Moving to a New Area? Here are Some Ways to Meet Your Neighbors

Not into door knocking? Here are some creative ways to meet your neighbors.

Moving into a new neighborhood is both nerve-wracking and inspiring to any homeowner. It’s time for a clean slate where you can establish the next chapter of your life. If you introduce yourself around the block, you may find yourself integrating into the new community. It’s a great way to start building quality relationships with your neighbors.

Meeting new people could make you anxious or feel uncomfortable. However, you can reduce your nerves with a little bit of creative thinking. Here’s a few ways to meet people when you’re moving to a new neighborhood.

Ask your new neighbors for recommendations

Before moving, do some research about your new town or city and find places that interest you. It’s easier to meet people when you show genuine interest in the community. Neighbors will be more receptive if they see that you are actually curious about your new neighborhood.

You can ask questions such as, “where’s your favorite place to grab coffee in the morning?” or “I saw a beautiful park nearby, is it pet friendly?”. By asking questions, you can easily transition the conversation into an introduction and plenty of neighbors will be happy to help you.

Use your pets

Pets often facilitate a social conversation because of how many people are passionate about animals. Just by taking a walk around the block with your dog, it opens the door for neighbors to ask a quick question or comment about your furry friend. Dogs are already known to improve your mental health but they give you confidence too. According to one study, 54% of dog owners believe having their pet has boosted their confidence as they can easily talk to strangers. Pets create an ideal icebreaker and show neighbors that you’re a welcoming new addition to the neighborhood instead of just a stranger.

Attend community events

Once you’re settled in, start attending some of the local events that your community has to offer. This is a great way to meet new people in a social setting. The key here is to utilize your town resources to find public events. For instance, you might find a summer festival through a Google search that leads you to your town or city website. Or maybe you stumble upon a free outdoor yoga class for town residents. Not only are town events free and accessible to almost anybody, but it’s an easy place to meet other people that live nearby.

Yard sales

Do you have any clutter left that just doesn’t fit in your new home space? Consider having a yard sale and put a few flyers up. A yard sale invites dozens of people to your yard for great deals and conversation. Each item that you sell speaks about your interests and neighbors are bound to ask about your passions and hobbies. Not to mention, you can keep your eye out for local yard sales too. Ask questions, let people know where your new home is, and don’t hesitate to ask for help if you buy a bigger item such as furniture.

Social media

Now social media only applies if you’re actually friends or follow each other right? Well, not exactly. You can join community groups relative to your local area and get involved by introducing yourself and asking questions. Facebook recently rolled out a new feature called “Facebook Neighborhoods” which allows you to connect with neighbors and find new places and recommendations.

Here you can find bios from your neighbors, their interests, favorite places, and open discussions. Introducing yourself to people face to face isn’t always a breeze. Consider going on social media for easy integration into your new neighborhood.

Invite people over

One of the best ways to get to know your new neighbors is to invite them into your home for a casual gathering or cookout. This can be a great way to break the ice and build connections with the people in your neighborhood. Now you’re probably wondering how to get to a comfortable point of asking neighbors to come over. Take walks around the neighborhood, keep a bright smile on your face, be welcoming, and go say hello! It’s perfectly okay to be open about being new in the neighborhood. If other neighbors are open for conversation, it doesn’t hurt to ask.

A clean slate when moving to a new area

If you give positive energy wherever you go, there’s no need to fear making new friends and new neighbors. It’s already an impressive milestone moving to a new environment, but now is the time to use it to your advantage! Get involved, keep a smile on your face, and be curious. You never know which neighbors could lead to long lasting relationships as you settle into your new home.