Ask a real estate pro: How can I get my neighbor to keep it down during 5 a.m. workouts?
Q: I live in an apartment, and my upstairs neighbor gets up to work out every day at 5 a.m. He’s often loud, dropping the weights and waking me up. I’m kind of at my wits’ end. I really don’t want to have to report him to the community, but I also need to get some sleep. What can I do? — Adrian
A: Living in an apartment comes with its own set of challenges, including dealing with noisy neighbors. Sometimes, it might be a barking dog, late-night parties, loud music, or, like in your case, an early-morning workout routine.
While every apartment community has its own rules and guidelines, the steps for addressing noise issues are generally the same.
Communication is always your first step.
Try to have a polite and respectful conversation with your neighbor. They may not be aware that their routine is bothering you, and a simple conversation may resolve the issue. Choose a time when you’re both calm and not in the middle of the problem, perhaps in the evening or on a weekend. Explain how the noise is impacting your sleep and ask if they could take steps to minimize it, like using a mat to cushion the weights or adjusting their routine slightly. Approach the conversation with understanding, and you might be surprised at how willing they are to cooperate.
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