[jbug]

I have a new neighbor moving in. He is about my age and boy does he love his stereo . For the last couple of days when he is at the apartment all I hear is thump thump thump. I am debating on do I go say something and risk getting off on the wrong foot with him or let him get settled and see if it settles down when he gets moved in. I'm not sure what to do. So far he hasn't spent the night here so I'm not sure if would go on into the night or not. That would be where I draw the line. The neighbor I had a couple of neighbors before this one had a surround sound system and loved it and when I'd ask kindly if he'd turn it down he would but I don't know about this guy. Tito was a nice guy and I'm not sure about this guy. I haven't formally introduced myself to him and like I said don't want to get off on the wrong foot with him. So what would you do?

Jbug

[CedarS]

You could knock on his door, introduce yourself in a friendly manner, and tell him that you know that since he is new he didn't understand how his stereo bass is thumping through the building. You could approach this with him as you are offering to help all of you out, everyone can work together to make the environment comfortable for all. Maybe he will even work with you on figuring out where he needs to set his stereo properly.

I've had to deal with soooooooooo much noise over the years, so I know what is like to be in your shoes. Some neighbors can be real horrid. When you ask him to turn the noise down you aren't doing anything wrong, you aren't starting a fight, even if he or others try to make you feel that way. This is his choice, in other words if he acts all pissy, that is not your fault.

I think it is fine to talk with him now rather than wait to see if he will get a clue on his own.

[bebop]

well since he hasn't spent a night there yet I would wait and see. then I would let him know it was a little on the loud side.

[KatieLynn]

hey I practice 8 hours of piano a day, I do my share of annoying neighbors, but your right he should keep it down I practice because its kindof my career lol

[SpottedOwl]

I've run into both circumstances with neighbors -- those who were nice, and those who turned their music up when I let them know how well the sound carried.

On a practical note: research the noise ordinance laws in your city. Where I live, anytime after 10 pm, and before 6, there are restrictions on noise.

Technically, anytime when there are not noise restrictions, the person can be as loud as they want. So, I will personally wait until it is after 10 to knock on their door. Daytime hours I just try to be tolerant.

The one neighbor who turned his stereo up scared the crap out of me, so don't hesitate to call the police if you are at all concerned, and let them enforce the law.

[Wants2Fly]

I'm sorry. I never seem to know the right way to handle these situations either.

[Doh2007]

Chances are that other neighbors are going to complain, so you could just wait for them to do it.

[trippinmickey]

If it is bugging you its best to voice your opinion .The longer you hold something in the bigger it becomes. So months from now it may come out the wrong way. A good neighbor will be understanding and if he is a bad neighbor it wont make a different so why wait.

[AAAAA]

When hubby and I moved into our first place after getting married (on a military base) the downstairs neighbors played their music so loud that my lamps vibrated off of the end tables. I THOUGHT I was being diplomatic, I said I really enjoyed their taste in music, and asked if they could please turn it down. They responded by blaring it until 10 pm (quiet hours started at 10).

Not one of my finer moments, but I responded by doing my housework at 10 pm. While they were trying to sleep I was vacuuming and "accidentally" banging the walls with the vacuum. Since we gave the baby the larger room, I'd put him in bed with his dad and clean his room until 1:00 a.m. which meant that I was right over their bedroom. My dishwasher, vacuum and washing machine started at 10 and ran until at least 1 am.

They moved 6 months after we moved in, it was a LONG six months.

[jbug]

Well tonight I reached my last straw and called the cops. That worked for about 10 minutes. The music is back loud as ever. I figure tomorrow night if its loud again I'll just call back or I'll just call the landlord and leave a message asking him to intervene.

Jbug

[multipixie9]

Jannebug,

I sympathize with you. It is so horrid when someone is deliberately unkind for NO good reason.

One thing I sometimes do to save my sanity is use the soft, foam earplugs. They block enough noise to keep my cool and let enough noise through that I don't miss phone calls or other important input.
The earplugs come in various levels - so you can get a little help or a lot.

I wish I had a way to help you stop the problem, but life is seldom so tidy and accomodating!

Leslie

[AAAAA]

If he won't turn it down on his own, definately get ahold of the landlord, let him know that you've attempted to reason with him and when that failed you called the police and that didn't work either.

[Zen888]

I have a similar problem with my new neighbors. They have their tv/stereo up loud and slam their doors every single day.

[jbug]

I am just grinning and bearing it with my neighbors now. They still play their stereo but its not as loud as it was but now they wait to turn it on until 10 p.m. how nice huh? I don't think saying anything to them would help in fact I think it would make matters worse so I'm just not saying anything.

Jbug

[Doh2007]

Just wondering if things have gotten any better?