South City Park Neighborhood Assoc.

Neighbor Communication

Neighbor Communication

Barking dog? Messy yard? Noisy parties? These are irritants that can cause neighbor-to-neighbor violence, something we wouldn't like to see. If you are experiencing a problem with your neighbor, try these ten tips to promote neigh-borly communication:

1. Talk directly, rather than sending a letter, banging the wall, throwing a rock, or complaining to others.
2. Choose a good time and a quiet place to talk-not when your neighbor is leaving for work or you've had a bad day.
3. Plan ahead. Think clearly about what you want to say. State the problem clearly and tell how it affects you.
4. Don't blame or name-call.
5. Give information about your situation and feelings and how the neighbor's behavior af-fects you.
6. Listen to your neighbor's side of the story.
7. Show that you are listening and tell your neighbor that you're glad to be discussing the problem.
8. Talk it all through. Be open and thorough.
9. Work on a joint solution. Be specific.
10. Follow through. Agree to check with each other at spe-cific times to make sure the agreement is working.