Today's Ten on Tuesday topic is a timely one for me -- 10 Ways to Welcome Someone New To Your Neighborhood. Our next door neighbors are selling their house, so we will be welcoming a new family to the neighborhood in the near future. After seeing the parade of prospective buyers looking at the house over the past several weeks I suggested to my neighbor that I should have approval of any buyers before the final papers get signed, but for some reason he didn't seem to like that idea. So, I guess I will just have to try some of these welcoming ideas.
- Introduce yourself (with some fresh-baked cookies) after the new neighbors have had a chance to settle in.
- Take them some food -- something that they can heat and eat if they haven't yet unpacked the kitchen or freeze for later. Lasagna, ziti, or casseroles have been big hits on our block.
- Consider delivering the lasagna or casserole along with disposable plates, napkins, and utensils.
- Bake a welcome cake. This is a good one.
- If you're not a cake baker, maybe muffins or some cinnamon rolls might be a good idea. I welcomed one of our neighbors with zucchini bread and now she demands it every year (in a friendly, neighborly way, of course).
- Gift them with a nice pot of cheery flowers, something to make the front porch look welcoming.
- Prepare a list of useful neighborhood information -- emergency numbers, trash and recycling collection days, the good pizza places, coffee place, closest grocery store, doctors, dentists, libraries, the good mechanic ...
- Don't forget to include your own contact information along with pertinent neighborhood details.
- A bottle of wine is almost always a good idea to help deal with the stress of moving and unpacking.
- Let your new neighbors know that you're available if they want or need help (waiting for the cable guy or phone company, accepting UPS packages, etc.) but don't be a pest.
Terrific list - I think we'd make great neighbors!
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome list! I would love to be your neighbor Bonny!
ReplyDeletemy old neighborhood was welcoming and I loved the effort that was done to make my new home be my home. I now live in a very secluded suburb and we are friendly wavers and if we are walking we stop and say 'hey'.
ReplyDeleteGreat list, Bonny. Moving is so hard - and stressful! You will surely make your new neighbors welcome. (I hope you like 'em.) (My neighborhood is very . . . private. We wave and say hi. But it pretty much ends right there.) (And I'm okay with that!)
ReplyDeleteYou are a very welcoming person and anyone would appreciate your efforts!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to move in next door to you...but you'd be pretty disappointed to move next to me - there wasn't anything about food on my list!
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