How to say thanks to a neighbour for putting up with our noisy weekend?
September 22, 2015 3:00 PM Subscribe
Our flooring installation this weekend was both noisier and took longer than I expected. How can we thank our downstairs neighbour for putting up with us?
With the landlord's blessing, we ripped out all the tired old carpet in our apartment this past weekend and had lovely vinyl plank flooring put down (we don't intend to move for a long time so we figured the increased enjoyment is worth the expense).
In order to prep the floor below for the new one, the installer had to grind the concrete floor smooth, as well as assorted banging and hammering and nailing of baseboards, etc. This went on through to Sunday evening and we're officially the worst upstairs neighbours ever.
The building manager called while things were underway and asked if we wouldn't mind stopping by to explain the situation to our downstairs neighbour after she had called wondering when we'd be done. In hindsight, we should have forewarned her. In any event, she was very nice about the whole thing and sympathized with our desire to rid ourselves of the dreadful carpet of doom, etc.
I think a thank you card is in order here, correct? Are there other thoughtful ways to express our gratitude (and regret over the disturbance) that I've overlooked?
With the landlord's blessing, we ripped out all the tired old carpet in our apartment this past weekend and had lovely vinyl plank flooring put down (we don't intend to move for a long time so we figured the increased enjoyment is worth the expense).
In order to prep the floor below for the new one, the installer had to grind the concrete floor smooth, as well as assorted banging and hammering and nailing of baseboards, etc. This went on through to Sunday evening and we're officially the worst upstairs neighbours ever.
The building manager called while things were underway and asked if we wouldn't mind stopping by to explain the situation to our downstairs neighbour after she had called wondering when we'd be done. In hindsight, we should have forewarned her. In any event, she was very nice about the whole thing and sympathized with our desire to rid ourselves of the dreadful carpet of doom, etc.
I think a thank you card is in order here, correct? Are there other thoughtful ways to express our gratitude (and regret over the disturbance) that I've overlooked?
Flowers and an invitation to check-in about noise-levels now that you've switched from carpet (quiet) to non-carpet (potentially not quiet and may require area rugs). Probably not an issue if you have concrete sub-flooring, but it's a neighborly offer and could go a long way when it comes to goodwill.
posted by quince at 3:12 PM on September 22, 2015 [25 favorites]
posted by quince at 3:12 PM on September 22, 2015 [25 favorites]
Wine is traditional in this sort of situation.
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:15 PM on September 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:15 PM on September 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
If it were me, I'd prefer a gift card to a local restaurant and a card, maybe a bamboo plant. I don't drink and I'd hate to see money and wine wasted when I wouldn't use it.
posted by Crystalinne at 3:57 PM on September 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Crystalinne at 3:57 PM on September 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free card for her to throw One Gratuitously Noisy Party That Goes On All Weekend with affirmation that you won't complain to anyone. And a gift card of some kind.
posted by janey47 at 4:09 PM on September 22, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by janey47 at 4:09 PM on September 22, 2015 [3 favorites]
This is exactly what gift cards were invented for.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:38 PM on September 22, 2015
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:38 PM on September 22, 2015
Best answer: Anything is ok. An apology + flowers/wine/food/gift card: its a token. Don't try to second guess the token too much, or you'll drive yourself crazy.
And then just be friendly to your neighbors. You can even say to her that she can feel free to talk to you directly if there ever is a noise issue. You can use this as an opportunity to improve your relationship!
posted by troytroy at 6:18 PM on September 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
And then just be friendly to your neighbors. You can even say to her that she can feel free to talk to you directly if there ever is a noise issue. You can use this as an opportunity to improve your relationship!
posted by troytroy at 6:18 PM on September 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
I just put in floors! Noisily! My flooring dude said give all your neighbors Starbucks cards beforehand, so that's what I did. And the workers said it was the first time nobody ever came over to complain.
posted by middlethird at 7:51 PM on September 22, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by middlethird at 7:51 PM on September 22, 2015 [4 favorites]
Buy thick carpets to lay down on your new floors. The sound muffling effect will be worth more to your neighbor than all the wine and flowers in the world.
posted by myselfasme at 8:33 PM on September 22, 2015
posted by myselfasme at 8:33 PM on September 22, 2015
Flowers. But check your warranty before putting down throw rugs. Mine says to wait 60 days.
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 9:42 PM on September 22, 2015
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 9:42 PM on September 22, 2015
I paid for my neighbour to stay in a nice hotel the weekend we did really loud work that would have driven even a saint mad. I got it through some city 5* hotel discounter, and for $100 had guilt free machinery noise and happy neighbour. I get it's too late to do that now, but maybe something like that would be appreciated post-noisy weekend too?
posted by honey-barbara at 12:23 AM on September 23, 2015
posted by honey-barbara at 12:23 AM on September 23, 2015
Starbucks card. Do not say anything about how they now have your "permission" to be really loud one some occasion to get you back. If I were your neighbor and I were pissed about this weekend, that would drive me up the wall.
posted by telegraph at 4:49 AM on September 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by telegraph at 4:49 AM on September 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
Do they have those edible fruit bouquets in your area? They're really pretty and delicious. I'd send a note and some nice edible gift. Make sure to mention that if the new flooring causes any increase in noise to them, that they let you know asap. And tell them you plan to put down throw rugs, after 60 days if that's required as mentioned above.
posted by RichardHenryYarbo at 7:57 AM on September 23, 2015
posted by RichardHenryYarbo at 7:57 AM on September 23, 2015
Response by poster: Thanks all. I went with a nice bouquet of flowers from a local shop and a sincere thanks for putting up with the noise.
On the added plus side, she said she hasn't heard a thing since the day we finished, so that's promising news for our noise level preservation!
posted by area.man at 6:37 PM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
On the added plus side, she said she hasn't heard a thing since the day we finished, so that's promising news for our noise level preservation!
posted by area.man at 6:37 PM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
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posted by mmf at 3:01 PM on September 22, 2015 [2 favorites]