Moving to a new home can be a really daunting process; From packing up your stuff to unpacking everything, and most importantly, to meeting your new neighbors. We understand that talking to someone you haven’t ever met is scary. Questions like ‘what if we don’t have anything in common?’ or ‘what if they don’t like me?’ will always come to mind before approaching someone in your building. There’s no need to worry, though! We’ve prepared a game plan for you, and meeting your neighbors will be a piece of cake! In this blog, we’ll go through different, cute ways to introduce yourself to your neighbors and our top tips for a great first impression.

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Specifically, we’ll touch upon how to:

• Start the conversation
• Ask questions
• Observe your neighbors
• Offer help
• Walk around and spend time outside your home
• Sign up for local memberships
• Find common interests
• Ask for an introduction
• Attend events
• Be friendly and make an effort
• Not to be pushy
• Host a gathering
• Be authentic, be yourself
• Join OneRoof

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Say hello 👋

Have you ever thought of leaving a note to introduce yourself to your neighbors?  How about a new neighbor introduction card? There are so many ways to say hello to people in your building! Let’s have a closer look at all these options that you have:

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Leaving a note to introduce yourself to your neighbors

If you don’t want to interrupt your neighbors or never really get the chance to see them around the building, one of your best options is to leave a note under their door or in their mailbox. In a few sentences: 

• describe yourself 
• let them know when you moved in 
• how old you are 
• what you do
• mention any other people living with you
• let them know you’d love to meet them in person

There are some great introduction notes and card ideas on Pinterest, but we think these cards make a very cute way to introduce yourself to your neighbors. 

If you’ve decided to leave your note outside your neighbors’ door, consider adding a few freshly cut spring flowers or maybe some homemade cookies? These will definitely make a great first impression, but we’ll go through various gift options later. 

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New neighbor introduction card

If you’re lucky and have received a card from your neighbors welcoming you to the building, make sure to be nice and return the favor! Knock on their door to thank them for their kindness or leave them a thank you note, introducing yourself. A small gift is always a plus!

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Gifts to introduce yourself to neighbors

Giving your neighbors a little gift when you introduce yourself is a very kind gesture that will help you make a great first impression. There are various gift options you could go for, such as:

• a potted plant
• a succulent
• a bouquet of freshly cut flowers
• baked goods such as cookies, pastries, etc.

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One thing to keep in mind about food related gifts is various food allergies and intolerances, so you might be better off getting your neighbors a plant or a bouquet. 

Ask questions and don’t hesitate to ask for help

It only makes sense that you’ll have a lot of questions when moving to a new neighborhood or building, and trust us, those questions make a great conversation starter. What are the closest grocery shops? What day is the farmer’s market? Instead of searching on Google, simply ask your neighbors! Once you get the answers you’re looking for, you can start chatting with them about other things that will help you identify common interests. 

It’s not just about asking questions though! You might need some help moving your furniture around or carrying a heavy item up the stairs. You can simply just ask a neighbor to give you a hand! We bet they’d be more than happy to help you out. 

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Observe

By that, we definitely don’t mean to start stalking your neighbors. It’s about paying attention to identify common interests. For example: If one of your neighbors walks in the building with a hockey bag, chances are he might be playing at the local team! If you’re a fan, just ask for more details or even invite them to watch a game with you. 

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Offer help

There are many ways you could offer help to your new neighbors. If they ask you to borrow something that you have, don’t hesitate to give it to them. It’s a great way to show them that you trust them and can be a great start to a friendly relationship. 

However, there are also ways you can actively offer help without your neighbors asking for it. For example, if an older person is living in the building, knock on their door and ask them if they need help with their grocery shopping. If a parent is juggling with taking their kids to their after-school activities, why not offer to drive them? Those little acts of kindness will help you get to meet everyone in the building and find out more about them and their daily life.

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Walk around

That’s right! Just because you haven’t received an invitation to the upcoming neighbors’ event, it doesn’t mean you should stay at home all day. Spending time outside will give you the opportunity to get some fresh air as well as meet new people. While you’re walking around the block, say hi to few people, some of them might live in your building! Make sure to spend time outside during the weekend and after work! That’s when most people go out to do their shopping or walk.

