Poll - New Neighbors

[shortstax]

We have new neighbors moving in for the first time since buying our home in 2009.  DH and I differ on how to "welcome" the neighbors.  So ML, wwyd?

Did anyone welcome you when you moved into your current place?  Share your anecdotes!

[TR]

If you’re going to knock on their door, you’d better give them something, lol. Our experience was a little different because there happened to be a National Night Out block party two days after we arrived so we met quite a few neighbors that way. I’m a known crank so I’d rather not have people knocking on my door. But if you do, at least give me something

[gardengal]

I don’t like talking to people but I enjoy living in a place that feels neighborly, so I knock on door w a gift. I usually do it post-farmers market so I bring season fruit & baked good. I figure if they don’t eat carbs, they can at least eat peaches or apples or something?

I don’t make something myself bc I know I’m wary of goods from stranger’s kitchens

[laurack]

I would wave and say hi /chat outside but I wouldn’t knock on the door as I would personally rather the neighbors didn’t start knocking on my door after moving in.

[flex]

I voted "other". I'd wave if I saw them in the yard, then go over and quickly introduce myself. If they're in the process of moving in, I'd feel like I was taking away their time of unpacking.

But then again, maybe they'd welcome the break lol

[shortstax]

I was going to take over wine, but then thought differently in case they're not drinkers. So which option is better, bakery cookies or flowers?

DH thinks I'm crazy. he was all "just wave if you ever see them." Dude, we all have attached garages, that could be in March.

[ECB]

Once they’re moved in, i would go over and say hi. With our last new neighbors, we took a bottle of champagne.

[farmvillelover]

We got booze, wine, beer, baby gifts (my oldest was 5 months old), succulent, orchid, baked goods and a few meals after moving in. We live in a very friendly neighborhood.

When we get new neighbors we mostly coordinate with other neighbors as to who will bring what and when. Usually treats of some sort and booze, some do a meal.

[auntie]

I introduce myself, but only if I see them outside.

When I moved into our first house, the neighbor across the street left a bouquet of flowers from her garden and left a note with her name and phone number. She was a great neighbor; when I had old cats, she'd watch them when I was away. She would even come twice daily to pill the irascible one even if DH was home.


I moved here after a flood destroyed my other house. My parents were planning to retire, and were getting ready to put the house on the market. We decided it would be less traumatic to buy this place- we didn't have to move DS, the schools were excellent and it was cheaper w/o a real estate agent and transfer taxes. Win- win. We came on Sept 16 and settled on Dec 15. My mother stayed with us during the week while she finished her last year teaching; dad stayed at their beach house.


The first couple of years, only my immediate neighbor would even make eye contact. He was kind of persona non grata for "leaving" his wife with MS. He paid for the house and all her care and came for dinner a couple times a week. They even had a regular date night in the adapted van he bought her. He was transferred and couldn't deal with the commute, but I suspect she made his life hell. She was pretty unpleasant even before her symptoms ramped up.

There is still some crazy lady at the end of the cul de sac who actively turns away when I walk or drive by because of my association with this man even though he is long since widowed and moved away.


Nobody else talked to me for about 5 years which was awkward. DS and I helped one of the neighbors shovel when his snowblower busted and we got to talking. He asked after my parents and made some comment about how nice it was that they let me live there. Evidently, they'd been talking shit behind my back painting me as the deadbeat kid who moved back with her parents. Quite the assumption.

[tacom]

farmvillelover what a welcome!

Our neighbors mostly ignored us / wave from a distance when I’m out with the dogs or baby. One caught me at the mailbox and introduced herself and mentioned the neighborhood is quiet these days after some people left and used to be more friendly.

I would have welcomed a bottle of wine. Even if they don’t drink, it’s good for company or an easy regift.

[VillainV]

Food would be good. Be sure to attach a card with all of your names and the ages of your kids. It’s easy to forget names during quick introductions.

[farmvillelover]

Oct 6, 2018 13:21:12 GMT -5 tacom said:

farmvillelover what a welcome!

Our neighbors mostly ignored us / wave from a distance when I’m out with the dogs or baby. One caught me at the mailbox and introduced herself and mentioned the neighborhood is quiet these days after some people left and used to be more friendly.

