Moving to a new neighborhood can be super exciting but also a tad nerve-wracking. You start wondering about who your neighbors are, whether they’re friendly, and if your family will vibe with the community. And if you’re blessed with a newborn or toddler, these concerns kick up a notch as you definitely don’t want neighbors like Teddy Sanders and Pete Regazolli from the fictional Delta Psi Beta frat house in Bad Neighbors.

Think of the many things that could go wrong with such neighbors, like dealing with blaring music at midnight when you’re desperately trying to tuck your little one into bed, struggling to catch up on a few extra hours of sleep because you worry about break-ins, or fixing damage to your fence now and then because you live next to a rowdy group of partygoers.

To avoid such headaches, you need to know who is who within your vicinity, especially if you consider the area home for a long time. Sadly, only 26% of Americans claim to know most of their neighbors, and two-thirds of those who know at least some of theirs feel comfortable trusting them with their house keys. But here’s the silver lining: knowing individuals who live in your neighborhood doesn’t have to be a shot in the dark. Here are 5 simple ways to make that happen.

Use the Welcome Wagon Approach

There is no better way to make acquaintances with your neighbors than walking up to them, introducing yourself, and having a conversation. It’s straightforward because you can hear them speak, observe their body language, and follow their train of thought—all giving you an idea of who they are. To kickstart this plan, consider organizing a housewarming party or a block party to which everyone or specific folks in your neighborhood are invited.

If you’re new on the block, you’ll likely have next-door neighbors knocking at your door, armed with treats and a warm welcome. If your neighbors are new instead, you’d be the one to make a move. Neighborhood mingle meetings can happen at your place or elsewhere, depending on your comfort level with privacy. Whether it’s a pool party, barbecue, backyard bonfire with some beer, or a group dinner at the table, these gatherings are an opportunity to bond.

But keep in mind that not all neighborhoods may be receptive. In such cases, a simple note like “We’re your neighbors across the street, and we hope we can connect over dinner or coffee sometime” might do the trick.

Search Public Records

When you move to a new house, your information generally becomes a matter of public record. Most counties maintain property records that include details about property ownership, such as the owner’s name, address, and other relevant information. These records are accessible to anyone, including your fellow neighbors.

In the same vein, if you want to look up a nearby resident, it’s as easy as visiting your county government website and performing a property search for free. However, this approach works best for homeowners, as renters’ data is typically unavailable. Plus, the extent of information available may vary by location, and some details might be redacted for privacy reasons.

Conduct a Reverse Address Lookup

This approach trumps all other non-intrusive options on this list. It works like a forward lookup, where you find out where someone lives based on their name or other details, only this time, the roles are reversed. A reverse address lookup returns specific information about a property based on its address. You can also find the residents’ names, contact details, employment history, dates of birth, and criminal records, which is a great way to know exactly who you’re living next to.

What’s more, these records aren’t confined to the current occupants of a property. If the place you’re interested in belongs to a neighbor who just bought it and you’d like to know more about the seller, you can tap into the history of the address as well. One lookup tool that delivers on these fronts is Nuwber. Its robust database pulls real-time data from various sources to give you a comprehensive background report on a specific person or property.

Join a Local Club or Volunteering Program

If you’re a fan of a particular club or volunteer opportunity, consider joining one in your area to strike up a friendship. A club could be a neighborhood watch group, a book club, a community hiking group, or even a local sports team. On the other hand, a volunteering program might be in your faith-based or charity organization.

In either case, it’s an excellent way to spend time in the company of individuals with the same interests as you, thus enhancing the likelihood of a long-term friendship or acquaintance. It’s also a recommended approach for those in neighborhoods where a meet-and-mingle might be a bit out of place.

Install the Nextdoor App

This neighbor-friendly mobile application lets you build real-world connections with people within neighborhoods, ultimately creating an online community where you can learn about upcoming events and local news, and even receive safety alerts.

However, not all neighbors might be on Nextdoor or willing to share their personal information, meaning there’s not much you can get out of it unless they choose to. Still, the app does a commendable job of aggregating what residents are most interested in, especially if the neighborhood lacks a homeowner’s association.

Conclusion

Although it may take a bit more time to get to know who you live beside, the payoffs are worth it. How? Having reliable neighbors means more safety and security, a better level of trust, and more social support whenever you need it. While it’s not mandatory to form a close bond with everyone, you’ll get enough out of knowing about a few of them using the methods discussed above.