McClelland Minute - May 30, 2010

Good Neighbours are a Gift

We had walked into a busy restaurant just behind a neighbour couple and an old friend of theirs, so they kindly invited us to join them at their table for supper.  Not only was it fun catching up on local news, it made the time waiting for our meal pass that much quicker!  They also happen to live on a former homestead of my grandparents, so when they talked about gardens, wells, and pastures, it brought back many good memories of my childhood.

When I am out and about evaluating or listing properties in rural communities, it is amazing how often the neighbour will come over to engage to me in conversation.  Most of the time they are not being nosy; it is more of a check to see if I have a valid reason to be where I am.  It happened to me just last week.  I had stopped at a vacant house to take summer photos to replace those on the website that had snow in them, and as I walked about the yard, the next door neighbour approached.  As he got closer he recognized me, so we had a good chat about my purpose for being there and how the cold, wet weather was hampering growing conditions in the region, including his garden.

Without fail, I cannot go into some lake subdivisions at any time during the year without bumping into at least one of the permanent residents.  It’s become a running joke between us, but should be quite reassuring to the non-local property owner to know that someone is keeping an eye on things for them. 

Some farmers curse the amount of oilfield activity that occurs in and around their land.  We must be lucky.  Truckers and pumpers will call us if they see a cow calving or a horse out.  We had the unfortunate experience of a grass fire this spring, and it would have quickly got out of control if it hadn’t been for the quick response of neighbours and local oilfield personnel, plus of course the volunteer fire department.

There is an old saying that “good fences make good neighbours” and it is of course true.  But gracious acts also make good neighbours – cutting the lawn for someone who is ill and bedridden, blowing the snow off the sidewalk for an elder, or simply being a little more accepting of each other’s differences, even flaws. 

Several weeks ago, I was sitting down with a couple, whose family had outgrown their home, assisting them in their plans to move.  When I asked them what they liked most about the house, they said without hesitation it was the neighbours – great people who helped them landscape the yard, babysat the children when there was a last minute obligation, or simply cared about the people on their block.  Not the response I had expected but nevertheless, one that I hope the new owners will respect and ultimately benefit from.

It is hard at times to be a good neighbour, but if you are, I believe the rewards will come back many times over.  I doubt we will ever repay the debt we owe ours.

Vern McClelland is associate broker with RE/MAX of Lloydminster.  If you have questions or comments on this article or other real estate matters, he can be reached at 780.808.2700 or through the McClelland Group website www.mcclelland.ca

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