If you have a garden or a front porch, use it and spend some time there! You’ll be surprised how many people will approach you and make the first move to welcome you to the neighborhood. 

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Sign up for local memberships

Signing up for local memberships is one of the best ways to meet people living in the neighborhood. Depending on your interests, think about joining the local gym, a sports team, a book club, or a volunteering organization. This way, you’ll be able to meet like-minded people while knowing they share similar interests to you; saying hello is much easier in this case, right?   

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Finding common interests

We know that’s difficult. It’s hard enough to find common interests with your friends, let alone strangers. There’s no need to worry, though; there’s a way around it. You need to start with the basics.

• Observing your neighbors is a great way to identify ways you can connect with them.
• Become friends on social media to learn more about them
• Join any building/community channels on social media
• If you decide to write a new neighbor letter, mention the things you like. 
• Sign up for local memberships
• Ask them if they’re watching some of your favorite shows and invite them for a movie night

Touching upon topics such as tv shows, music preferences, or favorite recipes is a great way to start the conversation with your neighbors. It will give you the opportunity to organize a get-together where you’ll be able to find out more about them and maybe become friends!

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What if you have nothing in common?

That’s okay too, and there’s no need to feel bad about it! You can still have a friendly chat and help each other out in times of need. You can then shift your efforts and focus towards other neighbors with interests more aligned to yours. 

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Ask for an introduction

Assuming you’ve followed some of our recommendations above, you’ve already met a couple of people living in your building by now. If your relationship is smooth and you’ve found a few things you have in common, you can simply ask them for an introduction to other neighbors. An introduction will make things so much easier as you won’t have to break the ice, and you might even already know a few things about them. 

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Attend events

Attending local events is a great way to make some new friends and become part of the local community. The thought of it can be scary, especially if you’re showing up all alone. However, keep in mind that these events are organized for people to meet each other and have a good time. Everyone is open to meet new people, and you’ll be surprised by how many neighbors will come and say hi to you. Just say hi back, start the conversation and show everyone how fun you are to be around. 

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Be friendly and make an effort

Whatever approach you decide to follow to meet your new neighbors, you need to be friendly and be yourself. People will appreciate the extra effort you are putting into making these new friendships, and they will likely return the favor. Being nice, kind, and polite will make your neighbors feel positive about you, and it can be a great start to a friendship.  

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Don’t be pushy

Of course, you should be talkative, friendly, and polite when approaching one of your neighbors. However, keep in mind not to be too pushy and aim to keep it short. Your very first conversations/interactions with your neighbors should be slightly generic and not too long. Ask them about the building, the area, and where everything is. Leave it up to them to continue chatting or invite you for a coffee. Being patient will definitely pay off in the long run, and you’ll slowly start bonding with your neighbors. 

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Host a gathering or dinner party

This is one of the most fun ways to get to know your neighbors. We totally get it, you just moved in, and the last thing you want to do is host a gathering and plan an event. However, it doesn’t have to be planned to the T. People know that you have a lot on your plate from unpacking to sorting everything out, and they won’t expect you to host a glamorous dinner party. 

Invite them to a casual get-together and ask them to bring snacks or drinks. If you have access to a garden or patio and the weather is good, host your event there - people love chilling outdoors. Here you’ll find lots of ice breaker questions to play during your gathering with your neighbors. These are a great way to get to know each other and have some fun at the same time - nobody wants to feel those awkward vibes! 

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Be authentic, be yourself

There’s no point in pretending to be someone you’re not just to please the neighbors and force them to like you. Of course, the first impression counts, but it also fades away after a while. You want to make new friendships that will last in time, and the only way to achieve that is by being yourself and showing your neighbors your true colors. 

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Join OneRoof

Is your building registered to OneRoof? Download the app and join the community! Through OneRoof, you’ll answer a few questions; we’ll match you with like-minded neighbors and add you to the relevant communication channels. Whether you’re looking for a gym buddy or a cooking enthusiast, you’ll meet your neighbors in no time! 

Moving to a new place can be really stressful, especially if you don’t know anyone in the area.  Not only you have to explore around and find out where everything is, but also you want to make new friends and meet everyone living in your building. Make an effort, leave a note, ask for and offer help, spend time outside, join local events, and most importantly, be yourself - that’s how to introduce yourself to your new neighbors. Are you ready?