You took the leap and moved. You’re in the process of living your best life and quite possibly living in your dream home. Home of your dreams aside, you’re still not sure about your neighborhood.
You browsed the Internet and asked around, but these avenues don’t always tell the whole story. You’re not alone in this thinking and there’s no need to worry. Here are three ways to get to know your new neighborhood.
Explore And Do Further Research
The only way you’re truly going to learn about your new neighborhood is by exploring it yourself. Take a walk around the block and drive around stores and businesses. You should also explore your neighborhood during the day and night as the vibe of your town can change when the sun goes down (if you live in a college town or near the beach, this is especially true).
From everything you gather, we encourage you to do more research on the places you visit and the people you meet. If someone seems suspicious or you’re curious about what to watch out for, then do a quick search for the latest mugshots or criminal activity in your area. You can never be too careful and it’s also a good practice to know who’s living in your neighborhood and getting a better understanding.
Be Old-Fashioned: Knock On Your Neighbors’ Doors, Introduce Yourself
We understand that we live during a time period when people do a lot of their connecting on phones and computers. Not to mention, introducing yourself to your neighbors appears to be a thing of the past. However, if you really want to get to know your neighborhood, then you need to meet your neighbors.
Yes, talking to your neighbors can feel like a chore and many people don’t want to be bothered, but this is one area where it’s acceptable to be old fashioned. Your neighbors likely see that you are or have moved in. Once you’re settled in, knock on your neighbors’ doors (at a reasonable hour, of course) and introduce yourself.
This is an opportune time to not only meet the people who inhabit the walls next to your home, but it’s a reasonable time to ask them about the neighborhood. They can tell you information about your neighborhood that might not show up on the Internet, and you might even acquire a new friend (or someone to look over your house when you’re out of town, and vice versa).
Be Open-Minded
Many people hold onto personal beliefs, hobbies, and routines, but you moved for a reason—you desire some form of change in your life. This is a new adventure and the best way to get to know your neighborhood and also be the most well-rounded and reasonable version of yourself is by being open-minded.
Try new things, join local organizations, venture to places you typically don’t visit and burst out of your comfort zone. Learn about your neighborhood/town’s culture and history. You never know what you’re going to find, and you also don’t have to leave your home to do research.
For example, if you live in North Carolina and are interested in log and mountain homes and land, you can Google “Ashe County Real Estate” to find listings, information about local festivals, yearly celebrations, etc. You’re moving to a new area and you should do as much research as possible to get better acquainted with the neighborhood and see if it’s going to be a good fit.
There are many ways to discover your neighborhood. Exploring, doing your research, meeting your neighbors, and being open-minded is only the beginning.
