One of the most exciting aspects of moving to a new home is getting the chance to meet your new neighbors.

It can also be the moment that you dread the most. You never know who might be living down the hall, in the house next door, or sharing a wall with you.

Since first impressions are everything when you meet your new neighbors, having a plan to follow can help you create the relationships you want.

Are You Ready to Meet Your Neighbors Today?

If you’re waiting for your neighbors to introduce themselves, you’ll be waiting for the doorbell to ring for a long time. Most people prefer to let others make the first move, which means it is up to you to kickstart this relationship!

Here are some ideas to help take some of the awkwardness away.

1. Present yourself with a kind gesture.

It always helps to meet your neighbors with something kind, such as a small gift. It becomes a natural icebreaker, especially when you manage to get them something that they love. Since most people have food sensitivities or different feelings about alcohol, consider taking over a small succulent or a flower bouquet when making introductions.

2. Throw a housewarming party.

If you’ve moved into a relatively large building, you might go broke getting niceties for everyone as you make introductions. That’s why it might be better to throw a simple housewarming party. You can offer a tour of your home, play games, offer a variety of refreshments, and have some fun getting to know the people who will be living next to you.

3. Attend a community event.

When you’re not keen about knocking on the front door of a stranger, it might be fun to attend a community event. Many buildings, HOAs, condo associations, co-ops, and other residential groups host these gatherings to encourage networking and volunteerism. If you’ve moved to a small town, consider attending one of the festivals that get thrown.

If you get involved with your community regularly, it won’t take long for people to start getting to know who you are. That’s when it becomes easier to make friends.

4. Host a dinner party.

Although you might want to wait on this one until you’ve met most of your neighbors, it can be fun to invite one or two people or couples over for a meal. It’s a quieter way to get to know people, offering more cordiality while keeping things laid-back and fun.

It helps to ask in advance if there are any food sensitivities or items to avoid when hosting a meal. If you’re unsure of someone’s dietary requirements, you can always make it a homestyle experience where everyone brings something.

5. Get a membership somewhere in the neighborhood.

If you get a gym membership, join the YMCA, or use other neighborhood facilities, you’ll have more opportunities to meet people or try new things. It’s a lot easier to get to know people when you discover a shared love of certain recreational opportunities.

These memberships don’t need to involve money. You could join a Facebook group, a reading club, or a hiking crew that explores local trails each weekend.

6. Spend some time outside.

When you’ve purchased a new home, you’ll be spending some time outside getting things fixed up the way that you want them. If you’re working in your yard, you’ll find that others will start taking care of their chores at the same time. By working together to beautify your neighborhood, you’ll get used to seeing everyone.

After you get to know the people a little as you’re outside, it’ll be easier to have more extended conversations with them. At the very least, it won’t seem intimidating.

If you moved into a condo or an apartment building, you could volunteer to help clean the common areas or find ways to be in those spots to have a chat with others.

7. Ask your new neighbors for advice.

For most humans, it is built into our nature to help others when they need some assistance. If you stop by introducing yourself and asking for some advice about your new home, you’ll have an instant conversation starter. You might ask about the best restaurants in the area if there’s a gym they use, and then let the conversation start evolving.

Do you need to meet your neighbors? Although it isn’t required, you’ll find that most neighbors turn into great friends. That’s why it is worth the moments of awkwardness to engage with others.