Arsineh Boghozian

8 Best Strategies to Deal with Bad Neighbors By Arsineh Boghozian Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash Living in a peaceful home is one of the most important factors in maintaining good mental health. My family and I dealt with a horrible neighbor for years. Dealing with bad neighbors takes away all your good energy and brings a nasty environment even inside your own four walls. Here are 8 ways that will make it easier for you to carry out with bad neighbors. Keep calm When you’re reacting to incidents emotionally and start yelling and shouting, you’re making everything much more complicated. You’re using the words that you’re not supposed to say, and maybe that could be used against you in the future. You’ll have a better mood and perspective if you wait and respond with calmness. Besides, getting angry will have a terrible impact on your health. Instead, at the moment when you’re about to get angry try taking a deep breath, drink some water, and count from 1 to 10. These will help you calm down. Setting boundaries Setting boundaries is the most crucial matter you can establish between you and your neighbors –yes, even good neighbors. Saying hi and bye, and hosting a coffee get-together and brunches or borrowing items from each other is wonderful. But try not to bother your neighbors all the time, and keep in mind they have a life too. Photo by Trayan on Unsplash Divert problems before they show up Communicating about different issues ahead of time is the key to avoiding misunderstanding. If you’re supposed to do some minor construction, before starting the work let them know it’ll be noisy and dusty and some disturbance. It’s being respectful to them and their peace. Or, if you’re having a get-together or party, it’s appropriate if you decide to invite your neighbors too. It’ll help you to build an excellent relationship with them. Document all the incidents Write down all the dates and times you had incidents with your neighbor, with detailed descriptions. It’ll come in handy if one day you decide to go to court and open a lawsuit. Also, it’s very convenient to have the details of each incident written down because you won’t remember them in the future. Check if you’re doing anything against the law Online research is a very effective way to check if you’re doing anything wrong legally. You can also get a consultation from property managers or real estate agents. You must gain knowledge of what you’re not supposed to do. In most cases, small things cause lots of serious problems between neighbors. Check out the bylaws in your HOA booklet also if you live in an apartment. Communication is vital When you’re just moving in, try to set up a time for getting to know your neighbors. Problems are less likely to arise between people who know each other than people who have no clue who is living next door. When incidents happen talking in person and face-to-face will give you enhanced results. When you talk to each other you have eye contact, and it’ll help you get to the bottom of the problem and create a solution. You’ll more likely solve the problem easier and faster. Consider getting help from mediators Mediators can help you resolve many problems and prevent them from becoming unresolved non-disputable matters. Courthouses, police divisions, and bar associations can assist you with finding perfect mediators. Also, The National Association for Community Mediation is an excellent resource. Seeking legal resources as a last option Despite everything that you did, if incidents keep happening and it comes down to the point that problems are big, and you can’t find a resolution without a third party interfering, it’s time you take it to small court. Small claims court is much cheaper than big lawsuits. Prepare yourself before you go to court, collect evidence, and calculate the practical damages that you can validate when it’s questioned. Damages are normally capped at a few hundred dollars. What are your solutions when dealing with bad neighbors? Comment and let me know