Moving into a new home and not knowing anyone in your community can be intimidating. To become an active member of your neighborhood, make some effort to get to know your new neighbors. You’ll plant the seeds for making friends and building long-lasting relationships by taking a few first steps.
Want to meet new people in your new community, but need help figuring out how to start? Consider trying the following seven tips when you make your residential move.
1. Smile and Say Hello
Like in any other situation, first impressions matter. People will always be curious about their new neighbors, and by smiling and saying hello at your first encounter, you’ll give off positive vibes and show your neighbors you’re friendly and want to be a part of the community. Turning the other way, being neutral or outright ignoring people (even if you’re just shy) might make neighbors feel uneasy about you. As a result, they might avoid socializing with you in the future.
2. Throw a Housewarming Party
Once you’re settled in, invite your new neighbors to a housewarming party. It doesn’t have to be a formal housewarming party; you can hold a backyard barbeque, cocktail hour, or other informal event. Other ideas are to host events, such as trivia night, cookie swap, or for snacks to watch a big game on TV.
3. Host Individual Dinners
Is a big gathering too intimidating for you? Consider inviting your immediate neighbors over for a small dinner party. Or, even if you hosted a big event in the previous months, start inviting individual households over for brunch or dinner so you can get to know them better.
4. Attend Community Events
After you’ve finished unpacking your belongings, organizing your furniture, and settling in, take some time to find events in your community. Check out Facebook pages, community bulletin boards, and local businesses to see if any clubs, socials, festivals, or other outings are open to the public. Finding an activity you’re passionate about can help you link up with other like-minded people.
5. Attend Meetings/Volunteer
Are there any gatherings or meetings you can attend? One of the best ways to meet people is to get involved with the community by attending HOA or PTA meetings. You can also seek out volunteer opportunities. It’s an excellent opportunity to make a difference in your community while making social connections in your community.
6. Join Local Gyms or Sports Teams
Are you an outdoors enthusiast or like hanging out at the gym? A relaxed and fun setting provides the perfect backdrop to make new friends. Join a local facility or purchase a recreational membership. Your new town may have a community center, tennis, sports teams (e.g., softball, soccer, etc.), a gardening club, or other types of activities and events.
7. Spend Time Outdoors
It’s hard to meet people if you spend your days indoors. If you have a dog, go for lots of walks instead of setting up a backyard run. Like to garden? Spend time outdoors planting a garden to beautify your yard. Over time, you’ll start to see plenty of familiar faces – and your yard will look great too.
Convenient Relocation!
Getting to know people in a new place is often stressful and intimidating, but being proactive and taking those critical first steps to introduce yourself usually eases any tension and makes it more comfortable to reach out to people.
Ready to set a date for your move? Contact us today for a free quote.