What does it take to be a good neighbor? It simply starts with saying ‘hello.’
That’s according to National Good Neighbor Day.com, which touts the philosophy “Good neighbors make great neighborhoods.”
For this Good Neighbor Day (September 28), we thought it would be a great time to find out how Americans really feel about people living in their neighborhood, so we surveyed more than 2,000 Americans aged 25 and older.*
Some of our findings may surprise you. Read on!
Survey says: What makes a good neighbor?
- Friendliness was the factor most cited by our survey respondents (58%).
- Friendliness was the factor most cited by our survey respondents (58%).
- One in three (35%) reported that being a good neighbor means being social and inviting others into your home.
- One in three (34%) also think a good neighbor should “keep to themselves.”
Top 5 factors respondents said were most important:
- Friendliness (58%)
- Keeps the noise level down (54%)
- Controls their pets (49%)
- Maintains home and yard/watches your home when you’re away (47%)
- Keeps to themselves (34%)
Neighborly Vibes
- Almost four out of five respondents (78%) like the people who live near them.
- Roughly one in seven don’t like their neighbors (15%), and fewer than one in 10 claim to not know their neighbors at all (7%).
- Parents of children younger than 18 like their neighbors more (83%) than respondents who have no children (68%).
Next door frenemies?
- More than 60% of Americans surveyed reported feuding with a neighbor at some point. Thankfully only 20% say they currently have an active beef.
- Many cited disagreements related to yards or home exteriors (45%) while others were sparked over political/sports team signs (28%) and social media posts (28%).
Pandemic-inspired connections… and annoyances.
- 57% reported spending more time outside in their neighborhoods over the past two years. 50% said they got to know their neighbors better, and 53% said it allowed them to develop actual friendships with those next door.
- It seems those connections, though, may have also inspired some neighborhood drama, too, as 40% said they now find their neighbors “annoying.”
I spy with my little eye…
- 31% percent of respondents reported they’ve spotted a neighbor doing something “odd” or unexpected via security camera.
- Nearly half (49%) of the incidents caught on camera were neighbors fighting with friends or family. 35% percent witnessed nefarious neighbors removing things from their or another neighbor’s yard.
Cup of sugar, anyone?
- Millennials reported they’ve asked a neighbor to lend them a cooking ingredient (31%), followed closely by those aged 77+ (30%). Baby Boomers (20%) and Gen Xers (14%), though, were less likely to rely on neighbors to lend a culinary hand.
- Two out of five respondents have asked a neighbor to watch their house while they’re out of town, making it the most common favor asked of neighbors.
- Roughly a little over a quarter of those surveyed have also asked for favors like grabbing their mail, borrowing a tool, giving them a ride and taking care of a pet.
- One in five said they’ve never asked their neighbors to help with anything.
Never have I ever… but would your neighbor?
- Almost four in ten respondents (39%) said a neighbor has entered their home or property without permission, and 52% said they’d consider sneaking into a neighbor’s yard to fix, change or remove something from their property — such as a sign, flag or décor.
- Another 24% said they’d consider sneaking in to use a neighbor’s hot tub or pool. (Better keep the cover on!)
- Interestingly, when it came to messy or unkempt properties, which 65% of respondents told us they’ve lived next to at some point, they’d be willing to spend an average of $180 to clean up a neighbor’s yard or home. One in 10 (9%) even said they’d pay more than $400!
Looking for other ways to be a good neighbor? You can share the even better news that one in three of our survey takers (34%) are hopeful about the state of the current housing market. So if you’re considering moving, we can help you find your best way to buy or sell a home, too. Just visit offerpad.com and leave the real estat-ing to us!
*Online survey of 2,008 Americans ages 25+ was commissioned by Offerpad and conducted by market research company OnePoll between August 18 and August 23, 2022.
**Terms and conditions apply. Speak with an Offerpad representative for details or visit www.offerpad.com/flex.
