Make a point to meet two people this week in your apartment community.
It’s a good idea to get to know your apartment neighbors — whether you really want to or not!
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Whether you are full-on friendly or super-shy, you should make the effort to meet at least two or three of your apartment neighbors for these four simple reasons.
Create the neighborhood you want to live in by paying attention to your neighbors.
Apartment living can offer just as much of a community feel as living in a stand-alone home. It’s even easier to get a sense of community in an apartment when, after all, you live closer to your neighbors.
Here are some of the key elements that help to establish a community vibe for you and your apartment neighbors. You can create the neighborhood you want to live in by paying attention to these qualities.
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Comfortable places
Comfort and community starts on the inside, which means creating an apartment home where you feel safe and comfortable. As soon as you move in, make an effort to personalize your space and make it your own. Hang your favorite artwork, add fresh flowers or cheery houseplants, and decorate your front door or outdoor space. The faster you feel at home in your apartment, the more you’ll want to explore your apartment community and get involved.
Friendly faces
You can personally have a huge impact on the sense of community between your neighbors. All it takes is a smiling face and a simple hello to create bonds that will lead to a rich community sense for everyone.
Don’t wait for neighbors to speak to you first. Become the MVR (Most Valuable Resident) by practicing consistent, friendly behavior. Wave to fellow residents as you drive through the parking lot, say hello to neighbors you pass in the hallway, stop and pet a dog or two and take a moment to play with the kids.
This kind of generosity and kindness is contagious. By making the first move, you’ll naturally build an apartment life that feels close-knit. Try being extra-friendly for a full week and notice the effect it has on you and your neighbors.
Shared spaces
Don’t be afraid to settle in, both inside your own apartment and in common areas. Shared spaces are a hot spot for community living. Make the most of areas like the pool, fitness room, clubhouse and dog park. The more you hang out in these spots, the easier it will be to make friends and feel like you belong in your community. Even if you don’t have a dog yourself, you might take a quick walk by the pet area and say hello to the folks walking their dogs, for instance.
Also, get involved in any community-sponsored activities and organizations that bring members together. Your community may sponsor social events that are great for mingling and meeting new faces. The support of neighbors is always needed to make events like these successful. When many participate, the energy can really make a difference to the experience of sharing life together in a community.
If you want to take your apartment’s community feel to the next level, host a party of your own. Plan a simple potluck dessert party in a common space and invite everyone to join in. If you live in a building that doesn’t have much shared space, organize a meet-up event for your neighbors at a local coffee shop. If you have a good turnout, make it a monthly gathering or expand it into a book club or wine tasting group.
When you’ve created a cozy living space in your apartment, enjoyed using community spaces and shared a friendly face with your fellow apartment dwellers, the time will come to relax and enjoy being an important part of the wonderful community you helped create!
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When looking for an apartment, know the types of services you would like located nearby.
As you search for an apartment community, remember to keep neighborhood conveniences in mind.
You will likely factor available services into your final decision. Here are some ways to find an apartment community located near the conveniences you value.
Know what you need and want most
What is important to one person may seem an unnecessary luxury to another. In order to know the types of services that you would like to have in your community, make a list of the ones you have depended on most often in the past.
Your list of important neighborhood conveniences might include:
• Your favorite grocery store chain (or a local equivalent)
• Personal services like dry cleaners, salon or barber, spa
• A range of restaurants to suit your taste
• A gym that meets your personal fitness needs
• A neighborhood spot to hang out and socialize, like a coffeehouse or bar
• Auto-related amenities like a car wash and fueling station
• Your branch bank
• Movie theater or other entertainment options
• Retail shopping possibilities
• Natural spaces to enjoy the outdoors (places to walk, for instance)
How far are you willing to go?
There are different levels of convenience to suit everyone of course. Some people are happy with local amenities being a short drive away, where others might desire a walkable neighborhood with conveniences right outside their door. Know what you want and how far you are willing to go to get it.
Do a drive-by
Once you have your list of must-have local amenities, you can scope out potential apartment communities with these in mind. Mark up a map of the surrounding area, noting where your favorites are located. Once you have data collected on a few apartment communities, you can see which come closest to your wish list of close conveniences.
Benefits of local amenities
Living in an apartment community with lots of neighborhood conveniences will certainly make a difference in your quality of life. Having everything you need located nearby can save you valuable time. Remember to make local amenities a priority in your apartment search!
