How To Protect Yourself From Nosy Neighbors

Good neighbors make your street feel more welcoming. They wave hello to you in the morning, collect your mail while you're out of town, and help build a community one household at a time. 

But just because your neighbors are friendly, doesn't mean they aren't also nosy.  While most of us have a healthy level of curiosity about our own neighbors, truly nosy neighbors can feel invasive. 

We've listed solutions for nosy neighbors from easiest to hardest here

Blocking your neighbor's view of your home and yard is the fastest, most effective solution to prevent snooping. Privacy film for windows, curtains, and even some strategic landscaping can block their view without the need for an uncomfortable conversation. 

If you live in a home without an HOA to answer to, you can add a fence or plant shrubbery and trees along your property line to keep your neighbors at a safe distance. These require much more work to install and maintain, but they can improve your property value and make it harder for nosy neighbors to linger. 

Home security isn't just handy for keeping out thieves. Depending on the severity of your neighbor's snooping, you can install a single doorbell camera on your front porch or a whole system of cameras around the perimeter of your home. The best wireless security cameras send alerts based on motion and can record up to 30 days of motion history in case you want to snoop on the snoopers. 

Cameras from Vivint Home Security have a feature called Smart Deter that can sense when a person is lingering in view a little too long. When nosy neighbors or bad actors lurk, the camera will whistle at them to move on and let them know they're being watched. 

Home burglar alarms and security cameras often come with window stickers or yard signs. You can post these around your home to let neighbors (and potential intruders) know they're also being watched.

Neighborhood watches have moved online. NextDoor and Ring's Neighbors app are among the most popular places for communities to ask questions, report problems, and even find lost pets. If your neighbors are becoming an issue, you can report them or suggest they try these apps to channel their nosiness elsewhere. 

If their nosiness comes from concern over safety, check out some of these tools they can use (instead of bugging you). 

If your neighbors' nosiness persists, it may be time to level with them. Set verbal boundaries and ask them plainly to respect your privacy. Give them examples of times they've violated your space, or explain that you aren't always interested in talking to them. It's best to leave the conversation on good terms, especially if you live in such close proximity.

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