We have new neighbors moving in across the street sometime next week. I thought I would do something nice to welcome them to the neighborhood - nothing too elaborate. It's been ages since anyone around me has moved, most everyone has been here for years and years. What kinds of things do you to when someone new moves in near you? I'd love some ideas!

Thanks,
Chris

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Great question!

I think it's really nice when someone bakes for a new neighbor, but when I was on the receiving end of the baking, I felt funny eating food prepared by someone who was still a stranger to me. So the cookies sat around for a while.

Now that we've been here a while, I realize we would have loved those cookies! LOL.

We've had 2 people move into the area since then. I gave them a seasonal plant each time. (a poinsettia when the new neighbors moved in during winter, and a mum for the recent September new neighbors).

You can't go wrong with a nice plant. Nice touch to a new home! They did act thrilled (then again, so did I when I was given home-baked cookies made by strangers...)

D

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

unless they have a black thumb of death <like myself>. I'd not feel comfortable eating someone elses food either, you dont know how their kitchen is or if they've licked the silverware used to make it ick ick

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In cold weather we give Ghirardelli Hot Cocoa and some chocolate and in the summer I give a mixture of individual chai packets, tea bags, single pot of coffee filters and a smoothie mix. I don't give baked items since I know *I* can't eat food from a home I don't know (I just envision cats on the countertops and go EEEEWWWWW). Most people I know trash homemade goodies. If they are from out of state, I have given a Gold C book or a GC to a local restaurant ($10 or so...enough to get an appy to try out). I don't do this for all new neighbors but basically ones within 3 houses on each side or across the street. Those are the ones we end up talking too most

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What about something from a great local bakery?

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We usually try to give a basket of "goodies"....this would include the recent phone book, a list of school numbers (if they have kids), a kitchen towel, assorted hot cocoa/hot cider packets...and of course a roll of toilet paper.

Of course, this comes with a nice card welcoming them to the neighborhood and an invitation to coffee a week or so later. Someone gave us the coffee invite when we moved in, and it was a nice way to meet a family across from us.

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When we moved here our neighbors were really sweet. They came over as a family with a plate of chocolate chip cookies. They have become our good friends!
The neighbor guys were hilarious. When my DH tried using his new lawn mower, they all watched him for a bit then decided to come over with advice and a cold beer!

I like the plant idea too

We've lived in 4 houses and only on the 2nd house did anyone give us anything to welome us. It was a plate of homebaked cookies and we so appreciated it. It was our dinner on moving in day! They ended up being good friends.

I've thought of doing it for someone else, but we've always lived in new neighborhoods and we'd be giving them out all the time because people are always moving in, so I never have.

Lisa

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When I bought my house years ago, the developer left me a basket in the house. It had pasta fixings (box of pasta, jar of sauce, utensils, etc), a roll of paper towels, toilet paper, etc. Perfect for a move-in day. I know dinner prep was the last thing on our minds even though we were starving by dinnertime.

Yes I bring something from the bakery or store. First I observe just in case so I can make sure they look somewhat harmless LOL.

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I think it's wonderful to bring over a plate of cookies. Honestly, what percent of our society does that anymore? In the midst of moving, if you are going to bring over a snack, g*d love ya! We had one neighbor, who after our big move-in day, brought us a bag of chips and a huge bowl of homemade from-their -garden salsa. That was the best! We were all so exhausted, we made it dinner that night. Anyone can go buy stuff from the bakery, I think homemade is much more appreciated during a stressful time.

I always made cookies for new neighbors ~ it never occured to me they wouldn't eat them! What you all have said makes complete sense - I've never been on the receiving end of cookies from someone I didn't know so I never thought about it!

What about coupons for any local restaurants, entertainment places, etc, that you know are good/fun along with a plant or flowers? If they are not familar with the area they might appreciate the suggestions.

Zoobie, I'll bet yours were eaten AND appreciated!

I really think I have a germ issue, and that most people don't. In fact, I was very surprised to see so many echoed their uneasiness with eating strangers' homemade goodies.

People moving in remember who did extend themselves, no matter what way they did so. Homemade cookies is a very thoughtful 'Welcome.'

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

It's the thought that counts even if people dont eat them. for me it'd also be the germ issue and that theres just way too many nuts in the world.

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I suggest maybe a gc AND coupons to local pizza place or such where they can do takeout (we know how exhausted and dirty one can be on moving day) so they don't have to worry about cooking on the first night.

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I have never been on the receiving end or the giving end but I do think it would be nice if you are able to and they accept it offer to help unload thier stuff. I am not talking about helping unpacking just helping taking the boxes or furniture into the house.

