How best to introduce yourself to new neighbor

mr_stripey

Years ago when I was in my 20's we moved into a house with a couple of mates. Having a housewarming party on a Friday night (the same day we'd moved in) and a good time was being had by all.

There was a knock at the door and a middle aged guy stood there sheepishly and introduced himself as the next door neighbor and handed me a six pack of beer and asked if we'd mind turning the music down a little.

We apologised profusely to him and insisted that he come in for a drink with us. He reluctantly accepted and came in.

One drink led to another and it was some time later that there was another knock at the door. I answered it and there was a middle aged lady stood there who said "have you got my husband in here - he came round a couple of hours ago to tell you lot to turn the music down!"

We got on great with them actually - really good neighbours.

Snookie12cat

Mojisola said:

Snookie12cat said:

We are moving into our new house soon and it got me thinking, what is the best way to introduce yourself to the neighbours?

I don't want to be best mates but in my current house I feel like we left it to late and didn't have that stop and chat relationship with most the neighbors. 

When new neighbours moved in next door, I dropped a card round, welcoming to the neighbourhood and giving our names.  Perhaps you could do it the other way round with cards saying hello, we're the new people at no xxx, Snookie and partner. 
Like Kyrae, we're friendly with all the neighbours but don't go for the open house thing. 

Thank you. Not sure I'm the open house type too, but love a good natter out the front. 🤣

Mojisola

Snookie12cat said:

Mojisola said:

Snookie12cat said:

We are moving into our new house soon and it got me thinking, what is the best way to introduce yourself to the neighbours?

I don't want to be best mates but in my current house I feel like we left it to late and didn't have that stop and chat relationship with most the neighbors. 

When new neighbours moved in next door, I dropped a card round, welcoming to the neighbourhood and giving our names.  Perhaps you could do it the other way round with cards saying hello, we're the new people at no xxx, Snookie and partner. 
Like Kyrae, we're friendly with all the neighbours but don't go for the open house thing. 

Thank you. Not sure I'm the open house type too, but love a good natter out the front. 🤣

We chat over the garden fence, pass around surplus garden veg, feed the cats when owners are away, water the greenhouse plants, keep an eye on each other's houses, etc, so are all very friendly as neighbours but aren't part of each other's social circles. 

theoretica

Also think of local questions you might like answered - any local social media groups maybe.  Or the best takeaways...  In my area a good introduction seems to be joining a local freeshare group and asking if anyone wants moving boxes/packaging material (if you have them left over).

lookstraightahead

This last time I've been introduced by default when the neighbours welcomed us with a bottle of wine and could we check up our loft for their cat. It's still his favourite place.

Murphybear

We moved into a small village a few years ago.  We invited people from the dozen closest properties for a cheese and wine do.  Most of them came.  Apart from the next door neighbour none of them spoke to us again and we didn’t get Christmas cards.  

The next door neighbour, with whom we were quite friendly, said none of them spoke to her either.  

canaldumidi

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UnderOffer

I think knocking on the door can be uncomfortable and a little ‘in your face’ for both you and neighbour. I’ve always put a ‘hello’ card through neighbours doors just giving our names and saying no doubt we will see them about, but they are welcome to come and introduce themselves. 

This resulted in various responses, a card back through ours with neighbour details, a knock on our door by other neighbour introducing themselves. 

5 years on “Card neighbour” is still incredibly non chatty and private, “knock on door neighbour” we talk often and they are very open. 

Brie

I like the suggestion of popping round to ask a question about the neighbourhood - maybe when the bins go out or something? Where's the nearest fish and chip place?

First place we moved in to I popped round to ask if they had a can opener I could borrow.  My OH had been sensible about ensuring we had dinner supplies but forgot about the opener and was whacking at the tin of potatoes with a screwdriver and hammer.  It was then 16 years of her looking after our cats when we were away and me popping over with spare banana loaf.

Noneforit999

Depends on what sort of person you are and what sort they are. If you feel you want to introduce yourself, just knock on the door and explain you have moved in etc. 

Personally I will say hello to neighbours if I see them but I don't want to be friends with them. Perhaps I am just a grump but I just have no interest in other people's business and quite frankly, I have no interest in other people being involved in mine.

Sure, be friendly if you see them out and say hello etc but I don't confirm to the standard that you need to be friends with your neighbours.