How to Make Friends in Your New Neighbourhood

Adjusting to a new lifestyle in a new neighbourhood with new people around can be very stressful indeed, but only if you approach the matter in the wrong way – locking yourself up in your new home and getting all those post-move jobs completed seems like the priority and therefore you will get your life back on track quicker.

That is not entirely true.

While you need to get the essentials ready in the short run, it is recommended that you take a break from the unpacking process and have a look around.

Your priority should be to get to know your new neighbourhood and to try to establish a place for yourself.

Here are some proven strategies to quickly befriend your new neighbours and get to know the unfamiliar surroundings easily and with little effort.

You may also like to read: How to Make a New Place Feel Like Home. In this guide, we suggest ways to quickly get to know your new surroundings and how to make it feel like you belong there.

Introduce Yourself

Seek to meet your neighbours right after you move in.

There is a chance that some of them will come to greet you on moving-in day, having noticed the removal van and curious to know who will live next door.

These people may have come just to gossip or to offer a helping hand – either way, act politely and break the ice with a good joke and friendly attitude.

You will probably be tired, but the first impression is crucial, so find a way to reveal your best side.

Others will probably knock on your door during the following days to say “HI” and welcome you to the community.

Don’t hesitate to take advantage of any friendly endeavor – ask for some useful advice, search assistance, or inquire information.

Your neighbours will certainly be glad to help and get to know you better.

However, if the people in the neighbourhood happen to be too engulfed in their own business, or are too introverted, or too considerate about invading your privacy, be courageous enough to take the first step.

Mention how excited you are to have moved into their neighbourhood and that you would appreciate it if they showed you around the area and shared inside information about all the positive and negative aspects of their community life. 

Exchange contacts and invite them over to visit your new home as soon as you have settled in.

You may also like to read: How to Move Home as an Introvert. Not everybody is outgoing or makes friends easily. In this guide, we suggest strategies for making moving to a new area easier for introverts.

Throw A Housewarming Party

Even if you are not exactly in a party mood with all the stress and chaos caused by the moving process, having some fun with your new acquaintances will only do you good.

Organising a party will distract you from the endless tedious tasks you have to complete and will serve as a sign of your goodwill to your new neighbours.

Asking everyone in person is probably the best strategy, but an interesting hand-written invitation in their mailboxes will also do the trick nicely.

Make the event informal – drinks and snacks, some nice music, and amusing stories are all you need.

Relationships usually progress at a slow pace, so do not expect miracles.

Just relax, get to know each other a bit better, and above all – demonstrate a positive attitude and good intentions.

Arrange to get together with at least some of the people again sometime soon – meet for a coffee in the morning, or visit the local market during the weekend – whatever works for you.

True friendships often begin in a simple manner and develop steadily into valuable lifelong relationships.

You may also like to read: How to Throw an Unforgettable Housewarming Party. In this guide, we offer some tips, from preparation to clearing up, to make your housewarming party a success.

Be Easily Accessible

Your neighbours will find it difficult to express their goodwill if you keep your door shut.

Spend more time in the front yard if you have one – even if no work needs to be done, why not just read the newspaper on the porch or play with your pet outside?

Whether you are gardening, sweeping the porch, or enjoying a cup of tea, make yourself available – it will be interpreted as an open invitation to come for a chat.

Even if you have moved to an apartment, try to stay outside for a while.

Hang out at the favourite local shopping center, walk the streets to neighbourhood businesses, or sit on a bench in the nearby park.

You will give people a chance to talk to you and you will get the chance to observe daily life in the community.

Where do people gather? Which are the popular coffee shops and restaurants? What entertainments are to be found in the vicinity? It’s a win-win situation.

You may also like to read: How to Overcome Loneliness After a Home Move. In this guide, we look at ways to make moving to a new area on your own your new super-power and how being alone can open up so many opportunities.

Communicate With Your Neighbours

Certainly, you share your secrets and dreams only with your best friends and beloved people.

But striking informal conversations on common topics even with your new neighbours is neither difficult nor binding in any way.

Ask for assistance and guidance to quickly learn your way in the unfamiliar surroundings.

Correct information concerning cheap and quality shops and services, trustworthy doctors and reliable providers, good schools, and safety issues are of utmost importance, so refer to your neighbours for help.

The local people will be more willing to accept you as a part of their community if they feel that they can trust you.

Share your opinion and your experience sincerely and freely (but always in a polite manner) and you will be rewarded with respectful and warm treatment.

Do not try to impose rules and standards from your previous lifestyle – be open to new ideas and learn to appreciate differences.

Ask for the way things are done in your new neighborhood – it will be wise to observe the inner order of the community.

But if something troubles you or you have any ideas on how to improve the situation, offer a resourceful solution. It may be appreciated.

You may also like to read: How to Overcome the Fear of New Neighbours. It is perfectly natural to have anxiety about what your new neighbours will be like so in this guide, we suggest ways to manage that anxiety and overcome it.

Find Common Interests

If you want to befriend your new neighbours after a move, try to get involved in community life as much as possible.

Do not neglect the available opportunities and join any activity that you find likable.

Maybe you have always fancied photography but there were no classes held near your previous home, no tours organised especially for photo-taking, no specialised camera shops, etc.

And now you learn of a photography club located just round the corner? What are you waiting for?

Apply for membership in whatever club or activity attracts you!

You will be able to find people who share your interests and points of view.

Sports centres, book clubs, volunteer organisations, dancing studios, and all other places designated for practicing crafts and hobbies are the perfect venues for finding people with similar interests.

Sharing a common passion unites people and one feels best when in the company of kindred spirits.

Participate actively in the cultural life of the community.

Help organise festivals, concerts, and various other fun events in the neighbourhood. You will soon get a better feeling of belongingness!

Be A Considerate Neighbour

Visit local events and common spaces to meet more people and to have a reason to spend more time together, but what is of higher importance – do not remain indifferent to the needs and the problems and the emotions of your neighbours.

Even if nobody asks for help, be courageous enough to take the initiative – do your best to comfort a person if something bad happens, volunteer in case of a disaster or a misfortunate event, or just assist the sick or elderly community members in everyday chores like taking out the rubbish or doing their shopping.

A caring and considerate approach will win the hearts of your neighbours.

You may also like to read: Home Moving Etiquette. In this guide, we look at the do’s and don’ts of moving home so that you create the right first impression in your new neighbourhood.

Bonus Strategies

• Offer a compliment once in a while. A casual and sincere positive remark about their nice garden or lovely curtains, for example, will flatter your neighbours and encourage them to communicate with you;

Don’t annoy the people next door with careless and inconsiderate actions. Avoid loud music and noisy parties, keep the adjacent area clean, do not let your pets or children bother the others and do not impose your beliefs;

If you have children, organize a play-date or just take them to the playground during the first day after your move. Children are amazing at making new friendships! They will find playmates and you will find friendly parents to share experience and fun with! Pets are famous ice-breakers too – playing with yours in the park is sure to get you to meet other animal lovers in the area;

Find small ways to show kindness. Bring some home-made cookies to your neighbours; get a small gift for their kids; lend a useful tool or just a good book; give a greeting card or some flowers on special occasions – any thoughtful sweet gesture will do!

So, when you move to a new place, try to become the neighbour you always wanted to have!

Thus you will be granted a peaceful and happy experience in your new neighbourhood.

Dare to take the first steps, even if you can’t see the whole staircase – it may lead you to dear lifelong friends!

Be sure to visit our home moving blog which is packed with useful post-move advice to make settling into your new home and community so much easier.