"Nextdoor" neighborhood site

[Anonymous]

Is it legit and useful to you or not?

Got a form letter from someone saying she's a neighbor and inviting us to join a new Nextdoor site for our area; the letter included a code to get access. I've heard of Nextdoor here on DCUM so figure it's a local listserv type of site and wanted to ask: Is it worthwhile or nonsense? I noted that in a P.S. the letter writer said the site for our area already had "new information about crime and safety in our area" which seems like a somewhat scare-mongering way to drive traffic to them.

I try to pay attention to our detailed local news, development plans (of which there are lots in our suburb) and police report summaries etc. If you use Nextdoor where you live, does it provide anything legit enough to make it worth joining?

[Anonymous]

It has good stuff and nonsensical stuff. It’s handy for knowing what those sirens were or what that new development is or who’s having a garage sale or is looking for a babysitter or housecleaning service etc. Up to you as to whether you think it’s helpful. If it is, use it, if it isn’t don’t.

[Anonymous]

Just like most things, some of it is useful and some of it isn't.

I met people to play music with there--amateur, casual bands--so that was cool. I also use it to keep up with developments around some retail renovations that are happening.

Of course there's also neighborhood drama, but that's to be expected.

[Anonymous]

I use it to buy and sell kid items. Occasionally there is useful information about neighborhood events.

[Anonymous]

It is legit.

I use it to get local recommendations for contractors, repair people, etc.

It has helped to mute a few people who constantly pollute the feed with irrelevant garbage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It has good stuff and nonsensical stuff. It’s handy for knowing what those sirens were or what that new development is or who’s having a garage sale or is looking for a babysitter or housecleaning service etc. Up to you as to whether you think it’s helpful. If it is, use it, if it isn’t don’t.

+1 to all of this. And I found recommendations for a painter and electrician there.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the feedback, PPs. Sounds like Angie's List plus sitter/yard sale/event stuff. Could be helpful if some scammer is making the rounds in the area door-to-door. But it doesn't sound like it's for us (though I might join when I have a yard sale to promote....)
OP

[Anonymous]

Know that there is a setting to get 1 condensed email a day...I found it to be way too much before I learned about that.

[Anonymous]

I found a few summer nannies who were home from college for the summer. Also got local recs for a tree trimmer, electrician, and plumber. Bought some Girl Scout cookies, and got a heads up when someone's car and shed were broken into on the next street over. It's kind of like DCUM for your neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

If you have a pet that might get out or if you find a loose pet who has lost their collar, it is the go to place for listing.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the others--it has value (recommendations for contractors as well as crime notifications) and you can easily skip over the bickering when it starts.

[Anonymous]

I have found it very useful. We've gotten sitters (both pet and kid) through Nextdoor, and then some weird "why is my car doing this" and you get really useful responses! And just this morning we went through a large community-wide power outage and within 5 minutes I knew what the cause was and what the estimated time of restoration was.

[Anonymous]

You can choose how many neighborhoods to include and which ones. Just your immediate neighborhood, etc.

I think it is time to delete Bannockburn from my feed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the feedback, PPs. Sounds like Angie's List plus sitter/yard sale/event stuff. Could be helpful if some scammer is making the rounds in the area door-to-door. But it doesn't sound like it's for us (though I might join when I have a yard sale to promote....)
OP

It’s a comprehensive neighborhood listserve, beyond what you listed. People can and do post whatever they want, and sometimes it’s useful information that you would not have been aware of otherwise. If there’s something of public interest going on in your neighborhood, whether it’s crime, a coyote sighting, or Jeff bezos using your neighborhood as a shortcut, you’ll hear about it on NextDoor.

[Anonymous]

I found an awesome plumber on Nextdoor that many neighbors recommended.