MAKING “FRIENDLY CONNECTIONS”
by Contributor
(Mar. 28, 2018) — Moving house is one of the most important steps in people’s life. Even though this is a long, complicated and stressful process, it is not that bad after all. Some people dream of the day when they can finally purchase a home and call it their own. Sometimes no matter how much you try, there are certain situations that cannot be prevented, for example, discrepancies with neighbors. As it is impossible to choose the people that live in your area, it is important to try and form a friendly relationship with neighbors, regardless of any issues you might have. The last thing you want to do is start a quarrel with them. People may have differing views, but it can be worth it overall for both parties to learn how to tolerate different behaviors.
1. Try to Become Friendly with Them
One of the first and most simple ways of creating a relationship with your neighbors is by doing a brief introduction. You might have seen them across the road the other day, but you never introduced yourself or said hello. Never assume that some of your neighbors are formed on first impressions, or from what someone else has told you. If you want to prevent future drama with them, it is recommended to introduce yourself and try to be as friendly as you can. Make sure not to cross the line and seem off-putting, though. You can easily start to establish a connection by smiling and saying hello. Remember that the first impression plays a major role in this case, so you don’t want to wait two months before you introduce yourself. The sooner you make the first step, the better.
2. Get to Know Each Other
Once you know their name, try to find out more about them. Ask them about their job or their family. If you both have kids, you could even organize a play date. Being a good neighbor does not necessarily mean that you need to plan a trip on the other side of the world together. However, it means that you can have a nice chat, and get to know them. If they don’t seem the friendly type and they don’t like the idea of spending time together, you could still try to build a good relationship by offering to look after their kids whenever necessary or borrowing a cup of sugar. As long as you get past the “strangers” level, you should be fine.
3. Try to Prevent Problems
If you want to avoid having problems with your neighbors, you need to be considerate. For example, if you’re about to have a party, it might be a good idea to knock on their door and let them know that there might be some disturbance for a few hours. Another idea would be to give them a verbal invitation to your party. Moreover, you also need to provide them with your phone number. In case things don’t go according to plan, they can just contact you and let you know that they would like you to turn the volume down.
4. Document the Problem
No matter what kind of problem you are dealing with, you need to document it. This helps you establish how difficult your problem is. On the other hand, it could also serve as evidence. Start keeping notes of aspects that are bothering by writing down dates, times or even adding photos. For example, if your neighbors scratched your car and you have evidence of them doing that, you could easily prove that to competent authorities by showing a picture or a video. In any case, if it is a more serious matter, it may be an idea to get in touch with a lawyer. Madrid Law Firm helps you deal with any kinds of legal problems that you might have.
5. Talk it Out
Another good way of dealing with discrepancies with neighbors is by trying to “recover” those friendly connections that you had beforehand. Don’t assume they know what’s bothering you. Have a chat with them and let them know how you feel about certain situations. Whether they tend to listen to very loud music late at night or if they are not careful enough when they park their car next to yours, you should let them know. Holding grudges is never the right thing to do. Be open about your problems instead of being aggressive. You may be able to find a simple situation by talking it out in this way. Handling the situation in a mature and calm manner will mean you won’t find yourself frustrated or saying something you may regret.
6. Check with Other Neighbors
Lastly, you could always talk to other neighbors and find out what they think about the whole situation. They might end up giving you valuable advice or information that you had no idea about. If you’re the newest neighbor in the area, it might take some time to accommodate and be welcomed into the neighborhood. If you can’t solve the problem with that certain neighbor, you need to at least establish a closer connection with someone else. Try to have someone on your side in case something unexpected happens. There might be neighbors in your area who feel the same about your situation and they might be willing to help you deal with it. Moreover, they might be able to solve it themselves in a cheaper and more effective manner.
Even though peaceful coexistence is what everybody might aspire to in terms of their neighbors, it sometimes is not the case. Problems and issues occur in all walks of life. This includes the people who you live next to. There will be occurrences where there may be some problems and disagreements. But this does not in any way mean that they cannot be resolved. As long as you are mature enough, and know how to establish connections with people around you without being too intrusive, you should be able to stay out of trouble.