I would have welcomed a bottle of wine. Even if they don’t drink, it’s good for company or an easy regift.

Do you live in a more mature neighborhood (with older/elderly folks)? Maybe ppl are just more reserved there. But where you live my impression was people are pretty friendly?!

[lolalolalola]

I just moved into a new house. No one knocked on my door. Three people have introduced themselves to us when we were both outside. Gifts would seem strange to me to be honest.

[UMaineTeach]

They welcomed us. On move in day on side tried to sell us a used couch and the other ask if it was ok if he ripped out the scraggly hedge between the properties.

No to the couch.

Ok, I guess, haven’t really looked at it, but it does look sad, to the hedge. Oh, you mean like rip it out right now. Backed a truck up, hooked chains on, and it was gone in less than 10 minuets from ask to total removable.

[CheeringCharm]

We always go over to introduce ourselves and bring wine. Way easier than baked goods 

[RoxMonster]

We wave when we see them and the first time we are both out doing yard work or something, we walk over and introduce ourselves.

[krystee]

Both my immediate neighbors knocked on our door and brought us cards (so we'd remember their names, and signed with their phone numbers so we could contact them if we needed anything) and homemade chocolate chip cookies. I thought it was so nice!

[felicity]

We just bought our second home in our neighborhood, but on a new street, and both times all introductions were done by catching us outside. I actually make a point to do yardwork or play out front with DS so we can meet more of the neighbors. Nobody knocked or gave gifts. Well except the one who turned out to be a pastor sent a card inviting me to church :/

[bex]

We always welcome new neighbors with a house gift (something generic and relatively cheap like a candle....they can pitch it if they want) and a bottle of wine or champagne. It doesnt work, our neighbors dont talk to us lol, but we try.*


(we live in a area of older homes that have turned over recently from the original owners, so all the new owners are around our age but also kind of anti-social. Its not personal I dont think.....our neighbors dont talk to other neighbors either.)

No one welcomed us when we moved here.

[dangerousduo]

When we moved in we had one neighbor bring us cookies a week or so after we moved in. The others we met the day after we moved in... one of my dogs got out of the fence so I went door to door introducing myself while asking if they had seen my beagle. Not the greatest way to meet the neighbors.

[Wallflower]

I'm an introvert so I have a hard time pushing myself to do this, but when I moved in, my neighbor introduced herself and have me a fantastic camping lantern because we sometimes get some long blackouts here. Just used it this week during a 4-hour blackout. ☺

[macmars45]

When we moved in to our TH 3.5 years ago no one came over to introduce themselves. H and I did go to our direct neighbors (we're a middle unit) units and knock/introduce ourselves. Honesty, I've met more neighbors SAH with my son. Cute kids get lots extra people stopping to talk to us and we're outside a lot. Anyways.

[madringal]

We had people come over and bring us treats and little gifts for DD1. I kind of assume that if you move into a neighborhood setting like ours, you aren't TOTALLY people adverse - bc there are lots of places around here to buy land and live away from others. So yes, if I had a new next door neighbor I would totally go and introduce myself and bring gifts

[WOUNDTIGHT]

We bring new neighbors a 6 pack on move in day with a bow on it. Thats it.

[Aquatica]

I like to introduce myself and would bring something. Maybe some food or a quick dinner item if they're just moving in.

[Alps79]

I’m in Texas; we’re friendly. I’d bring cookies and a piece of paper with our names, kids names, and phone number.

[gummybear]

We just got new neighbors (we are relatively new ourselves and they are the first to move in after us on the immediate block). I saw the wife outside while I was driving and I stopped the car like a stalker, rolled down the window and introduced myself.

[jinkies]

I generally wait until I see them outside, then walk over and introduce myself. I've never knocked, and never given a gift.

[silvercrayon]

I usually stop by and bring cookies. I never go inside. I just say hi and welcome them to the neighborhood.

[konapoppy]

Nearly all of our neighbors have turned over since we moved in (the ones leaving tended to be original owners). We always go out of our way to say hello, etc. every time we see them. But most of them aren’t particularly friendly back. Once we had kids some of them got much friendlier (so we could finally exchange numbers, etc).