Being Neighborly

A new neighbor can be exciting and daunting. Who will move in? Will they be as great as our dear friends that have moved away? Will they be as loud and obnoxious as the hard-partying renters who just got evicted? The only thing you know is they won't be exactly the same, and making a new neighbor feel welcome can go a long way.

Perhaps the most straightforward thing to do is knock on their door, say hello, and introduce yourself. Some like to bring food as a welcome gift, but if you're not sure what they like, a welcome to the neighborhood basket might be a nice idea. Include information from the chamber of commerce; information on what day the trash is picked up; important phone numbers for the area (the police, fire department, library and the best pizza delivery place); a local newspaper; coupons for local restaurants and stores. These are just a few suggestions.

If you're not so bold to go knock on their door, introduce yourself on moving day while they're unloading their belongings. Say hi when you're both doing yard work on a Saturday morning. In other words, be friendly whenever you see them. You never know when you could use your neighbors' help or perhaps find a lifelong friend. Most importantly, being on friendly terms with neighbors always makes life better.

Karen Renner is a Realtor with Shorewood Realtors. Email her at karenrenner@shorewood.com.