Whether you are moving home to downsize, or because your family has expanded and you need more room, leaving one neighborhood and the people that you know well, for one you don’t can be one of the biggest challenges. The good news is that there are ways you can ensure you integrate into your new community much more quickly. Read on to find out what they are.
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Throw an open house for your neighbors
One of the smartest ways to get involved with your local community when you first move home is to throw an open house for your neighbors. This is where you give them a specific time when they are all invited to drop in and meet you.
Open houses are low-pressure and informal, so they can make meeting new people much easier. They also give you something to talk about and break the ice over, and no one is required to stay for ages if the conversation is not flowing.
Most people throw open houses a few days after they have moved into a new property when they are mostly unpacked. This gives them time to get some invitations out to the houses around them in their neighborhood. Laying on some food and drink are popular options too, especially a BBQ if the weather is fine.
Join a shared interest group
One of the smartest ways of getting involved in your new community quickly when you move is to attend a group or class for something that interests you. This could be any activity from painting watercolors, to participating in team sports.
The great thing about joining such a group is that you will be instantly involved with a community of people that share a similar interest as you. That means you are much more likely to meet people that you have something in common with, and even if you don’t continue with the group over the long term, this can be enough to get you welcomed into a whole new friendship group.
Choose a property where the community is ‘built in’
Another way that you can much more quickly integrate yourself into a new community when you move is to choose a property where that community is already built in. For example, some apartments for rent go way beyond just offering accommodation. Instead, they provide facilities like theater rooms, games rooms, gyms, and pools, which encourage residents to mix with others and be part of the wider building community.
Getting active in the HOA
HOA or homeowners associations is also a great way of getting involved in your new community as quickly as possible. After all, those serving on the HOA will live around, and you will all have something in common – the community in which you live.
Of course, not all neighborhoods have HOA, but most have other similar groups like neighborhood associations that could also provide you with the opportunity of meeting and get to know the people that live around you in your new home.
