The post 5 Great Ways to Meet and Befriend Your Neighbors appeared first on The Belden-Stratford Blog.
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Moving into a new apartment can be an exciting time, but the downside is that you might not know anyone in the area. You'll want to reach out to people and start making friends, but perhaps you aren't sure how. There are some good ways you can connect with people in your apartment complex so you can make friends with people who live nearby. That makes it easy to spend time together, and it also means that you'll have neighbors who can help if you need something. Going next door and borrowing a cup of sugar really is possible, if you know your neighbors. Here's what to consider when reaching out.
Being Neighborly Goes a Long Way
There are many great apartments in Chicago with plenty of great people living in them. When you move in and want to start meeting people, here are five of the best ways to do that:
1. Spend time in common areas where other residents can be found.
2. Greet or speak to people in the hallway when you pass one another.
3. Look at the community bulletin board for opportunities to interact.
4. Walk your dog — if you have one — in the pet area or a nearby park.
5. Volunteer when there is help needed in or around your complex.
When you show you're a good neighbor, people appreciate that and will respond to it. That doesn't mean you'll form instant friendships, but it will help you get to know more people nearby.
Respect That Not Everyone Is Social
Even if you're nice to your neighbors, some of them just won't want to be friends. Make sure you're not pushy, and respect the people who aren't social. You can — and should — still be polite, but you may need to look for friends elsewhere. There's nothing wrong with that because it just gives you a good reason to broaden your horizons and form friendships with other people in the complex or in your local area.
Ready to find your next great apartment? We can offer you floor plans to choose from and amenities to consider. Get in touch today.
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One of the best things about having your own place is being able to entertain guests when the mood strikes. If you are thinking about having friends and family over this summer, you may be looking for some ideas for the event. We believe residents of The Belden Stratford apartments in Chicago, IL will get a kick out of the following summer party ideas.
Throw a Decade-Themed Event
Give your guests a reason to get dressed up in their favorite throwback costume by having a party aimed at a specific decade. Here are some ideas on the type of party you could throw.
Decade-Themed Ideas
- A 20s party with jazz playing
- A 50s party complete with poodle skirts and leather jackets
- A 70s party featuring bell bottoms and lots of crazy prints
- A 90s theme complete with grunge clothing and those fun ski hats
Choose any period that gives your guests the chance to be creative. Make it more authentic by serving foods that also suit the era.
Put Charity at the Center
You can have a good time while still giving back to the local community. Find a local charity in need and ask your guests to bring items to donate. That could be anything from old clothing to items like deodorant that charities have a hard time getting themselves.
It is an excellent way to keep others in mind while enjoying the company of your favorite people. That doesn’t mean you should cut back on having some good tunes playing to get everyone dancing! Cap things off by announcing a final tally of everything collected and thanking your guests for their generosity.
Have a Mid-Summer Christmas Party
Sometimes Christmas can seem too far away with the sun shining so brightly. Who says you must wait until December to start enjoying eggnog and gingerbread? Put up some Christmas decorations and ask people over to enjoy your mid-summer Christmas festivities.
Have Santa hats at the ready along with plenty of candy canes to give out. Take things up a notch by having a White Elephant event, where guests can spread around (or get rid of!) Christmas gifts or other items from years past. Adding a little mistletoe at strategic points can also make things fun!
Let us know how the party went or contact us for any other needs you have by calling The Belden Stratford at (866) 452-6177.
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