Richton Park Herald

Its got nothing to do with State Farm Insurance. Here are some of the things I look for from a good neighbor:

If you're going to have a loud party that goes well into the night, invite your neighbors to the party! See what I'm saying?

When its fall and leaves are all over the place, at least make an effort on one day to rake up the leaves on your lawn. Don't wait for them to blow away onto my lawn. You know what I'm saying?

If you have a dog, don't just leave it out unattended to come over and do its thing and leave its stuff on my property. Dogs are to be leashed at all times (village law). So, if you walk your dog and it does its thing on my property, pick it up and take it away with you(village law)! Don't just leave it there for me to worry about. Its your dog! Why do people do these things?

Keep your house and property looking good and well maintained. That's just a good general idea since a home is one of the biggest investments you'll ever make. So why not keep it in good condition? You may want to sell it one day. So, if your home's in bad condition and all your neighbor's homes look like they are in bad condition, it'll bring your home's value down. You don't have to be a braniac to figure out that's bad!

Keeping your house in good condition includes taking care of your lawn. Dandelions are BAD! They take over your lawn, kill the grass and spread to your neighbor's lawn (that would be me!). Stop it.

Another way to keep your house in good condition is to make you home maintenance free. I use to paint the exterior of my house every 3 or 4 years. I now have vinly siding and aluminum soffets! No more painting and the place looks great! No more work and no more expense!

Here's another little detail... If there's broken glass on your sidewalks, sweep it up! That should be a no brainer for most people. Don't wait for it to go away in the shoes of unsuspecting people, including children, that are walking by!