August 01, 9:19 AM
I'll put it out there...from my many years living in apartments, I have had some TERRIBLE neighbors. I put terrible in all CAPS because there really, really have been some bad ones. There was the guy who never left his apartment and it started to stink through the walls because I don't think he EVER took out his trash.
There was also the couple who fought loudly constantly. You could hear them throwing things at eachother and screaming. It got to the point where I could hear the entire argument and I feared for the life of the man, so I called the cops. They also made up loudly too.....They were REALLY, REALLY annoying.
Then on top of that I had an above neighbor who loved to jump rope at odd hours of the day. All I could hear while I was watching my favorite shows was...thump, thump, thump. The worst part is...the guy was in terrible shape so it wasn't doing anything.
No matter where you go, you may run into issues with your neighbor. The best thing that you can do is do your part in being a good neighbor. Lead by example.
Here are some ways to be a great neighbor and not a terrible one:
Be Friendly- One of the most important things you can do to be a great neighbor is to be friendly. Whether you have just moved in or you are welcoming a new neighbor, put on a happy face and make some conversation. You may meet some really cool people that way. Sometimes it takes a little friendly effort to break the ice, but once the ice is broken you are on your way to being an awesome neighbor!
Shhhh!!!- Be respectful and keep the noise down. Yes, that even includes your footsteps if you are living above the first floor. It's actually pretty easy. You don't have to run around your apartment whispering or anything like that, but keep the TV and music down to a reasonable and respectful level. Watch your footsteps and shut the door softly...don't let it slam and shake the whole building. Nothing is more annoying than a loud neighbor, so let it stop with you.
Keep Them In The Know- Having a few guests over? If you know you are going to be doing something abnormal that may impede on your neighbors relaxation and space, drop by and let them know. Invite them to join in the fun and give them a number to call and let you know that your noise is bothering them. Trust me, you'd much rather they call you than the police.
Neighborhood Watchdog- Keep an eye out for your neighbors place when they aren't there. You'd want them to do the same for you. Report to the office or the authorities any suspicious character that you see wondering about.
The number one rule in being a good neighbor is to be respectful and treat them the way that you would like to be treated. Being a good neighbor is not difficult if you just think a little about your actions and how they affect those around you. So...put on a smile, make some friends, and be the great neighbor that we know you can be!