Etiquette for New Homeowners, and their Friends, Neighbors & Relatives
by Mark Nash
Moving is hard work, stressful and filled with adventure. These do's and don'ts can help you position the new home adventure you or someone you know is having a positive one. It makes sense to know what's proper and what's not in your or your relatives, friends or neighbors new home and hood. Mark Nash author of 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home shares some do's and don'ts on new homeowner etiquette.
Do's
-Host your own housewarming party, if your a new homeowner invite friends and family over to see the new place.
-Deliver your sets of keys to your new neighbors home that the previous homeowners gave to you.
-Introduce yourself, your partner and children to your neighbors before they seek you out. New homeowners, young and old love to be welcomed to the hood.
-Offer to introduce you new neighbors and their dog(s) to other dogs they might run into on neighborhood walks.
Don't forget to warn new homeowners with pets about which dog-owners allow their dogs to go off-leash.
-Offer advice on your favorite bakery, hair stylist, babysitters and dog groomers.
-Alert them to the locations of 24-hour stores, in case your new neighbors have an emergency in the middle of the night.
-Offer to help family members who are new homeowners get unpacked or clean.
-Offer to take mountains of packing and moving boxes to the local recycling center for new homeowners.
-Offer to host an informal neighborhood get-together for your new neighbors to meet the current ones.
-Know when it's time to go home, don't wear out your welcome with the new homeowners.
-Bring your new neighbors bottles of chilled spring water on moving day and offer to catch up with them once they get settled.
-Deliver your name, address and phone number with a list of emergency numbers to your new neighbor.
-Offer to clear recently moved-in new neighbors sidewalks after a snowfall, especially if they moved from a non-snow climate.
-Suggest that packages your new neighbors are expecting can be left at your home while they are at work.
-Wave to your new neighbors if you don't have the time to talk.
-Ask your neighbors who they would recommend for repairs and remodeling projects in your new home.
-Do learn from neighbors with different cultural backgrounds.
Don't
Register for gifts if your hosting a housewarming party in your new home.
-Expect housewarming guests to bring gifts and if you do receive gifts, open after the party.
-Drop in on new homeowners, call first.
-Offer decorating advice to a new homeowner unless asked.
-Don't ask how much they paid or imply that the new homeowner over or under paid. People consider financial information private.
-Gossip about the previous homeowners, you might not know if the new owners still talk with them.
-Gossip about others in the neighborhood. Let new make their own decisions.
-Attach ribbons, signs or flags to the new homeowners property without asking permission.
-Ask your new neighbor to trim trees or hedges on your first meeting, they probably know what needs to be done, in time.
-Expect new homeowners to have free time. Moving, working and setting up a household is at the minimum a part-time endeavor.
Housewarming Gift Suggestions
For everyone.
Artist rendering of the new house.
Personalized stationary with the new homeowners address.
How-to home repair book.
Homemade baked goods.
Fresh-picked vegetables and fruit from your garden.
Blooming or foliage houseplants.
Watering can for inside plants.
Specialty Coffee and Teas.
Fun and funky kitchen towels.
Exotic spices.
Gift certificates for home improvement stores, house cleaners, dog walkers, landscapers, local restaurants, spa, window washers.
Bar Accessories, corkscrew, cocktail shaker, wine and drink coasters.
Everyday wine glasses.
Champagne to toast the new homeowners.
Picture frames.
Candles.
Bar accessories: bottle opener, corkscrew, swizzle sticks, and cocktail shakers.
For those with a yard.
Garden tools, or potted perennials from your yard.
Bird feeder or house.
American Flag.
Mark Nash's fourth real estate book, "1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home" (2005), and working as a real estate broker in Chicago are the foundation for his consumer-centric real estate perspective which has been featured on ABC-TV, CBS The Early Show, Bloomberg TV, CNN-TV, Chicago Sun Times & Tribune, Fidelity Investor�s Weekly, Dow Jones Market Watch, MSNBC.com, The New York Times, Realty Times, Universal Press Syndicate and USA Today.
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