Having good neighbors can be a source of great blessing and make living in your home more enjoyable. Having bad neighbors can completely color the experience.
What can you do to be a good neighbor?
Firstly, you need to establish a relationship with your neighbor. Don’t interrogate them and ask them too many questions, especially personal questions. Being nosy is not conducive to good relationships between neighbors. You want to keep it friendly but without going overboard. You don’t have to become new best friends, always in each other’s houses but a short conversation out the front or over the fence and the occasional cup of coffee together can be good.
If they are going away, keep an eye on their house for them. Collect mail and take junk mail out of the letter box so it s not obvious they are away. Mail and particularly lots of junk mail in the letter box is the type of clue thieves look for to let them no know people are away. So it’s always best removed. Don’t make the thief’s job easier for them.
If you see unfamiliar people having around or cars or trucks then let someone know. Report any suspicious activity to police.
Water their garden if it needs it. It not only keeps their plants alive, but it also helps any intending burglar see that someone is around and keeping an eye on things.
Offer to feed their pets. They may not want to have to put them in kennels as this is a big expense, so maybe you could volunteer to feed and walk them. We had this arrangement with neighbors in the past. When we were away, she did this for us and took care of mail. When she was away we reciprocated. It certainly made life easier for each of us.
Christmas could be a good time to start being a good neighbour.
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