Don’t set off fireworks in your yard like it’s the 4th of July
Loud music? Uncut lawn? Messy exterior? If you're guilty of these things, you might be the annoying neighbor driving everyone nuts. According to a recent survey by Fathom Realty, nine out of 10 Americans actually like their neighbors. But even the easy-going residents have certain deal-breakers. Here are six things that might make you an irritating neighbor—and how to be a better one.
According to Fathom’s survey, of those 10% of Americans that don’t care much for their neighbors, about half said noise was their number one complaint. Whether you live in a single-family home or a unit with shared walls, keeping noise to a minimum is a must. You’ll want to keep the television at a reasonable volume and do the laundry, dishes, and vacuuming during regular daytime hours.
You’ll also want to be mindful of playing musical instruments too loud. You can hire a soundproofing company near you to tackle whole-home or partial-home soundproofing projects.
Finally, let your neighbors know if you're having a party. They can reach out to you if your noise level is too loud.
While many of us love our furry friends, we might not realize that our neighbors may not. You could be hurting your reputation if:
You let your pet have free reign to run around the neighborhood.
You don’t clean up their mess.
You dispose of their potty bags in your neighbors’ trash.
You let them bark all day or during the night.
Not respecting boundaries comes in at the second-most irritating quality of an annoying neighbor, with 38% of those polled complaining about it. Property lines are important because they help homeowners know where their property begins and ends. But, you might be an annoying neighbor if you start planting trees, bushes, or putting up a fence without consulting your neighbors first.
Additionally, you may be causing your neighbor a headache if you don’t maintain your trees and plants, and they become overgrown on your neighbor’s property.
You’ll want to read your deed or hire a land surveyor for an up-to-date report of where your property line falls.
One of the most common ways you might be driving your neighbors nuts is by having a messy home exterior.
You might be an annoying neighbor if:
Your lawn is uncut.
You have unkempt shrubbery, flowers, trees, weeds, and mulch.
Your gutters are overflowing.
You leave toys and lawn equipment sprawled everywhere.
Your home’s siding is peeling, cracked, or dirty.
Your windows are not clean.
Luckily, these are easy fixes. You can hire a professional lawn care service to do some upkeep around your yard. A gutter cleaning pro can also come out and de-clog your gutters. As for your siding, professional power or pressure washing can do wonders.
Homeowners associations (HOAs) for condominiums and housing developments have rules and regulations for residents to follow. These often include designated quiet hours, assigned parking spaces, and special hours for working on home improvement projects.
If you’re the one homeowner not following the rules, your neighbors will likely complain to your HOA, and you might even receive a fine.
You're probably driving your neighborhood nuts if you’re a nosy neighbor who can’t mind your own business. This negative status can lead to your neighbors not inviting you to social events or sharing their exciting news with you.
Being a better neighbor starts with having respect for those living around you. Getting along with your neighbors is a two-way street, and having civility is the key to maintaining good relationships.
You can be a better neighbor by:
If you don’t want to be the house with overgrown weeds and grass, you should hire a local landscaper to beautify your yard.
You can also be the gem of your neighborhood by finding a local window cleaning professional to make your windows look shiny and new.
Neighbors appreciate helpful gestures, such as receiving suggestions for local restaurants, shopping, and places to visit. You can also recommend a trusted handyperson near you to help with various home projects.
Adding a fence to your yard helps keep pets and children within reach. And it also offers a sense of privacy and noise reduction for your neighbors. When installing a new fence, don’t forget to stay within your property lines.
Another great idea is to add privet hedges to your yard. These landscaped privacy hedges can grow upwards of 15 feet, making them ideal for keeping noise to a minimum.
Read up on your HOA rules about noise, parking, and home maintenance. Working alongside those in your community is much better than being the annoying neighbor breaking all the rules.
Even if you don’t have an HOA, you can still be a polite neighbor by not mowing your lawn early in the morning or playing music late into the night.
No neighborhood is devoid of conflict, but the best way to handle it is to discuss the issue with your neighbor—not turn to gossip.
Work together to resolve the dispute so you can keep the peace and maintain a healthy, happy neighborly relationship.
