‘It’s frustrating to feel unwelcome and worried in our new home’: I made daytime noise that upset my neighbor. Was I wrong?

Hey Moving Diaries! So, my partner and I just moved to a new city and snagged a cute apartment, but things have been a bit rocky. Our building is pretty old, and our neighbors seem a bit touchy. We’re both in our mid-twenties, have two cats, and our neighbors are mostly medical peeps and professionals. We’re trying to be good neighbors, but it’s been a struggle.

We arrived super late at night, exhausted from a long drive, and the place was a mess. We’ve been busting our butts cleaning for the past few weeks, but it’s been tough. I try to keep the cleaning noise down, but my knee acts up sometimes and makes more noise than I’d like. I also like to crank up the music during the day, but always at reasonable hours.

The building is old, so it’s creaky AF. We wake up early for work, but we don’t do any crazy noise-making before 9:00 AM. We only have one rug, but we haven’t put it down yet because of all the cleaning chaos. Plus, we’re not really rug fans.

Then things got weird. Our downstairs neighbor (who’s in her 40s) left us a note and a box of tomatoes, which felt kinda random. She didn’t even introduce herself! And then, she started complaining about noises coming from our place. It’s been super awkward, and now I feel like I’m walking on eggshells in my own home.

My partner had a run-in with her one day, and she ended up complaining to the building management about us. It’s been a headache trying to explain to them that we’re not being super loud on purpose. It sucks feeling unwelcome in our own place.

So, Moving Diaries, what’s the deal? Are we the jerks here?

Farewell from Frustrated Newbie

Response from THE MOVING DIARIES:

"Hello There,"

Congratulations on your recent move, and I’m sorry to hear about the challenges you’ve been facing in your new apartment. It seems like you and your partner have been making a genuine effort to be considerate neighbors despite the circumstances. Moving into a new space can always be an adjustment, especially in an older building with unique quirks like creaky floors.

Given the situation with your downstairs neighbor, it’s essential to maintain a respectful and understanding approach. It’s positive that you reached out to management to explain your side of the story. Moving forward, consider investing in a few inexpensive rugs to help dampen noise from footsteps and activities in your apartment. The rugs don’t have to be permanent fixtures if you don’t like them, but they can make a significant difference in noise reduction. Additionally, continue to be mindful of the noise levels during early and late hours, particularly with activities like cleaning and playing music.

While it may be uncomfortable right now, try not to let the situation deter you from feeling welcome in your new home. Keep communication lines open with management if there are any further concerns or complaints. Remember that adjusting to a new living situation takes time, and with some small adjustments like rugs and continued consideration for your neighbors, you can create a more harmonious living environment for everyone.

Best of luck in settling into your new home, and I hope things improve with your downstairs neighbor soon.

Warm regards,
THE MOVING DIARIES