or the Griswold’s at Christmas. We highly recommend cutting your grass regularly and weeding gardens in the warmer months. Storing junk and garbage in your garage vs. out in the open. Remove seasonal decorations at appropriate times. Just simply keep your property clean and well kept will keep your neighbours happy.

 

Handle Situations With Maturity

If you have a less than an ideal neighbour and need to discuss issues, be sure to handle the situation with maturity. Have a polite conversation with them to address the situation at hand. Don’t raise your voice and control your temper. And most importantly, pick your battles.

 

When dealing with neighbours, it’s important to give them the benefit of the doubt. Before escalating the situation to by-law officer or police, always aim to give them a chance to resolve things on their own.

 

Be Mindful Of Your Pets

No one wants to be woken up by a barking dog in the middle of the night, or step in poop on their own lawn. If you have a pet, be sure to be mindful of them. When out for a walk, clean up after your pet if they do their business. Don’t leave them unattended in the yard for long periods of time. Plus, if your dog barks a lot, try different training methods to curb the barking or keep your pet indoors when you can.

 

Friendly neighbourhoods don’t just happen overnight. It takes a constant contribution from everyone involved and before you complain about your neighbours, ensure that you are being the best neighbour possible.