Share the Love!

February 13, 2015

Get a jump start on Valentine’s Day and extend that loving feeling to your apartment neighbors! Taking the time to establish positive connections with your neighbors has numerous benefits. The community will be friendlier, the apartment community safer, and the area a nicer and more comfortable place to live. Here are 5 tips for how to be more neighborly:

Love thy neighbor!

1.    Introduce yourself. Whether you’re new in the neighborhood or new residents have just moved in on your apartment, introduce yourself. Say hello, offer a welcoming gift (the classic homemade pie never fails) and share or ask about the area.
2.    Consider your neighbors’ lifestyles. Get to know your neighbors–what they do for a living, what their schedules might be like, and so on. Sometimes, you can remedy problems before they even start; for example, if they work nights, quiet mornings will be important for them. If they have young children, quiet evenings will be very important to them. Similarly, give them information that’ll help them be more considerate of your lifestyle.
3.    Be aware of shared walls. In an apartment, you and your neighbors share adjacent living spaces, position noisy household appliances such as washing machines and tumble dryers – even TVs and speakers – away from partition walls. If you live above someone, consider putting linoleum or rubber matting underneath your appliances to deaden or muffle the noise, and remember that someone downstairs can hear you walking around (so minimize how often you wear high heels indoors, for example).
4.    Control your dog. Keep your dog on a leash and make sure to clean up after it. If you have a particularly noisy dog, this may also become a source of contention for your neighbor. If you have problems controlling your dog’s barking or whining, consider seeking advice from your local vet or a local animal organization.
5.    Practice parking etiquette. When you park your vehicle, be sure not to block anyone’s access, or make them have to pull out of a very tight spot. Don’t over-rev the engine of your car or motorcycle early in the morning or late at night. Park in front of your apartment, not theirs. Avoid slamming your doors or shining your headlights into your neighbor’s windows late at night.

Happy early Valentine’s Day, neighbor!

Categorised in: Apartment Living Tips, General Interest, MRG Apartment Community Notices