Making Good Neighbors

Living next door to someone doesn’t make you a neighbor.  It makes you the stranger next door! One of the great opportunities we have in our Parkland communities is the chance to build real, meaningful relationships with the people who live closest to us.

While I understand the desire for privacy, I think it’s important we realize that
regular, helpful communication with our neighbors makes us both safer and paves
a smooth road for difficult conversations we might face with our neighbors in the
future.

It doesn’t take much to start off the right way.  Consider leaving a nice note in their mailbox, a small “thank you” gift for looking out for the neighborhood, or some other “olive branch” act that will build rapport. 

Small gestures such as a nice note about landscaping, an invitation to a potluck, or an “all hands on deck” community improvement project allow us to get to know
our neighbors. This is vital when you consider the people around you are the
most likely to spot smoke in a fire, clue you in to suspicious activity, and
have the opportunity to share vital local information.

What’s more, if you build a positive base with your neighbors, when the time comes to have a difficult conversation (such as a nuisance dog, kids running amok, or intrusive lighting issues), you’ll have a buffer of mutual respect and goodwill to draw on. 

If your opening conversation with a neighbor is a complaint, you’re setting
yourself up for a long, antagonistic relationship.  Who wants to live next to that?
I think a civil community depends upon our connection to our neighbors.  We all benefit when we depend on and trust one another.

So get out there and become a good neighbor.  And if you'd like more information about the schools, community events or what the real estate market is like in the Parkland area, just subscribe to our Market Insider to get a free monthly update on activity in your neighborhood!