Apartment living can be great when the community has all of the amenities you want, a great location, and a decent price. But the biggest factor is not so much about community aesthetics and atmosphere, what really makes it a great place to live are your neighbors. You may live in the most expensive community in the area or one that is considered “low income”, or middle class. Either way, you’ll soon recognize that having manners and consideration for your neighbors is not always a reflection of income level. And to be very specific, sometimes the wealthiest neighbors are not very polite and the lower income neighbors are humble and kind. But this can go both ways too! You might have a very wealthy neighbor who is very humble and kind while the lower income neighbor behaves like a complete animal with no regard for anyone. So, that is why our neighbors make the neighborhood good or bad.
How to be a good neighbor
Depending on your geographic location and culture, it seems like the universal code of conduct is respecting your neighbor’s quiet time. Usually that is between 22:00 (10pm) to 08:00 (8am), these hours provide adequate time for individuals and families to wind down from a busy day and get some sleep. During these times no one should be playing loud music, washing clothes and using the dryer, vacuuming the floor, or using any other type of machines or equipment. At the end of the day, most apartment buildings become quiet near dusk, so even the most common noise you could make can become elevated as the whole community begins to wind down for the day, especially the weekday!
Not all apartment buildings and flats are built the same
You may live in a flat (apartment) that is made completely from concrete or 100% wood frame and find that sounds travel great distances. For example, you may think your neighbor is careless and sloppy when they’re in the kitchen washing their dishes. However, what you don’t know is the construction of their sink and how sound resonates through it making it louder than it normally would be. Also, not all apartments are not insulated the same and some even have portions of missing insulation due to poor workmanship. So, you never really know if your neighbor is being obnoxious or the building construction is to blame.
Reading the lease agreement and community rules
For the most part, it seems that human beings are becoming more and more careless with no regard for their neighbors except for a few people. And it’s usually those people who make a point to read the community rules and abide by them. And this is something we “all” should be doing! Not because we are supposed to be mindless rule followers, but because we are men and women of character and do what we say we will do, hence the term: “agreement”, you find in your lease documents. It is a list of things you agree to do as a tenant. The good thing about reading your lease agreement is that you now legally are informed about what is expected from you and the leasing company or landlord. Being informed about the document you signed and all of its requirements will actually make your life much easier while you are a resident there. And why would I say that? It’s because knowledge is power. The more informed you become about your rights and obligations, the better your circumstances will be if an issue arises.
See something, say something
This is probably the most important statement everyone throughout the entire world should take personal responsibility for! If you love your country and care about your neighbors and neighborhood you should be proactive in reporting issues, especially crime. It has been said many times… “bad things happen when good people do nothing”! And that remains a fact all through history and even right now too, it applies to us! You should have important phone numbers saved in your phone in the event a situation arises such as a crime, fire, medical emergency, city or apartment building infrastructure problem, and so on. We are the first line of defense for keeping our community clean and crime free. Don’t expect someone else to make the call to report an issue. Don’t assume anything. Be the leader in your community and report it. Many neighborhoods in the world become great or turn into ghettos because of the actions or inactions of their residents. So, I encourage you to “be the change you want to see in the world”!
