How To Deal with New Neighbors?

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My neighbor died of cancer a few years back, and her house was just sold. I do not know how to treat new neighbors. How do I greet them? Do I give them a gift? Food? I am at a complete loss because, believe it or not, I have never had new neighbors

Hi, I don't know much about USA customs concerning neighbourhood behaviour but I think that a little welcoming gift is the kind of thing that would please anybody. A handmade cake if you're good or even one you bought should do the trick.

And whatever is their reaction, don't ever think you've done anything wrong (unless you throw it into their face of course ). Anyhow, that's a very noble gesture to do.

Good luck !

I've never given any new neighbor anything, nor have we gotten anything when moving to a new place.
I doubt it's common.

As way of breaking the ice you could tell them what day the refuse is collected, I would find receiving baked goods a little too forward but then I live in Scotland where we are dour.

Never did I but it's a common thing that I already saw between people who like to physically socialize.

I've moved a lot in my life, and I've never done anything special with new neighbors, other than to wave when I see them. Once when I moved some neighbors came over to welcome me, but I found that odd and intrusive. I think in general there is no social obligation with strangers other than to be civil and polite.

I think it might be that I watch old shows from the 50's & 60's, where the people always invite new neighbors over for dinner and give housewarming gifts. Im not sure what the 2010's are like.

Usually I just wait until I run into the neighbor and then I say hi and introduce myself and say welcome to the neighborhood.

I agree with waiting until you naturally run into them or see them, and just say a friendly hi and brief introduction.

Okay, hi, I see that you're 17 which means you probably live with family members. If both younger and older family members, say two or three of you, go over there and give a baked good and keep the hello on the short and sweet side, that is probably a positive thing. Do give them space. They may or may not be particularly sociable people, and either way is okay.

I don't live alone right now, but I have lived alone. And for those of us who do live alone, it's just trickier to meet people and less likely to be well-received.

You can be as generous as bringing a baked good or a housewarming gift, or just stop by for a friendly hello.

Yes. I'm also in Scotland, and I'd be happy to be told when to put my bin out. . Anything more would just be freaky.

Around here its as well no custom to present you with gifts, but when you meet them the first time, I think its appropriate to do a general "Hallo! I am ..., your neighbor from right there." If they try to get you into gossip, and you are as bad at "weather talk" as I am, maybe try to get them into an informational talk about the neighborhood, so where are which kind of shops, the post office, the nearest good restaurant (specially when you move in, and half of your kitchen stuff is still unpacked you are in need of an restaurant ^^), a reliable car-repairshop, ...

Personally, as far as I can remember my family has never received or given welcome to the neighborhood gifts. Granted we've only moved 3 times and both times into suburbia at that. I feel that expectation is if a person were to give out a gift bag would be that they'd be exceptionally gregarious and outgoing and it'd be strange if weren't.

Hi. It was nice talking with you - however brief.

If I had a new neighbour I'd probably get a "Welcome to your New Home" card, get all the neighbours that I know to write a simple greeting in it (for example if a neighbour I knew was called Emma & lived at number 37 she may write something like: Hi, I'm Emma from number 37. Welcome to our neighbourhood.) with each neighbour writing a welcoming message on the one card, and write one myself. And then I'd post it through the letter-box of the people that had just moved in.

That's what I'd do.