Living in an apartment complex, you’ll probably get to see a fair amount of your neighbors. You can easily pass each other in the parking lot, in the hallways, in the stairwell or any other common spaces. Let’s say, the guy/girl who lives above you catches your eye in the parking lot. You offer to help with their groceries. You exchange numbers and begin to find every excuse to dwell in the hallway in hopes to run into your new neighbor. This is going way beyond the classic neighbor cookie welcoming and into full crush mode. Dating your neighbor is a totally uncharted territory. Should you just go for it? What do you do if it doesn’t work out? We’re breaking down a few neighbor dating do’s and don’ts and how to avoid awkwardness after the flame dies down.
So, you like your neighbor or they express interest in you
First of all, you want to try and see if these feelings are mutual. I’m not saying ask a friend to ask his friend like we’re in middle school. Try to look for signs of him touching your arm or if she’s going out of their way to see you. If you think they are interested in you, try to show them that the feeling is mutual. A failed attempt at asking your neighbor out could be more disastrous than a break-up. But at least it would make a good story for your friends!
Ask them out and don’t settle for “Netflix and chill”
Once you’ve finally worked up enough courage to ask our your neighbor, start planning a night AWAY from your neighborhood or complex. This will show them that you are serious because everyone knows what “watch a movie at my place” is code for. And if your neighbor is the one asking you out, don’t settle for a night in. Let them take you out somewhere for dinner, a movie or something along those lines.
Avoid spending too much time together and don’t ditch your friends
If the initial date goes smoothly and you start spending more time together, don’t be that friend who disappears because they start dating someone new. This can happen in the blink of an eye when you’re dating your neighbor. It’s just a walk down the hall to see your beau! Make sure you still leave some time for yourself and other friends. So if things go south, you won’t be left with no one to hang out with!
[tweetthis]Falling in #Love With Your Neighbor? Go Here Before You Start #Dating For Some Things To Consider[/tweetthis]
Things didn’t work out, now what?
If you’re feeling things going south, don’t ghost your neighbor bae or breakup via text. It’s important to get in person closure to avoid feeling awkward when you pass each other. You want to feel comfortable in your home and breaking up shouldn’t mean that you have to move. Just be mature and honest with each other to end things on a brighter note. Or if a disastrous break-up in unavoidable, try stowing away at a friend’s to avoid confrontation.
And if you found your soulmate than good for you! It just proves that everything really happens for a reason. Because if you didn’t choose to live in that complex at that time you would have never met your new boyfriend or girlfriend! And if you’re looking to take the next steps check out this ForRent.com article about moving in with your significant other.