Paint your home (as needed). Make necessary repairs to your home. This includes rotten wood, broken shutters, and more. While some repairs might be expensive, basic maintenance (paint touchups and replacing wood rot) can be inexpensive if you do it yourself. [1] X Research source
Cut your grass regularly. This might mean cutting every week or two depending on the season and your region. Remove fallen limbs, sticks, and other organic debris from your yard. Sod or seed your yard, if you lack grass. [2] X Research source
Don’t store your collection of classic project cars in your front yard or where your neighbors can see them. If you are serious about your fifteen project cars, put up a privacy fence to protect them and hide them from sight. Make sure trash makes it to the curb on trash pick-up day. Avoid storing excess furniture, Christmas decorations, your lawn mower, or other collectables on your porch.
Don’t let your animals roam freely. Free ranging dogs may chase children on bikes, runners, or otherwise cause problems. Free roaming cats could kill birds, squirrels, and more. Avoid blocking the path to your neighbor’s driveway. This could include not putting trash on the curb next to your neighbor’s driveway, or parking your car (or visitors’ cars) in certain spots. [3] X Research source
Monitor your dog (or other pets) and make sure they don’t bark or otherwise disturb your neighbors on a continual basis. If you have parties, make sure to limit the noise you produce and turn all music off at a reasonable hour. In many cases, eleven or midnight on the weekend is a good time to turn your music off. Nine or ten at night is a good time to turn it off on a week day. Try not to blast the radio too loud as you’re washing your car. Avoid sawing wood or cutting down a tree at inopportune times. Home improvement projects are best done between the hours of 10 and 5 on weekends. [4] X Research source
Always smile and say hello when you see them walking by, and greet new neighbors with a pie or other gift. Introduce yourself to new neighbors. Introduce yourself to neighbors you’ve never had the opportunity to meet. [5] X Research source
Plan an annual party. Ask your neighbors and others in the neighborhood to help you plan it. Invite everyone in your neighborhood. Organize mixers and activities for kids and everyone else. Remember, you may need local government permission to block off a street. [6] X Research source
Arrange for your club to meet once or twice a month. Hold fundraisers for supplies. If your neighborhood has a homeowner’s association, coordinate with them.
If one of your neighbors is sick, bring them soup. If someone’s spouse has passed away, visit them and comfort them. If you know someone is hurting financially, offer to pick up their utility bill one month. Offer to do yard/housework for free for seniors. [7] X Research source
Print out a flyer that calls for volunteers to join a crime prevention organization in your neighborhood. Talk to your immediate neighbors and anyone else in the neighborhood you may be familiar with. Hold weekly or monthly meetings in order to plan ways to prevent crime in your neighborhood. Contact the local police department and ask for them to send an officer to speak at your meetings. [9] X Research source
Taking care of your neighbor’s pets or plants when they are on vacation. Calling the police if any suspicious people are trespassing on your neighbor’s property. Remember, though, don’t be too intrusive or it may seem like you are spying on your neighbors. [10] X Expert Source Saul Jaeger, MSPolice Captain, Mountain View Police Department Expert Interview. 21 February 2020. Watching over your neighbor’s children or pets to make sure they are safe. [11] X Research source
Volunteer as a mentor for troubled neighborhood kids. Pick up litter. Join your homeowner’s association. [12] X Research source
Suggesting ways to resolve conflict between neighbors who have problems. Inviting conflicting parties to your home for coffee and a conversation. Let them know beforehand, and let them know you’ll act as a mediator between the two. That you should always be careful when putting yourself in between conflicting parties. You might be causing problems for yourself, too.
