Good Neighbor Day: Are We Showing Our Neighbors Some Hoosier Hospitality?

Here in Indiana, we like to think we know a thing or two about Hoosier Hospitality.

We hold the door. We wave from the car. We give directions. We show up with a casserole when someone needs it. And there's a pretty good chance that if you're standing in an Indiana driveway long enough, somebody is eventually going to start a conversation with you.

But here's a question for National Good Neighbor Day:

Are we showing the people who live closest to us that same Hoosier Hospitality?

September 28 is National Good Neighbor Day, and it's a great reminder that home isn't just the four walls we own. It's also the street, neighborhood and community around us.

You don't have to become best friends with everyone on your block. You don't need weekly cookouts or matching Christmas decorations.

Being a good neighbor is really about being considerate, approachable and willing to look out for the people around you.

So, let's put a little Hoosier Hospitality into practice.

1. Start With a Wave and a Hello

This may be the easiest one on the list.

Wave when you're pulling out of the driveway. Say hello at the mailbox. Introduce yourself when someone new moves in.

We talk about Hoosier Hospitality when welcoming visitors to Indiana, but it should probably start with welcoming the person who just moved three houses down.

Good Neighbor Move: Introduce yourself to a new neighbor and exchange phone numbers in case either of you ever needs something.

Not-So-Good Neighbor Move: Living next door for five years and still referring to them as "the people with the blue SUV."

2. Look Out for Each Other

This might be Hoosier Hospitality at its best.

Notice the garage door that's accidentally still open late at night.

Grab a package when you know your neighbor is out of town.

Let them know if their dog has escaped.

Check on an older neighbor during extreme heat or an Indiana winter storm.

You don't need to become the unofficial neighborhood surveillance department. There's a difference between looking out for someone and watching someone.

Good neighbors simply communicate: I've got your back.

3. Give a Heads-Up Before the Party

Having friends over? Absolutely.

Backyard cookouts, graduation parties, birthday celebrations and family gatherings are part of enjoying your home.

But if there will be extra cars, music or activity, a quick heads-up to your immediate neighbors is a simple courtesy.

Better yet, invite them over.

Nothing says Hoosier Hospitality quite like, "We're having people over Saturday. It might get a little busy over here — you're welcome to stop by!"

A 30-second conversation can prevent a whole lot of irritation.

4. Respect Property Lines

Your yard is your yard. Their yard is their yard.

That includes where we mow, where kids play, where pets wander, where guests park and where we pile the leaves we're definitely going to deal with "next weekend."

If you're considering a fence, removing a shared tree, changing drainage or doing another outdoor project that could affect the property next door, have a conversation first.

And if you're unsure where the actual property line is, don't assume the fence, landscaping or mowing pattern tells the whole story.

Good neighbors communicate before creating unnecessary problems.

5. Don't Be That Parking Neighbor

We need to talk about parking.

When possible, avoid blocking mailboxes, driveways and sidewalks or making it difficult for your neighbors to get in and out.

If you're hosting a big gathering, think about parking before everyone arrives.

Because nothing tests Hoosier Hospitality quite like starting your morning with a seven-point turn because somebody's cousin parked halfway across your driveway.

6. Take Care of Your Little Piece of Indiana

You don't need the greenest lawn on the street.

You don't need professional landscaping.

And you definitely don't need to pressure-wash your driveway every Saturday at 7:02 a.m.

But basic maintenance makes a difference.

Mow when needed. Bring trash cans back from the curb. Pick up loose trash. Keep sidewalks reasonably clear. Maintain your home's exterior as you're able.

Taking care of your property isn't only about protecting your own investment.

Every well-cared-for home contributes to the appearance and feel of the neighborhood around it.

As a REALTOR®, that's something I wish more homeowners realized. Our homes don't exist in little bubbles. What happens throughout a neighborhood contributes to how people experience the entire community.

7. Remember That Noise Travels

Mowers. Leaf blowers. Power tools. Barking dogs. Music. Backyard gatherings.

They're all normal parts of neighborhood life.

The key is when and how much.

Your Saturday project might be completely reasonable at 10 a.m.

At 6:15 a.m.? Your neighbors may not be feeling quite as hospitable.

Before making a whole lot of noise, ask yourself:

"If my neighbor were doing this right now, would it bother me?"

That's a pretty good rule.

8. Pick Up After Your Pets

I shouldn't have to explain this one.

But apparently Good Neighbor Day requires us to cover all the bases.

If your dog leaves a "gift" in someone else's yard, take the gift with you. 💩

Try to keep pets from repeatedly wandering onto neighboring properties or barking outside for extended periods.

Your dog may be adorable.

Your neighbor may agree that your dog is adorable.

They still don't want to step in what your adorable dog left behind.

9. Talk to Each Other Before Starting the Great Neighborhood Feud of 2026

Neighbors occasionally annoy each other. That's life.

Before a small irritation becomes a neighborhood feud worthy of its own Netflix documentary, try a conversation.

Maybe they don't realize their sprinkler is soaking your driveway.

Maybe they don't know their teenager keeps parking in front of your mailbox.

Maybe you've spent six months being irritated about something that could have been solved in two minutes.

A little Hoosier Hospitality goes a long way here too.

Start respectfully. Assume good intentions when you can. Talk to your neighbor instead of immediately talking about your neighbor.

Of course, serious safety concerns, property disputes or repeated issues may require additional help. But for everyday neighbor annoyances, a friendly conversation is usually a pretty good place to begin.

10. Do the Little Things — That's Where Community Happens

Being a good neighbor usually isn't about some grand gesture.

It's the little stuff.

Bring their trash can up when they're out of town.

Shovel a little farther down the sidewalk after an Indiana snow.

Return the basketball that keeps finding its way into your yard.

Share the extra tomatoes from your garden.

Help with the package that's clearly too heavy for one person.

Tell them when their dog escaped.

Check on someone after a storm.

Wave.

Say hello.

That's Hoosier Hospitality.

And when enough people do those little things, something pretty special happens.

We stop simply living near each other and start creating a community.

A Good Neighborhood Doesn't Happen by Accident

As a REALTOR®, I spend a lot of time talking about bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, garages, school districts, commute times and resale value.

Those things matter.

But when people tell me about the places they've truly loved living, there's usually something else in the story.

The people.

It's the neighbor who grabbed their packages while they were on vacation.

The family whose kids played with theirs.

The person who always waved from the driveway.

The neighbor who brought over food when life got difficult.

The people who gathered outside on summer evenings or helped each other shovel after an Indiana snowstorm.

That's the part of "home" you can't always see in the listing photos.

So, Are We Living Up to Hoosier Hospitality?

Indiana has a reputation for being welcoming.

Maybe Good Neighbor Day is our reminder to make sure we're extending that hospitality to the people living right outside our own front doors.

You don't have to do something huge.

Wave. Introduce yourself. Check in. Lend a hand. Give a heads-up. Be considerate.

And maybe ask yourself:

Am I the kind of neighbor I'd want living next door to me?

Because a house is the property you purchase.

A neighborhood is part of the life you build around it.

So here's to Good Neighbor Day, great communities, and showing our neighbors a little more of that famous Hoosier Hospitality.

And, at the very least, let's all agree not to fire up the leaf blower at 6:30 tomorrow morning. 😉

Thinking about making a move in Greenwood, Johnson County, or the southside of Indianapolis? Finding the right home is important, but finding a community where you feel at home matters too. That's where having a local REALTOR® in your corner can make a difference.

Angi Oakes | Oakes Realty Group
We are here when life moves you.