Your Home And The Neighbors

I have a confession to make.

I’m not a very good neighbor. It’s not that I’m a bad neighbor. I keep my lawn nicely mowed and I don’t leave a bunch of debris around. I don’t play loud music you can hear half way down the block and I don’t really have huge parties that clog up the road for a block or two.

I just don’t interact with my neighbors as much as I could.

I hear stories all the time from people who are getting ready to sell their home about how great the neighbors are. This one grabs the mail. That one will keep an eye on the house if they go  on vacation or away for the weekend. People have block parties. Neighborhood watch programs.  All kinds of stuff.

For me and my neighbors, it’s more like a quick wave if we see each other getting the mail or getting into the car. Actually, it was my wife who went up to the neighbors when they were outside puttering around to introduce herself. That’s saying something because my wife is not really the outgoing type.  I’ll say “hi” but I’ve never been in any real conversation with either of the neighbors on either side of my house.

As a real estate guy, I always talk up neighborhoods because, at some level, they’re all about stability. Good neighbors are good for lower crime rates and higher involvement in civic life like the schools and whoever might be running for office. Sometimes I miss the Mayberry feel of a neighborhood with block parties and friendships that involve dinner or a cookout.

On the other hand, I don’t really go out of my way to be friendly with my neighbors. I don’t do the cookouts or talk up the block party. I don’t stand outside and chat with my neighbors when I see them puttering in their garden. No, for me, it’s kind hi and how are ya and see ya ’round.

I’m lucky, in a way. My neighbors seem to be OK with living their own  life. They must not be the extroverted type either. It’s also true that my neighborhood is really a group of houses that are far enough apart to create a private space. It’s not the type of neighborhood that lends itself to chatting over the fence or borrowing a cup of sugar or a tool for this or that.

Still, it’s a good neighborhood. Fairly quiet. Low traffic. There’s a small-ish park nearby and shopping and other amenities within a short drive.

Hey, what more could you want?

via:http://mdsuburbanhomes.com/2014/02/17/home-neighbors/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheMdSuburbsOfDC+%28The+MD+Suburbs+of+DC%29#.UxGJAeOSwpk