Being a Good Neighbor
Kindness Costs Nothing, But Means Everything
Texas A&M University and Bryan/College Station Authorities work together to keep the neighborhood nice and safe. At Aggieland Apartment Finders, we want to help students and families enjoy their rental living spaces. Read our tips for being a good neighbor below and be sure to contact us if you have questions.
Know Your Neighbors
When you first move into your neighborhood, you get a chance to become part of a new community. First impressions are key to forming positive relationships with your neighbors. Even if you think you’ve left a charming impression, it can be beneficial to:
- Introduce yourself to your neighbors
- Say “Howdy” when you see them
- Exchange phone numbers for emergency situations
- Ask neighbors to pick up your mail when you are on vacation and offer to do the same for them
No Man Is An Island
Due to COVID-19, we’re all under orders to follow social distancing rules, but that doesn’t mean we have to spend our days in solitude. Although you may have a system of calling and chatting with your family and close friends, you should also set up calls with your neighbors too.
If your neighbors have children, help out the parents by dropping off puzzles or board games for the kids. With school being cancelled, parents are stuck at home watching Frozen for the 40th time. Save them from their misery. Set up a video call with the kids and teach them how to paint, Bob Ross style. The parents will be grateful for a break.
For your more elderly neighbors, make sure to check on them often. They may be especially lonely, and it may be hard for them to set up calls with their family members if they don’t know how to operate their laptop or computer proficiently. Let them know that you’re there! If you’re comfortable with shopping for them, offer to pick up and drop off their groceries.
Remember that kindness goes a long way.
Everyone says your best years are in college because it’s probably your first experience with being “independent” from your parents. Not to mention, you’re also surrounded by thousands of young adults your age who are interested in the same things you are. Whether that’s studying the same major or snowboarding every weekend during the winter, it won’t be long before you find a group with which you instantly click.
Typically, finding that group also means you’ll be spending lots of time together. You may even end up as roommates. You’ll, of course, also find yourself hosting lots of “family dinners,” kickbacks, and wild parties with them, too. When hosting a get-together, keep your neighbors in mind. Nobody wants to be the neighbor that calls the police to shut down a party, but nobody wants to live next to the group of college kids throwing ragers every other night.
The right thing to do would be to talk to your neighbors if you’re thinking about throwing a party:
- Let your neighbor know in advance when you’re having a party
- Give your neighbors your number so they can call if the party gets too loud
- Clean up any mess from your party as soon as possible
- If alcohol is served then, make sure that everyone present is over 21
Try to close out the party before quiet hours
Noise
You may be an early riser and a 6AM Zoom Zumba class might sound like a great idea for you to get closer to that summer body, but it’s not that great of an idea when your floor is somebody else’s ceiling.
If your neighbor has a newborn baby, then be especially mindful of your noise levels. Unless you want to take care of a crying baby for the entire day, keep your stereo bass at a low level, avoid screaming matches with your roommate, and follow your building or neighborhood quiet hours!
- Don’t leave barking dogs outside all day and night
- Monitor noise levels, including the volume of your stereo and TV, especially early in the morning and late at night
Disorderly Conduct-Noise Violation
If your neighbors call the police on you for disorderly conduct or for violating quiet hours, you could be faced with a fine.
- 1st Offense: $350
- 2nd Offense: $425
- 3rd Offense: $545
After a third offense, it becomes a Class B Misdemeanor and will be handled in the County Court
Noise citations are issued to every resident in the household
You can be taken to jail for failure to comply with complaints after you have been warned
Parking
Most, if not all, apartment buildings have parking rules, and while they may not be strictly enforced, you should try your best to follow these rules.
- Follow guest parking guidelines and make sure guests aren’t parked in someone else’s designated spot
- Don’t park in compact spots unless you have a compact car
- Cruise at safe speeds in a parking garage or lot
- Park your car facing the right direction (violation is a $23 fine)
Even if you live in a townhome situation, or your apartment building asks you to park on the street, there are still unspoken rules to follow. It’s called parking etiquette.
- Park in appropriately marked spaces
- Do not keep cars that don’t run sitting in your driveway
- Do not park on the grass (violation is $75 fine)
- Mow your lawn regularly
- Keep couches inside the house, not on the porch
- Put away your trash can 12 hours after the garbage is collected
- Do not overfill your garbage can
- Gas grills must be 10 ft. away from property, but you may have a charcoal grill (apartments only). Be sure to check with your manager.
The most common crimes are vehicle burglary and theft. Follow these tips to keep your property and yourself safe.
- Never leave keys in a vehicle
- Always lock the doors when away from your vehicle, even for a short time
- Remove items of value from the vehicle when possible, or put them in a place that is out of view
- Remove “pull-out” style stereos (if equipped)
- Park in lighted areas
- Park in garages or on driveways, or near your apartment so the vehicle can be viewed periodically
- Register the vehicle in the Help End Auto Theft (H.E.A.T) Program with the College Station Police Department
- Get a car alarm