Type #5 - 5 Types of Neighbors and How to Handle Them

You can pick your friends, but not your family -- or your neighbors. Here's what you need to know.

By Geoff Williams, FrontDoor.com | Published: 9/22/2008

Difficult neighbors come in many forms -- from meddlesome to malicious. Try to keep a good relationship with neighbors to keep conflicts at a minimum.

The Difficult NeighborWho they are: Who aren't they? They're the aforementioned neighbors as well as anyone who makes your life more complicated than it needs to be.

How to handle them: "The thing I do is keep a good rapport," says Susan Nelson, a landscape designer in Tampa, Fla. "I really feel that the small amount of physical contact goes a long way with neighbors. I notice who keeps to themselves and it comes off as being unfriendly. These days, there aren't many chances of making impressions with your neighbors, so a simple wave or hello can represent you well."

Rosenberg concurs, piling onto Smith's plea for a little communication. "If you explain your problem in a reasonable, nice way, suddenly you're no longer anonymous. Often we have an issue with a neighbor we don't know, and so we hate their guts, and we don't even know their name."

And if you don't say something to your neighbor, why should they stop doing whatever they're doing? If you do talk, a solution may just be forthcoming. After all, Rosenberg adds, "Most people don't want to be that neighbor."

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