Meeting the Neighbors

Congratulations! All (or at least some) of the boxes are unpacked, the utilities are turned on, and you’re settled into your new place. Now you want to take advantage of living in an apartment: all those new neighbors who could become potential friends. The trick is getting to know them in a way that keeps them, and you, comfortable. Here are some tips for turning strangers into conversation partners and making your apartment community your friendly neighborhood.

Say hi
First, go ahead and say hello. This is especially true for your immediate neighbors when you first move in — they’ll see all the boxes going back and forth, and naturally be curious. You can keep the chat light and simple; try asking for the recommendations as to the nearest grocery store, dry cleaners, or place to get good furniture cheaply. (Another advantage of this approach is that you get to talk to your neighbors before you have to bang on their door to get them to turn their music down — or they on yours.)


Apartment community events
Another possibility in many larger apartment communities is to meet people at community-sponsored gatherings. If your community has a weekly social hour or hosts a Saturday morning brunch, you get the benefit of both free food and an opportunity to socialize.

Use your amenities
Taking advantage of the common facilities — the pool, the exercise room, the laundry room — will also put you in contact with your neighbors. You don’t have to make gregarious conversation every time, but a smile and a “Hi” at first meeting will make it easier when you do feel more sociable. If there’s a place to put notices (say, a bulletin board in the laundry room), check it every so often; you might get word of interesting events that your neighbors plan to attend.

Safety first
While meeting people can be fun and interesting, there is one thing to keep in mind: Pavilion at Plantation Way do credit checks of potential renters, and also background checks. That is to say, your new neighbors will be perfectly law-abiding citizens.


Start a group
Finally, try starting your own group: post notices for a group dog-walking, book club, prayer circle, or cooking class. Have a friend join in and see how many people you can attract. You’ll be guaranteed to have something in common with them, and they might be grateful that you took the initiative to get something organized.

Meeting people can feel risky, but you might be surprised at the rewards.

Macon Apartments
SC Bodner Apartment Communities