We had a new couple move in next door after having the same neighbors for 15+ years. When we moved in years ago, no one really welcomed us but in previous moves, we had new neighbors bring baked goods, wine, even meals. When I was a young child, I remember the the “Welcome Wagon” coming by with samples and promotional stuff.
I want to make this couple feel welcome…any ideas? We are empty nesters and they are newlyweds so in different stages of life . Any input?
Err on the side of being welcoming. When we moved into our current home, the next door neighbor came out to our car to say hello and gave me a big hug. It was just what I needed.
Wouldn’t they enjoy the same things - baked goods, wine, meals - those items are ageless!!! Are they new to that house or the whole town?
If they were new to town you could put a little basket together of items from local places - the bakery, the florist, a local food item, etc.
I’ve moved many times in my short life and only once have we had neighbors come welcome us. I really wish more people would do the “welcome to the neighborhood” stuff.
I like @abasket’s idea, but really even going over to say “Hi” would be a nice touch and more than it seems most people do 
I tend to pick up potted herbs or a nice seasonal planted pot at Trader Joe’s and write a welcome note with our phone numbers and the offer to knock on our door for eggs or other missing baking items. I usually check back after a few weeks when I see them in the yard.
Once they are settled in I would simply invite them over one evening for a glass of wine and a light bite. Kind of a “get to know you” sort of thing. Sure they would appreciate an invitation from the more established neighbors.
Agree, just a stopping by to say, “Hi” with some cookies, or fruit from your yard or something. If you want to do more, invite them over for pizza and beverages.
I just have to say that your user name is so appropriate for such a thread! Very homey and neighborly.
Unless the new neighbors are certified arseholes, they will enjoy a welcome to the neighborhood plate of cookies! I definitely would be moved by such a gesture even though I do not eat cookies! It is not the cookies (or whatever) what counts!
Another welcoming idea would be a list of competent repair companies - plumber, electrician, appliances, etc. This would be even better if you knew which companies the old neighbors used so the workers would be familiar with the house. We practically had our plumber on retainer - sometimes the owner would come himself because he knew our problems so well.
Agree, knowing reliable service workers–plumvbers, handymen, roofer, electrician that is trustworthy is very valuable but might be a bit overwhelming to a new owner. After they enjoy your baked goodies, you can mention that you do know the contact info for reliable service people (including folks who serviced the house, if true). Let the new owners ask when they’re ready.
A move we did several years ago still brings back memories of our across the street neighbors bringing over a plate of possibly the best brownies I have ever eaten in my life.
I have tried to pay it forward - sometimes with food, other times with a knock on the door and “welcome to the neighborhood”. I ask if they’re new to the area - if so, I offer to be a source of information if they have any questions.
When we bought our very first house in the dark age (DS was still a preschooler!), our “future” next door neighbor did something truly awful. They “unwelcomed” us.
Both they and we bought the house in a newly developed neighborhood. They likely bought it only less than a month earlier than we did.
When we took a look at the house after we had bought the house, the “future” next door neighbor (the mom of two young kids drove the car) happened to drive by when we were in the drive way of our new house. She rolled down the window of her car and asked us whether we had bought this house, and when we said yes, her reply: “Why don’t you buy a house further down the street instead of the one next to ours?” Oh, no. I think even my preschooler knew that she did not like us to be her next door neighbor. I wish my kid were even younger and would not know what it means
Guess what. Later, she and my wife got along with each other very well, and her son and my son became good friends to each other. We often took care of his son in our house and drove him to many places as our son’s “play date” (we happily chose to do so and even paid his meals – mostly just at a fast food joint) because we want our son to have a friend.)
This family likes us much better than their other next door neighbor. They complained to us that their next door neighbor never said hello to them!
Ha…another benefit for us to know this neighbor is that DS had a “headstart” to learn the culture of this family. It could be very useful to him right now – his current girlfriend happens to be from the culture of his closest friend in childhood (for 8 years?) Actually, it is from this family that we learned that they planned to buy a house for their son when he grew up and got married – I believe they would be capable of doing so and would do so. (Hopefully, the family of his GF will not set this high standard for us as her daughter’s future inlaw.)
Weird! Maybe you misunderstood what she yelled out the window?
I always welcome new neighbors by just introducing myself and usually extend an invitation to come over for a drink and nosh once they are settled. Our newest neighbors are much younger then the rest of us ( have a 2 yr old) and I had them over plus the neighbor between us. I also offered in an emergency to watch their son (they both work.) At Halloween I had a special treat just for him.
For sure, do something. Cookies, wine, an invitation, a basket – it really doesn’t matter. Just do something and exchange phone numbers. IMO, having a neighbor you can count on is worth its weight in gold.
One thing I’ve done once or twice: kind of a neighborhood directory.
Let them know which dry cleaner you use, which supermarket, pizzaria, where to find the post office (and the nearest mailbox), good Chinese food, the closest Panera-- that sort of stuff. It, and a box of cookies, will probably be hugely appreciated.
We’ve moved 4 times in the last five years to 2 different states, knew no one but the realtor when we moved. Our neighbors have been amazing (last 2 moves) - just introducing themselves initially and telling us about the neighborhood. In the last house there was a neighborhood directory with everyone’s email and phone number and when it came to selling the house people contacted us prerealtor with names of people who might be interested. Where we are now, different sets of neighbors have brought us cookies, wine, chocolates, invited us for predinner drinks and have made us feel very welcome. It has made such a difference to us.
“Err on the side of being welcoming. When we moved into our current home, the next door neighbor came out to our car to say hello and gave me a big hug. It was just what I needed.”
I would be very put off by a stranger giving me a big hug.
@Madison85, We are very sure that we did not misunderstand her. We walked to her car (and were eager to talk to her because we had guessed she lived next door and would be our neighbor) when she rolled down the window. She was the kind of person who naturally talks in a loud voice and speaks clearly. But she could be rude sometimes. (She once told my wife that she believes both of her inlaws were intimidated by her when they visited them. Her husband could be more dominating than her though when she accidentally got on his nerve. She told my wife that her husband said she turned “bad” because she became “too Americanized.” Go figure! She took good care of her two children though – albeit she could be too dominating over them; she told my wife this also once they became friendly to each other.
When we moved to our second house, both of our neighbors were very kind to us. After a tree branch fell down after a winter storm, our neighbor came by to ask whether he could help us to chop off the partly detached tree branch (he had the chain saw but we did not.) When both of us were out of town for a longer time (occasionally over a month because, for some years, I lived in another state alone and my wife often visited me), the other neighbor said he would keep an eye on our vacant house. We often mowed each other’s shared portion of the lawn.
I think our neighbors like us because we took good care of the lawn and never created noises.
At the very least introducing yourself with a smile and asking if there is anything you can help them with. I would suggest flowers or a plant. You never know whether people are drinkers or not, as far as baked goods, Pizzagirl doesn’t want a hug from someone she doesn’t know, I don’t want to eat a food item from someone I don’t know. That may sound cynical or paranoid but that is how it is for me.