The cookies are in the oven, now, what do I say?

[Anonymous]

I've waited for 8 weeks to talk to the upstairs neighbor hoping the noise would get better. We're new residents and their noise is driving me INSANE!

I can hear them BREATHE upstairs! I can hear their TV, washing machine, dishwasher... EVERYTHING! When they vacuum it's like the ceiling will fall on our heads downstairs! When they open the balcony door the pictures from my wall shake to the point that I had to take down everything I had on those walls.

I understand I have no right to ask them to not make everyday noise but last night they were vacuuming at 10pm! I have small children and it's so hard to put them back to sleep after each earthquake.

The floors are completely covered (we both rent and the units are exactly the same inside) so I can't suggest them to cover the floors. What do I say?

I mean, can you spell it out? I don't want to come as nasty, bitchy or angry but I want them to know that I can hear everything that happens there and ask them to keep it down after 9pm. How do I word this? I never had a problem with neighbors for the 10 years I've rented in my life. I'm so confused.

I'll have a tray of cookies in hands

Thanks for the suggestions.

[Anonymous]

They can't help it if the walls are made of cardboard - which sounds like that may be the case. Politely introduce yourself, explain you have young children, and ask if it would be possible for them to try to be quiet late in the evening. Most apartment buildings and residential areas have policies about loud noises after a particular time, so if they give you problems find out what the policy is where you live.

[Anonymous]

10:28 again - should have added. Chances are they can hear you as well and may be able to hear your children if they wake up in the middle of the night or early in the morning or if they are loud during the day.

[Anonymous]

You people and your cookies are fools! This is not the 1950's!

If you came to me with cookies I would not even want to listen to what you had to say because people who think that brining cookies will help the situation or make your neighbor like/ respect you more are idiots!

[Anonymous]

OP, if they are not having wild parties, there is not a whole lot you can do, except move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You people and your cookies are fools! This is not the 1950's!

If you came to me with cookies I would not even want to listen to what you had to say because people who think that brining cookies will help the situation or make your neighbor like/ respect you more are idiots!

I bet you don't even know your neighbors.

Ignore the grinch! Those of us in Whoville will happily enjoy your cookies and try and keep the noise down.

[Anonymous]

Eh, all you can really do is ask them not to vacuum at night. We don't vacuum before 8.30am or after 7pm if we can help it. But other noise--dishwasher, footsteps, doors--sorry. There's not really anything you can do.

[Anonymous]

I agree with many of the PPs. The neighbors are not your problem, the poor construction is. You can ask them not to vacuum after 9pm, but the other stuff you need to just let go. And don't bring homemade cookies. They would go straight to trash at my house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with many of the PPs. The neighbors are not your problem, the poor construction is. You can ask them not to vacuum after 9pm, but the other stuff you need to just let go. And don't bring homemade cookies. They would go straight to trash at my house.[/quote]

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with many of the PPs. The neighbors are not your problem, the poor construction is. You can ask them not to vacuum after 9pm, but the other stuff you need to just let go. And don't bring homemade cookies. They would go straight to trash at my house.[/quote]

This.

Why? If a neighbor -- trying to be friendly -- brought you homemade cookies, why would you throw them away?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with many of the PPs. The neighbors are not your problem, the poor construction is. You can ask them not to vacuum after 9pm, but the other stuff you need to just let go. And don't bring homemade cookies. They would go straight to trash at my house.[/quote]

This.

I bet I know someone on this board who would take them....as long as they weren't smooshed!

[Anonymous]

Op - it sounds like you have live in a horribly unsoundproof home. Likely it someone lives beneath you they hear every move you make the way you hear those above you. You can't be frustrated about everyday noise - it is part of the apartment you rented. If you are hoping to establish quiet hours due to the noise you can try to do so but then you also have to stick to the same quiet hours - if they are cooperative and say sure we will be quiet after 10 and can we ask that you also keep your house quiet until 8 am. Is this doable for you? You can't ask them to be quiet unless you are prepared to be quiet as well.

[Anonymous]

I would let them know how much of their activity you are hearing (they may or may not realize).. I would have the time policies for your building on hand to let them know in case they don't realize, but beyond that, it doesn't sound like they're reallly doing aything out of the ordinary.. Do you want them to stop opening their balcony door? Or breathing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with many of the PPs. The neighbors are not your problem, the poor construction is. You can ask them not to vacuum after 9pm, but the other stuff you need to just let go. And don't bring homemade cookies. They would go straight to trash at my house.[/quote]

This.

Why? If a neighbor -- trying to be friendly -- brought you homemade cookies, why would you throw them away?

Her goal in coming is not to be friendly - the cookies are smokescreen for coming to ask them to be quiet because the building has poor construction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They can't help it if the walls are made of cardboard - which sounds like that may be the case. Politely introduce yourself, explain you have young children, and ask if it would be possible for them to try to be quiet late in the evening. Most apartment buildings and residential areas have policies about loud noises after a particular time, so if they give you problems find out what the policy is where you live.

Call a soundproofing place and ask for some simple, inexpensive ideas of what you can do. I did that once with a neighbor who played his stereo all night. I was told that putting cork boards on wall would help and it did.