But if I were to give something if they have not taken anything into the house yet toilet paper would be a definate plus. That is if they have the water turned on first. LOL.

I gave my new neighbors a son in law,my ds fell for their dd

Better watch out now they will think they can borrow eggs or sugar whenever they want LOL. My neighbors never gave me a good looking man before!

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That worries me the most! I only know it is a couple and they have 3 children. I have two teenage DS, I'm hoping they don't have any teenage girls! I don't want a girlfriend to live that close

Thanks so much for all the suggestions! They are all really good. I thought of baking something, but I'm the same - I'm not sure if I would eat it if I was on the recieving end. I could do a plant - it would be funny (atleast to me, lol). The current owner of the house has kept cheap yellow plastic flowers in planters on the porch year round and stuck in the ground in his yard

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There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one!
-Harry Chapin

LOL .

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Books just wanna be FREE! See what I mean at:
http://bookcrossing.com

My other favorites
www.paperbackswap.com
www.wheresgeorge.com
www.geocaching.com

We usually give a card with our names and a baked goodie (however, after reading some of the posts, I will switch to plants from now on). We also like to introduce ourselves and give them a heads up on 'who's who' in the neighborhood.

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WOW!!! I can't beieve how many people are leary of baked goods. I have often baked to welcome a new neighbor and never considered they would be uncomfortable eating what I take over to them. I am not that paranoid I guess. I would and certainly have eaten the baked goods given to me as a welcome. What you don't know won't hurt you. I did have a neighbor welcome us with fresh cut flowers from their garden when we moved in. That was very nice.

I usually do a candle for the season or potpurri and a bowl with a card that says something like "To make your new house smell like home" or something similar.

I don't do the baking part because so many people have allergies etc. And I am not a baker so a candle or two makes it easy and seems appreciated.

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Being a military town, we get lots of new neighbors. If I see kids, I send a basket with a pasta fixing, with store bought cookies and crackers, and bottles of water with some of those little mixes if they don't like plain water. If they don't have kids I usually leave out the cookies and crackers. I also give them list of numbers for area, and a mapquest layout of grocey stores and gas stations.

I used to home made baked goods, but after DH and received some muffins that had cat hair all over them, I stopped doing it. I do send baked goods to our neighbors after we get to know each other. By then I have a feel for who wants them and who doesn't..........

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Nicole

I like some of these ideas, our neighbors are moving so will be using some for new neighbors we will be getting eventually - thanks!

First, it depends if they are moving locally or from out of town. If they are from out of town, I try to put together some helpful phone number and information about the area. Just basic stuff -- like the web address for the county services, drivers license, tag office, schools, pizza delivery, etc. If they are local, they usually don't need that information.

We live in a subdivision with an association, so I print out a neighborhood directory for them.

I usually like to take some kind of food -- home baked cookies, brownies, etc.

Sarah.........mom to Jason & Devin

We are going on 13 yrs in our home. I still remember the plate of chocolate cupcakes with green frosting the little girl next door brought over. She is now a nurse, all grown up.

10 years ago when we moved into our house we were greeted with plates of baked goods. Even though I did not eat them my husband devoured them and more than the item it was the thought and effort that counted.

Each time someone would move in I would make a plate of cookies and attach a note with our name and our phone number. (One neighbor that moved away said that was the one thing that she will remember and was hurt that no one welcomed them to the new house they bought in the same way.)

We have since moved and there was NOTHING!!! I just knew that the doorbell would be ringing constantly since it seemed like a neighborhood that would do such a thing. Only two men in the neighborhood introduced themselves and it was not until a month later that a female came and said hello.

I just have to say that if one person would have simply come over to say hello, even empty handed, it would have made the move here better.
The thought that counts means the most. (I wish you were my neighbor)

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When we moved in 12 years ago, this older woman who eventually became a good frieind to me, brought us up a big jug of sweet tea with ice and some plastic glasses...She also gave the kids (a baby, two year old, and five year old) a big box of popsicles...It was July and very hot outside. I still remember how great that was...Now, the shoe is on the other foot...I'm the older lady with a young married couple across the cul-de-sac...No kids yet...I think I'm going to go out today and get them this nice little bamboo planter that I saw...and a card... ~Lisa

Nah. I'm a yankee. They're lucky if I give them a nod and a "hello." Just kidding. Sort of. We do introduce ourselves, but we don't bring gifts. That doesn't seem common around here.

That is so true that it's not funny!! And please don't try to get any help in a department store.....not in the genes here.

cj/

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We noticed our new neighbor finally moving in - well she is doing some remodeling first. We offered her dinner one night when she was working. It was only hamburgers and chips but at last we knew she stopped for 10 minutes and ate something.

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