Is there any 'Moving In' Protocol????
 

It may sound funny, but what happens when you move into a new house in Canada? I mean, here in Germany, the person who is moving in is expected to go round to all adjoining neighbours on the first day and introduce themselves. What happens there? Do you just keep yourself to yourself and say Hi as and when you see a neighbour? Do you go round formally and introduce yourself or do they visit you with a plate of cookies like in the movies??!! Don't want to get off on the wrong foot!!

Re: Is there any 'Moving In' Protocol????
 

You will quite possibly go for several years without even saying hello to your neighbours. Introduce yourself if you meet someone in the street. Nothing more is needed.

Re: Is there any 'Moving In' Protocol????
 

i was wondering that also, about to move over into new house on PEI 10th June.

Sound silly, but also wondering about, how do you know who supplies telephone, gas, electric etc

Re: Is there any 'Moving In' Protocol????
 

Probably depends on the neighbourhood. Out here in the sticks we had a bit of everything from neigbours bringing food round before we had a chance to go around door to door and introduce ourselves to neighbours who keep themselves to themselves.

We (well, my canadian wife) decided to hold an afternoon coffee and snacks informal "open house" party and invited everyone within walking distance to come by...some did, some didnt. It was an excuse to go door to door and see who was in, and it was a friendly gesture that made it easy for others to reciprocate if they wanted too without appearing to be too nosey, so I think it was a great idea.

I dont know how normal this is, but shes canadian so I wasnt going to argue with her on home territory.

A few weeks later we were invited by a neighbour of a neighbour of a neighbour who we had never met to the annual neigbourhood golf day, so that was a nice way to meet some of the other wider neighbourhood too.

Re: Is there any 'Moving In' Protocol????
 

Ask the realtor or the previous owners or the landlord if you are renting....

Re: Is there any 'Moving In' Protocol????
 

Hit and miss for us - three sets of neighbours came over to say "hi" (minus the basketful of cookies though ;) ) and others pretty much ignored us until we caught their eye whilst out gardening or whatever. The lady next door has only spoken to me in the last month (and we've been here 9 months !) - and I think that was only brought about because we both have new dogs that have making friends with each other and peeing against the fence :rofl:

Your realtor should do a walk through with you on the day you take possession - just to check all is as you thought it was .... the previous occupants for our house left us no details at all, apart from a few appliance leaflets in a drawer (and a garden full of dog sh** ). Right down to having no idea where our post box was ....

I've always left a kindly note for any new occupant of my house with boring details about post deliveries, dustbin day, gas/electric/water suppliers, etc, heating controls, stop cocks, etc - but I guess lots of people are not so conscientious !

Re: Is there any 'Moving In' Protocol????
 

If you're buying the place, odds are the various companies already know about it. The lawyer will probably have notified them. Best to check though. As someone else said, ask the realtor.

Re: Is there any 'Moving In' Protocol????
 

we moved in on a Friday and couldn't get the shippers to deliver until the following Monday. Before we'd even plugged in the emergency kettle and set up the folding chairs we'd bought, our neighbour popped her head over the fence in the back yard, introduced herself, lent us a couple of chairs, brought cookies, offered to help unpack, and given us the gossip on all our new neighbours. Within a week my (heavily pregnant) OH had been introduced to all the local moms with similar-age children, learnt who had baby-sitter kids, and we'd all been invited swimming in both neighbours' pools. We really didn't have to make any kind of effort to be welcomed into the neighbourhood, it is one of the things we most like about where we live. Mind you, we gather that the previous owners of our place were pretty dour and unsociable, so perhaps the neighbours just welcomed the change!

As far as utilities, instructions etc go, ours were all sorted by realtors and/or lawyers. We had to go down to the local hydro office and leave a security deposit, as I gather a lot of new residents with no credit history have to do, but that was no great hardship. The previous occupants left instructions for just about every appliance, including the 20-year-old fridge. The realtor passed us information about the postal service, but we found out about garbage/recycling collection etc from neighbours. Stop cocks etc were pointed out to me during our pre-purchase home inspection.

Re: Is there any 'Moving In' Protocol????
 

We were here two days when our neighbour two doors down sent her grandson up with a huge tray of homebaked goodies - I was overwhelmed, nearly cried:o Her husband has sinced help us lug about heavy washing machines, lent us his truck etc etc

Lady across the road on many occasion checks to see if our shipment has arrived in order to help me unpack and is constantly offering me bits of furniture - dont know why I haven't taken her up on that yet though:blink:

And just on Monday night past a couple from the next block arrived at our door full of apologies that they had not been to welcome us as they had been out of town. The lady handed me a basket full of homemade jams, lemon curd, beetroot, marmalade etc etc - I was stunned again at the locals kindness.

I know all of my neighbours and many of the occupants of the town by name and we are only here 11 weeks:D

Re: Is there any 'Moving In' Protocol????
 

Do you know the name of the of the guy who's massive head is outside the town? Couldn't believe it when I saw it.

Re: Is there any 'Moving In' Protocol????
 

If you mean our statue of the Indian's head, yes, he's called George:rofl:

Re: Is there any 'Moving In' Protocol????
 

Which reminds me - got to visit my wife's cousins in Turtleford, so I can say hello to Ernie the Turtle. But my favourite is 'the Happy Rock' in ... Gladstone, Manitoba.

Re: Is there any 'Moving In' Protocol????
 

I guess putting a giant sculpture of what a town is named after is one way to breakup up the towns scenery, hope we don't do that it regina. What if the artist does not know its Latin for queen.

Re: Is there any 'Moving In' Protocol????
 

That sounds lovely what a great welcome, :wub:

Re: Is there any 'Moving In' Protocol????
 

I was hoping for deliveries of cookies and muffins in gingham cloth lined baskets. There were none, we waved at a few people and one came over to say hello while we were moving the furniture in. Otherwise nothing special neighbours are friendly but distant. Bit like in deepest Bedfordshire.