Last Updated on July 13, 2012 by Mike
Noisy neighbors can be the most frustrating issue about your neighborhood. Whether it’s neighbors that leave for work in their noisy truck at 4AM or neighbors that play music too loud late at night, it can be enough to drive you mad. Thankfully, there are ways to deal with the problem. Here are just a few tips on how to deal with noisy neighbors.
Talk with Your Neighbors
In many cases, neighbors don’t realize that they’re being too loud. Meet with your neighbors and have a calm discussion about the noise. You might say something like, “I was wondering if it would be possible for you to play your music a bit lower after such and such time?” Remember, this should be a friendly conversation. Give your neighbors the benefit of the doubt and assume that they don’t realize they’re being a nuisance.
Use a Follow Up Letter
If the noise continues, write a letter to serve as a gentle reminder of the discussion you had. Explain that you can still hear the music and would appreciate it if they could lower the volume while you’re trying to sleep. Again, you want to be nice about it and you should keep a copy of the letter as proof that you attempted to handle the issue on your own.
Speak with the Landlord or HOA
Depending on where you live, you may be able to meet with your landlord or the president of the homeowner’s association to discuss the problem. Explain that you already met with the neighbors and sent a follow up letter. Having them address the issue may finally get the neighbors to quiet down.
Call the Police
If you’re still having problems, or your neighbors become aggressive, it’s time to call in the police. Again, you need to explain everything you’ve done and especially tell them about any aggressive behavior. However, it’s important to note that the police will only do something if the issue is a real nuisance. For example, if you work third shift hours and the neighbors are building a fence between 8AM and 5PM, the police are not going to do anything about it.
Soundproof Your Home
Last, but not least, soundproof your home. This can be done by insulating the windows with thick curtains, installing new, soundproofing insulation, or by soundproofing your windows with a second pane of glass, which is pricey, but can eliminate almost any noise from the outside. Soundproofing a room doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult, especially if you use quality materials.
Noisy neighbors are extremely annoying and sometimes they won’t listen to your requests. However, there are things you can do to make sure the noise stops or that you stop the noise from bothering you.
About the Author: Marcel Paluzzi is a soundproofing specialist who often installs soundproofing for homeowners who have problems with neighbors. While trying to work with your neighbor is often optimal, sometimes it just can’t be done.
