If there is one universal hope that we all have when we move into a new apartment or home, it is that our neighbors will be kind, peaceful and respectful. What many of us forget is that we are neighbors, too, and it is up to us to hold up our side of the bargain. Most of us don’t set out to be bad neighbors; we simply don’t realize that our behavior is annoying other people, but a surprising percentage of us will put up with bothersome behavior for long periods of time because we don’t want to “make it worse by saying something.” Here are a few basic tips you can follow to be a great neighbor to those around you in Kansas.
When you move into a new apartment, try to hold some kind of neighbor get together so you can all meet face to face. Studies have shown that apartment crime and vandalism happens less often if the people in a building know each other well. Things like suspicious activity can be reported easier and things like neighborhood watch groups are much more effective.
One of the major reasons why people put up with annoying behavior so long without saying something is because they simply don’t know the people who live around them well enough to go knocking on their door complaining. By inviting over your neighbors or even hosting a housewarming party, you can learn first names and apartment numbers so that if someone is being disruptive, you don’t feel as out of place knocking on someone’s door for the first time.
As far as behavior goes, the golden rule is your best guide. Treat others around you as you would like to be treated. You can even ask to go over to a neighbor’s apartment while you have music on to see how loud you can have it before it causes problems. You might get a few odd looks from roommates, but you can bet they will appreciate the extra effort you are taking to be a good roommate.
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