Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We bought a house recently and are planning some significant renovations. We also learned that both next-door neighbors on either side of the house work out of their homes. I feel terrible about the potential for our renovations to make it difficult for them to concentrate and work, as I am sure there will be lots of noise, banging, drilling, etc. That said, I do not want the neighbors to think they can dictate the path of our renovations. I'd basically like to minimize any inconvenience for neighbors while maintaining autonomy over our house, builders, and renovations.

If you have advice about (a) how to discuss the renovations with them without giving them any authority over them, (b) how to manage potential conflicts between our builders and neighbors, and (c) possible things we can do for the neighbors to make the process less intrusive, we would really appreciate it.

Thank you!

They'll manage just fine. We moved in, had a bsby, and then day 5 of my mat leave the neighbor got started on a teardown. Honestly, it wasn't that loud. A few spikes of loudness heard and there, but otherwise just popping things up.

Work from homers have tons of nice, low cost shared office space options in the area. Or coffee shops.

Renovations happen all the time. Even to the nearby schools and no ones throwing too big a fit.

Sorry, hon, not everyone can just work from a coffeeshop. Some of us need to work from complicated technical setups for our IT jobs (so shared office space is out, too).

And being on maternity leave, where basically all you do is nurse and sleep with baby is NOTHING like having to be productive and work from home (and do conference calls, video meetings, etc), which could be disrupted from construction. I know from experience as I'm a WAHM and I've been on maternity leave twice. YOU might have the option of getting out of the house if it's too loud, but teleworkers don't always. Your experience is not germane to this thread.

Anonymous wrote:I WAH. I live close-in. For 5 years, there has always been a neighbor--front, back, side, across the street doing a major renovation . Two full knockdowns too.

Day work doesn't bother me. The 7am pounding that wakes my 8am sleeping kids up that annoys the hell out if me. Trucks also idle and back up beginning at 6:30 to be ready for the 7 an start time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We bought a house recently and are planning some significant renovations. We also learned that both next-door neighbors on either side of the house work out of their homes. I feel terrible about the potential for our renovations to make it difficult for them to concentrate and work, as I am sure there will be lots of noise, banging, drilling, etc. That said, I do not want the neighbors to think they can dictate the path of our renovations. I'd basically like to minimize any inconvenience for neighbors while maintaining autonomy over our house, builders, and renovations.

If you have advice about (a) how to discuss the renovations with them without giving them any authority over them, (b) how to manage potential conflicts between our builders and neighbors, and (c) possible things we can do for the neighbors to make the process less intrusive, we would really appreciate it.

Thank you!

They'll manage just fine. We moved in, had a bsby, and then day 5 of my mat leave the neighbor got started on a teardown. Honestly, it wasn't that loud. A few spikes of loudness heard and there, but otherwise just popping things up.

Work from homers have tons of nice, low cost shared office space options in the area. Or coffee shops.

Renovations happen all the time. Even to the nearby schools and no ones throwing too big a fit.

Sorry, hon, not everyone can just work from a coffeeshop. Some of us need to work from complicated technical setups for our IT jobs (so shared office space is out, too).

And being on maternity leave, where basically all you do is nurse and sleep with baby is NOTHING like having to be productive and work from home (and do conference calls, video meetings, etc), which could be disrupted from construction. I know from experience as I'm a WAHM and I've been on maternity leave twice. YOU might have the option of getting out of the house if it's too loud, but teleworkers don't always. Your experience is not germane to this thread.

If her experience is not germane, neither is yours. You have one way of working. She has another. Working in isolation may have affected your tolerance

Boom!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We bought a house recently and are planning some significant renovations. We also learned that both next-door neighbors on either side of the house work out of their homes. I feel terrible about the potential for our renovations to make it difficult for them to concentrate and work, as I am sure there will be lots of noise, banging, drilling, etc. That said, I do not want the neighbors to think they can dictate the path of our renovations. I'd basically like to minimize any inconvenience for neighbors while maintaining autonomy over our house, builders, and renovations.

If you have advice about (a) how to discuss the renovations with them without giving them any authority over them, (b) how to manage potential conflicts between our builders and neighbors, and (c) possible things we can do for the neighbors to make the process less intrusive, we would really appreciate it.

Thank you!

They'll manage just fine. We moved in, had a bsby, and then day 5 of my mat leave the neighbor got started on a teardown. Honestly, it wasn't that loud. A few spikes of loudness heard and there, but otherwise just popping things up.

Work from homers have tons of nice, low cost shared office space options in the area. Or coffee shops.

Renovations happen all the time. Even to the nearby schools and no ones throwing too big a fit.

Sorry, hon, not everyone can just work from a coffeeshop. Some of us need to work from complicated technical setups for our IT jobs (so shared office space is out, too).

And being on maternity leave, where basically all you do is nurse and sleep with baby is NOTHING like having to be productive and work from home (and do conference calls, video meetings, etc), which could be disrupted from construction. I know from experience as I'm a WAHM and I've been on maternity leave twice. YOU might have the option of getting out of the house if it's too loud, but teleworkers don't always. Your experience is not germane to this thread.

If her experience is not germane, neither is yours. You have one way of working. She has another. Working in isolation may have affected your tolerance

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We bought a house recently and are planning some significant renovations. We also learned that both next-door neighbors on either side of the house work out of their homes. I feel terrible about the potential for our renovations to make it difficult for them to concentrate and work, as I am sure there will be lots of noise, banging, drilling, etc. That said, I do not want the neighbors to think they can dictate the path of our renovations. I'd basically like to minimize any inconvenience for neighbors while maintaining autonomy over our house, builders, and renovations.

