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Step 1
Start by smiling. Catch your neighbor's eye when he heads out in the morning or give him a friendly nod when he comes home.
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Step 2
Get to know this person if you don't already. What's his name? Where does he work? How long has he lived on your street?
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Step 3
Try to make pleasant chitchat and find a common interest'sports? gardening? movies?
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Step 4
Mention, in an offhand way, that you can hear his music from your house. Tell him it sometimes wakes you up. For many people, this will be enough to let them know that their behavior needs to change.
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Step 5
Wait a week or two to see what happens.
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Step 6
Mention in a more direct way that you'd like the volume lower. Be clear and specific with your request - and don't forget to be friendly.
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Step 7
Find out if other neighbors are bothered, if no change happens, and ask them to mention it, too.
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Step 8
Consider soliciting the help of one of his friends on the block - he might be willing to heed the complaint from someone closer.
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Step 9
Wait a week or two to avoid creating a conflict that could become hostile.
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Step 10
Escalate if you must: Write a letter, solicit legal advice or call the police. These methods up the conflict ante, so use them with care.
Comments
voltaic said
on 10/3/2009 There are millions frustrated from excessive, uncivil and unnecessary noise. To see how others are dealing with the noise morons, take a look at groups such as noiseoff.org and send some of their noise related literature to the noise nuts that ruin your days and nights. Noise pollution is a health issue that I have described as secondhand noise, in the same manner as secondhand smoke is a health hazard. Excessive noise is an aggressive behavior, so being kind and polite isn't likely to work with that crowd. Again, visit noiseoff.org and learn more about noise and how to react to the noise freaks.
anakahashi said
on 10/2/2009 If they are blasting their music after appropriate hours they already know they are being an a**. It's not possible to be that stupid not to know you're irritating anyone who lives less than 1/4 mile away.
hippytrash said
on 3/31/2009 if they live downstairs just start dropping a heavy book on the ceiling at random times. that doesnt work find their fuse box and kill the power.
floridagal2009 said
on 1/19/2009 I moved next door to a bunch of hillbillies 3 yrs ago and have had to hear their country music blaring from their trucks in a driveway that we share ever since. It is noon right now and they have had their radios up high again since 9 this morning. After getting very annoyed and reading all of the posts here, I finally just ducked my head out the window and asked if they can turn their music down as it has been loud since 9 this morning. So much for sleeping in until 10. They turned it off completely and I couldn't be happier. I have asked this before too but they have no respect for their neighbors. There's nothing like listening to Jeff Foxworthy's comedy CD like I'm playing it in my own living room at 11:00 at night.
jennyp624 said
on 12/23/2008 I have a downstairs apartment neighbor who plays music with bass. The bass is what I can hear and it drives me crazy. I have tried stomping and hammering on the floor. It doesn't ever stop for very long. I awoke Sunday morning at 2am to them talking very loudly. I am not sure what to do. I think talking to them first is the way to go. Maybe they already know me as "hammer girl" so maybe I'll just keep on with my passive aggression since I've already started down that unfortunate road... Aye...