March 2020

Whether you’re passing each other in the hallway or you stop to say “hello” to someone in the parking lot, living in an apartment community provides endless opportunities to interact with your neighbors. A little courtesy can go a long way and make apartment life much more enjoyable. There are plenty of ways to break the ice early on and maintain a courteous relationship with your fellow neighbors.

Introduce Yourself and Greet New Neighbors

Take the time to introduce yourself as you’re moving in. More than likely, some people will reach out to you first, but it never hurts to smile and start the conversation. If you notice someone new moving in, go out of your way to introduce yourself to them, too. Everyone wants to feel welcome and comfortable in a new place. Consider keeping a list of apartment or townhome numbers and the first names of the people you’ve met in each. Then you can call them by name when you run into them or want to connect. Creating friendly and personal relationships also makes it easier to interact in the future, especially if anyone has questions or concerns.

Be Considerate About Noise Levels

Sharing walls, ceilings, and floors means sound travels between apartments. An easy way to maintain respect from adjoining neighbors is to use inside voices, keep the music and TV volumes low, and wear soft footwear in your space, especially on hard floors. Other considerations might be vacuuming or using loud workout equipment when people are typically awake. When it comes to parties, let your neighbors know in advance that you’ll be entertaining. Making sure they aren’t surprised by a little extra noise goes a long way toward maintaining a good relationship.

Choose Neighbor-Friendly Pets

Erie Station Village is pet-friendly for both dogs and cats. We believe living with a pet is one of the most rewarding relationships you can have. Ideally, smaller pets are the best fit in an apartment. Cats and small dogs don’t usually make a lot of noise while walking on floors and are less likely to be threatening to other neighbors. Be transparent with the leasing staff about your current pets or plans for a pet. Also, be sure to keep dogs on a leash and clean up after them. Erie Station Village has pet clean up stations along our sidewalks to help make this easier.

Offer Help or Convenience

This one is simple – do something for a neighbor that you would hope they’d do for you. If you see someone emptying a car full of groceries or other bags, offer to hold the door and help carry things. If anything seems out of the ordinary at your elderly neighbor’s place, knock on their door to see if they’re okay or need assistance. Be the first to offer a favor and you’ll always have a helping hand when you need one yourself.