If you have advice about (a) how to discuss the renovations with them without giving them any authority over them, (b) how to manage potential conflicts between our builders and neighbors, and (c) possible things we can do for the neighbors to make the process less intrusive, we would really appreciate it.

Thank you!

They'll manage just fine. We moved in, had a bsby, and then day 5 of my mat leave the neighbor got started on a teardown. Honestly, it wasn't that loud. A few spikes of loudness heard and there, but otherwise just popping things up.

Work from homers have tons of nice, low cost shared office space options in the area. Or coffee shops.

Renovations happen all the time. Even to the nearby schools and no ones throwing too big a fit.

Sorry, hon, not everyone can just work from a coffeeshop. Some of us need to work from complicated technical setups for our IT jobs (so shared office space is out, too).

And being on maternity leave, where basically all you do is nurse and sleep with baby is NOTHING like having to be productive and work from home (and do conference calls, video meetings, etc), which could be disrupted from construction. I know from experience as I'm a WAHM and I've been on maternity leave twice. YOU might have the option of getting out of the house if it's too loud, but teleworkers don't always. Your experience is not germane to this thread.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We bought a house recently and are planning some significant renovations. We also learned that both next-door neighbors on either side of the house work out of their homes. I feel terrible about the potential for our renovations to make it difficult for them to concentrate and work, as I am sure there will be lots of noise, banging, drilling, etc. That said, I do not want the neighbors to think they can dictate the path of our renovations. I'd basically like to minimize any inconvenience for neighbors while maintaining autonomy over our house, builders, and renovations.

If you have advice about (a) how to discuss the renovations with them without giving them any authority over them, (b) how to manage potential conflicts between our builders and neighbors, and (c) possible things we can do for the neighbors to make the process less intrusive, we would really appreciate it.

Thank you!

They'll manage just fine. We moved in, had a bsby, and then day 5 of my mat leave the neighbor got started on a teardown. Honestly, it wasn't that loud. A few spikes of loudness heard and there, but otherwise just popping things up.

Work from homers have tons of nice, low cost shared office space options in the area. Or coffee shops.

Renovations happen all the time. Even to the nearby schools and no ones throwing too big a fit.

Sorry, hon, not everyone can just work from a coffeeshop. Some of us need to work from complicated technical setups for our IT jobs (so shared office space is out, too).

And being on maternity leave, where basically all you do is nurse and sleep with baby is NOTHING like having to be productive and work from home (and do conference calls, video meetings, etc), which could be disrupted from construction. I know from experience as I'm a WAHM and I've been on maternity leave twice. YOU might have the option of getting out of the house if it's too loud, but teleworkers don't always. Your experience is not germane to this thread.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We bought a house recently and are planning some significant renovations. We also learned that both next-door neighbors on either side of the house work out of their homes. I feel terrible about the potential for our renovations to make it difficult for them to concentrate and work, as I am sure there will be lots of noise, banging, drilling, etc. That said, I do not want the neighbors to think they can dictate the path of our renovations. I'd basically like to minimize any inconvenience for neighbors while maintaining autonomy over our house, builders, and renovations.

If you have advice about (a) how to discuss the renovations with them without giving them any authority over them, (b) how to manage potential conflicts between our builders and neighbors, and (c) possible things we can do for the neighbors to make the process less intrusive, we would really appreciate it.

Thank you!

They'll manage just fine. We moved in, had a bsby, and then day 5 of my mat leave the neighbor got started on a teardown. Honestly, it wasn't that loud. A few spikes of loudness heard and there, but otherwise just popping things up.

Work from homers have tons of nice, low cost shared office space options in the area. Or coffee shops.

Renovations happen all the time. Even to the nearby schools and no ones throwing too big a fit.

Anonymous wrote:1. Meet with each neighbor individually and explain the scope of renovations and likely timetable. The outside work will be the most annoying, but if the neighbors are working inside it won't be that bothersome. Obviously, when the work moves inside at your renovation project, it will be less bothersome as well. Guide their expectations and they will be less annoyed.

Unfortunately, if the neighbors are annoyed by your renovations, they can complain to you or the local jurisdictions. If you are upfront, you can smile and say, I am sorry, we thought that by giving your our schedule this would help you through the process.

If they complain to the jurisdiction, you can let them know how you tried to ameliorate the situation.

2. Keep the builder's vehicles as removed from the houses as possible. Also make sure that construction debris that blows into their yards is cleaned up quickly. Look for nails and other sharp objects related to the construction that might be caught in their tires or hit their cars. Advise the builders that the neighbors work at home so that they will know to be careful about noise and other issues occurring during the day.

3. I invited the neighbors for a tour of the work after it was finished. I gave each of them a gift certificate to have their windows washed after the grime from our construction. The certificate was tucked into a small gift basked with wine, cookies, cheese, crackers along with a handwritten thank you note.

This was 3 years ago, and other neighbors have followed suit having heard the original two neighbors rave about how "lovely" we were.

It cost about $400 for good will with neighbors.

Anonymous wrote:Don't discuss it with them. If you do, you'll be on a slippery slope you'll regret.

Anonymous wrote:I work at home and sort of assume that when people move in they are likely to renovate. As long as the project is finite I can cope. It's the mystery abandoned house renovation (dumpster outside, occasional workman, months of nothing) that concern me.