Comments on: Noisy Neighbors: How to Deal With Them When You Work From Home

By: How to Work From Home During Chaotic Repairs

How to Work From Home During Chaotic Repairs — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:01:42 +0000

[...] most straightforward approach, particularly if noise is your biggest problem. In a previous post, WWD reader Mau recommended the earmuff hearing protectors typically found in shooting ranges. If the noise [...]

By: ps

ps — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 04:13:15 +0000

Reading this blog made me shake my head. You see, I’m on the “headphone-solution” phase of our noisy neighbor problem. They are a shameless bunch who thinks they are the only ones living in our subdivision. They are not even homeowners. They just rented the house next door and first thing they did when they move-in was play their disco music so loud as if they’re all deaf. No wonder they all talk like their shouting from one hill to another. And can you believe it? Just when it’s time for you to go to sleep at night, they will also turn their radio on a certain FM station and play it loudly all night long. Oftentimes, they also bring along their friends and they talk as loudly as their music while drinking some booze and playing cards. I guess at times they also have pot sessions there and so here I am waiting for the right timing. I’ll get my revenge! Hehehe…

By: JT

JT — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:16:18 +0000

I have the same problem. We have shameless neighbors who think that they are the only ones who are living in our compound. from parking space up to noise, they are the complete package. We have been patient for so many years now and we can no longer tolerate their ways. I tried reporting them to the police and it did little effect (they took me seriously since we told them the barangay officials are cooperating with the disturbance). I’am all out of options. hope the nuisance law won’t stay as a bill otherwise i’ll be forced to use underhanded tactics. And oh, they are also stealing electricity (jumper). they were caught (i reported them hehehe), however they are still doing it and fucking meralco is doing nothing this time around.

Hope there is a solution to this like laws. ciao.

By: WebWorkerDaily » Archive How to Turn Productivity into a Habit «

WebWorkerDaily » Archive How to Turn Productivity into a Habit « — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:23:46 +0000

[...] forces that are going against our productivity. These include random distractions, illness, noise, and even the fear of getting started. I’m very familiar with this problem, because even if I [...]

By: rhiarti

rhiarti — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:13:05 +0000

How lovely for you that something so simple works! I live 24/7 in earplugs thanks to my neighbours noisy children… it barely touches the problem.

By: peder

peder — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 11:02:13 +0000

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By: ganesh

ganesh — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:29:33 +0000

I am able to empathize!!.

One best solution for working unaffected is by working in glass rooms.

Building a glass door covering from ceiling to the floor in the corner where we are working will give our own personal space as well as help us keep an eye on what is happening with the kids in the home.

This would even help in keeping our dear ones know that we are at work and not to disturb us for some time.

By: John Dowdell

John Dowdell — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:48:29 +0000

For earplugs, check out the decibel rating… some of them go up above a “30 db” rating.

But it’s easier to work with a Peltor headset, just flip it on and off, much easier:
http://www.amazon.com/s?field-keywords=peltor hearing protector

(The $20 models work great, but if you’re getting a WorkTunes for the input mic be sure to get the newer, higher-DB models.)

Noise-cancelling headphones work best with repetitive noise, but not varying noise. Decibel ratings can be tricky, because they differ at varying frequencies.

By: Ken

Ken — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:48:48 +0000

We seemed to have the ‘obnoxious’ magnet when we lived in apartments. Our neighbors sound much like yours.

I found a combination of loud techno music early the next morning, calls made from my cell phone to their apartment (to mare SURE they were not sleeping in) and knocking on the door of their like I was a SWAT team got the point across.

I have no peace, neither do you.

By: Franki

Franki — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:29 +0000

A bit more of an expensive option – noise cancelling headphones, at least you also use on your flights too.

By: matt

matt — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:46:52 +0000

My solution: I own a medium-sized snake and have a good relationship with the local pet dealer, and get mice for cheap.

Last time I wanted a neighbor out, I drilled a small hole while he was out, put a pipe through the wall (so the mice wouldn’t go into the wall cavity) and passed about 25 mice through the pipe into his apartment. Then I patched up the hole inside the wall and on my side.

I waited a few days, he complained a ton, even came over to tell me about the “infestation” in his apartment and that I should “be on the lookout”.

He was out the end of the month. No more midnight all-night beer parties next door. I got a good night’s sleep for the first night in a month and was finally productive again.

The apartment was vacant for the next month, so I talked to my super and got the keys to do a “walk around” – told him I was interested, as its a larger apartment.

I rangled up most of the mice then let my snake loose in there, and conveniently forgot to return the key for a few days. A couple days later, I grabbed my snake (he was fattened up nicely so I figured we were all cleaned up) and gave the key back to the super with a “no thanks, moving’s a pain.”

Problem solved.

Matt

By: Shirley

Shirley — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:49:54 +0000

Yes, I have had this problem myself. The neighbors just moved in and I think they’re all in a rock band or something. They play loud music, have intense base, and the noise goes into the night…

The noise-canceling headphones just might work.

By: Dudley

Dudley — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:15:08 +0000

I live in Texas and when a group gets too noisy I just call the cops. They stop but usually within an hour and the noise stops.

After several calls to the cops I have a nice quite neighborhood.

Its nice to live in the States.

By: alex

alex — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:55:27 +0000

I live in an apartment building and had similar problems with particular neighbour constantly making parties that went on until the morning. Even though he is two stories above me it was too loud for me to fall asleep.

One time I got enough of it (at around 4 AM) so went down to where the circuit breakers are – and I just pulled out ones for their apartment. And then he finally got it ;)

Next time he was making a (relocation/immigration to USA) party he announced it with a notice on main entrance, asked that neighbours don’t call the police and just ask them to silence it a bit (seems that someone else called police) and that everyone is welcome for a drink.

There are also be other ways that don’t damage the property and are not dangerous. Such as taping or jamming with a small stick their doorbell switch in the middle of their sleep after the party

OTOH – New neighbours just above me got a piano (perhaps pianino or electronic one) – music is mostly nice unless father (music teacher) is teaching his kids to play when in addition to not-so-nice music I hear constant foot pounding on the floor for keeping to the rhythm. But that happens during the day obviously.

By: Somebodyunfamous

Somebodyunfamous — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:34:53 +0000

I can tell you a few other things that don’t work:

1) Putting holes in your ceiling with a broom handle (or other nearby arm-extending-device) – it only escalates the issue and then you lose your deposit!

2) Threatening to call the police – police have a hard time doing anything about these issues and you just become “The Complainer.”

Well, what it boils down to is: that’s apartment living for you! Glad you found a solution that works for you!

By: A. Acevedo

A. Acevedo — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:08:35 +0000

I can relate to your struggle. Even in New York City, where there are laws against noise pollution (eg: fines for excessive honking with vehicle horns), a call about people repeatedly disturbing the peace may not be taken seriously. If the noise persists at hours that people normally sleep (eg: between 10 PM and 5 AM), I suggest you make a record of repeated violations, and try to get some evidence — like an audio recording from a camcorder taping within your residence. From experience, I can tell you that there are a significant amount of people in this world that just cannot bear the presence of peaceful and productive individuals around them. BTW, I really like the idea of “weapon(s) against mass distraction”, and the metaphor of “making sandals”. Maybe you should try noise-cancel headphones.