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Moving to a new neighborhood means meeting new people and finding new ways to join the community. But with our heads in our phones, it might get tricky. A quick hello, shopping locally and volunteering are quick and easy ways to get involved in the neighborhood and meet your new neighbors.
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Have a get-together to get to know your new neighbors better.
Building and having a strong relationship with your neighbors positively affects your living situation. Good neighbors make our lives more pleasant, and it gives us a sense of community. This goes beyond knowing the neighbor on either side of your apartment; this includes getting to know the other residents in the building. Whether you’ve been there for years or you’re new to the apartment community, meeting your neighbors may be awkward at first, but here are a few ideas to get you started.
Remember to smile. This is a simple thing that can often be overlooked. This will make it easier to approach you, and it allows your neighbors to feel comfortable with you.
Start with small talk. If you’re in the parking lot or riding up the elevator with a new neighbor, introduce yourself and ask the neighbor how he/she is doing, and ask about their day. Make it a habit to say hello to your neighbors.
Bake cookies, brownies or a casserole for your new neighbors. Drop the goodies off while introducing yourself and let the new neighbors know where you live. Give them tips, like where they can get the best local brew or the best slice of pizza.
Start walking or jogging around your neighborhood. Stop and chat with your neighbors along the way to make yourself more recognizable. Also by doing this, you will familiarize yourself with the faces of the people who live in the area. This will create a safer environment for everyone, as you’ll be able to spot a stranger in your neighborhood quicker, and your neighbors will be more aware of what’s going on with your apartment.
If you have a dog, walk around your apartment building and explore your new neighborhood. In addition to giving your pet some exercise, you’ll get to meet other pet lovers. Ask questions about the neighborhood. For example, ask about pet parks, cafes and other pet friendly spots in town.
Throw a party. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an all-night bender; it can be an informal barbecue, pool party or a get-together to watch a game. Invite your new neighbors by hand-delivering invitations, which will give you a better idea of what your neighbors are like. The get-together should be relaxed and the environment should be welcoming.
Get involved with the neighborhood. If your apartment community has an association, go to the meetings. These meetings are important to help you learn more about your community, as well as your new neighbors. Also, familiarize yourself with local clubs and organizations. Use websites like www.meetup.com to help find organizations based on your interests.
Shop local. Hit up the local farmers market and talk with the employees and other shoppers. Chances are, if the other shoppers love to shop local, they can give you insight on other great local shops and markets.
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Keep your apartment pool a beautiful and fun place to go by practicing proper pool manners.
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One of the reasons you picked your apartment was the complex’s community pool, and now that it’s almost summer, you can finally use it. But a day of relaxation at the pool can often come with the headaches of too many guests, obnoxious music and screaming children. Practice and preach the following apartment pool etiquette to make you and your fellow residents’ summer pool experience enjoyable.
Limit your guests. Feel free to invite friends to your apartment pool, but be respectful of other residents and refrain from inviting your entire family or kickball team. Three to four guests should be a general limit. If you decide you’d like to invite more people and throw a private party, talk to your complex’s office. Many will allow you to rent the area for an afternoon or evening.
Also, make sure your guests are aware of any community rules and respect the other residents as you would. Do not allow them to be overly loud or obnoxious, and don’t let them visit the pool without you.
Pay attention to your kids/pets. Children (of the human and pet variety) light up our lives, but they can often ignite disturbances in pool areas. Make sure your kids know the pool rules – generally, no running, diving, jumping or splashing other guests – and keep your eyes on them. They shouldn’t scream or throw things either. If dogs are allowed on the pool deck, keep yours tied to your lounge chair or table, and do not allow him or her in the water.
Know your noise. Most people enjoy listening to music while laying out and/or swimming. However, remember that residents who live around the pool may not be as enthralled in your musical taste, so keep the volume at a reasonable level.
No glass. A trip to the pool isn’t usually complete without the presence of your favorite adult beverage, but be sure not to bring any glass containers to the pool area. Broken glass and bare feet are a dangerous combination, so only bring cans, or transfer your drinks to plastic cups before going to the pool.
Clean up. Few complexes have lifeguards or official pool monitors, so it is your responsibility to clean up your own trash and keep the pool and deck pleasant. Dispose of beer and soda cans, food and food containers and any other left-behind items. Also, straighten or replace any pool furniture you have used.
Dress appropriately. By all means, show off that bikini body you’ve spent the last nine months working on, but save the G-strings and speedos for your private pool.
Lastly, respect general hygiene concerns and relieve yourself in designated bathroom facilities. No one wants to swim in that.