We’ve all had neighbors who’ve been … well, let’s just state “less than best.”
You know the type: They practice with their garage bands late into the evening, never once thinking that their extended snare-drum solos might not be so charming to their neighbors. They park old, tattered sofas on their front porches. They mow their lawn at 7:30 a.m. each Saturday morning.
If you’re unfortunate enough to live next to one of these neighbors take solace in the fact that you’re not alone.
The Baltimore Sun in its Jan. 13 edition ran an interesting feature story by reporter Donna Owens on neighborhood etiquette. You can read it here.
The story includes some helpful tips that homeowners can follow to make sure they, at least, are being good neighbors. The tips are taken from The Civility Solution: What to do When People are Rude, a new book to be published in 2008 by P.M. Forni, founder of the Johns Hopkins Civility Project.
The suggestions sound reasonable enough: Pick up after your pet during walks; don’t mow your lawn or blow leaves before 10 a.m. on weekends; let your neighbors know when you’ll be hosting a large number of guests and apologize in advance for any parking-related problems this may cause.
Here’s an interesting one, though: If you’re planning a major home-renovation project, Forni recommends that you send notes to your neighbors informing them of the working hours and begin and end dates of the project. Sounds good, right? Forni also advises that you include two car-wash coupons with the note to help your neighbors deal with the inevitable dirt and dust caused by the renovation project.
Wow. I know I’ve never lived next to anyone that incredibly civil. I wouldn’t mind it, though.
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