8 Ideas for a New Home Gift
The thought of moving into a new neighborhood can be very intimidating. Frankly, it can be downright scary.
How will I get to know anyone? What if I don’t know the area? Is there anyone with similar interests, family make-up or the same idea of a good time? How do I get plugged in?
Halloween has your back! It can be the perfect time to get outdoors and conquer these demons. One thing to keep in mind is that many of your new neighbors are in the same boat as you. Everyone is new to the community. Very likely they are looking for ways to meet their neighbors as well. That’s one thing you have in common! We’ve put together a few ideas and photos from one of our very own homeowners that you might want to try this year.
Decorating Your New Home
When it comes to decorating your new home for Halloween the opportunities are endless, and decorations let your neighbors know that you’re into it! You want to participate and join the community fun.
"A pumpkin carving contest for bragging rights is the perfect display and reason to invite the neighbors with kids over! I love seeing the different personalities that come out. My son usually spends hours planning and prepping his pumpkin for something super intricate like a detailed rendition of the Star Ship Enterprise. My daughter has no time for all that detail but works diligently on two triangle eyes and a snaggle-tooth smile on her pumpkin. Even the dads get into it! Carve your pumpkins a couple of days early and all the walkers in the neighborhood will want to pop over for a look.
"Some families go all-out covering their homes with spider webs, creepy crawlers, ghosts, blow up Frankensteins, gravestones, and more. This can be a lot of fun for the entire family. Kids too old to trick-or-treat can get involved in planning, creating, and executing the frightful experience. I remember a neighbor wrapping himself up like a mummy and sitting on the porch holding a bowl of candy and then moving as the kids got close—that got some reactions! We even had ghosts flying down out of trees one year. This makes your house THE place to go to get scared!"
Porch Party
"Perhaps one of the best memories I have of Halloweens in a new neighborhood are the impromptu porch parties. It always seems to happen that throughout the course of the evening, one-by-one, three or four neighbors will simply bring their bowl of candy over to my front porch. We hand out candy together, talk about the cute and scary costumes, and just get to know each other a little more. I make sure to have some hot cider on the stove, cold beer in the fridge, and some non-sweet snacks to off-set all the kids’ candy. There’s nothing better than bonding over candy, beer, and cute costumes on a crisp October evening!"
HOA Events
"You may live in a community with an active HOA who plans events such as pumpkin carving/painting or a fall festival. If you are, take advantage of these events! Activities that pull the community kids together will naturally bring the adults as well. Plus, they can be a blast! Get in that bounce house. Slide down that super-slide. Take a ride in that itty-bity train. Dunk your face in the water bobbing for apples. You’ll definitely meet new people. Then, at the next homeowner event, you’ll automatically have people there you know!"
So, whether it’s decorating your house, throwing an impromptu porch party, or participating in a neighborhood fun day, Halloween is a great time to get outdoors and get to know your neighbors a little better. It’s not as scary as you might think.
Recommended Stories
New Construction Upgrades That Add Value: A Guide to Personalizing Your New Home
