Nothing can kill the excitement of moving into a new condo unit like discovering you have neighbors from hell—or that someone from hell has moved in next door. Sometimes, that neighbor might even actually be you. Here’s a quick guide to making your condo unit the one everybody wants to be next to:
#1 Introduce yourself
Living at a new place may be hard, and you may feel shy to introduce yourself to other tenants. Breeze through this ice-breaking period and immediately be the one to offer the first “hello.” There’s no need for extended small talk; a greeting alone goes a long way towards assuring them that you are not that new crazy next-door neighbor.
#2 Control your noise level
We all get the urge to turn up the sounds full-blast, but do remember that not everyone shares your taste in music. If a house party is inevitable, inform your neighbors about it rather than shocking them awake to “Despacito.” Unless they are massive killjoys (or you’re hosting your fifth soirée in a month), you should get a positive response. Extend the no-pressure invitation to drop by for a drink, and promise to wrap things up—or at least switch to “Closing Time”—at a decent hour.
#3 Never answer the door indecently
You should never answer the door topless, bottomless, or in any other creative state of undress in general. Life is not a rom-com, and rather than flirtily inviting themselves in, your neighbor will leave with a sense of dread at having to knock on your door again in the future. A towel does not count as clothing, by the way.
#4 Practice elevator courtesy
Not all heroes wear capes. If you see your neighbor approaching the elevator—whether they are visibly rushing or playing it cool—always hold the door for them. Their appreciation will be more than fair trade for those few seconds that you had to press the door hold button. While you’re at it, lend a hand, too, if they’re struggling with a load of groceries. And after using the condo’s swimming pool, make sure not to flood the elevator with the water dripping from your clothes. Be extra courteous and mindful; you don’t want other people to slip and fall.
#5 Practice common area etiquette
Condo amenities are usually best enjoyed when you have them all to yourself, but you can’t expect that to be the case every time. While there’s no need to interact while doing a few laps in the pool, other properties offer more avenues for neighborly socialization—so if your place features common areas such as a bar, relaxation area, or library, keep in mind that a proper guy next door does not make people think twice about walking in. Acknowledge fellow owners, do not unnecessarily “reserve” places, and avoid nudity yet again—sounds fairly easy, yet we’ve all run into people who treat these areas as an extension of their condos.
Did you enjoy this article?
