Art: Micia Tuico

Let’s face it: it’s annoying to have noisy neighbors! Spouses fight over money; teenagers who play loud music; dogs that bark endlessly, and the list goes on.

Frankly, you can’t just sit at home all day–wearing your earphones–and wait for your eardrum to explode!

We’ve asked around for some advice on how to deal with unpleasant neighbors.  And here’s what they had to say:

Get to Know Your Neighbors First

Don’t judge your neighbors right away just because you find them too noisy.  Find time to know them; find out what causes their “inconvenient” behavior. By doing so, you can find a possible solution to address your concern.

Verify With Other Neighbors

Ask your other neighbors if they’re also having the same concern. If they do, they might be able to help you talk with your noisy neighbors to sort out the issue.

Talk With Your Noisy Neighbors

Your noisy neighbors are not going to stop unless you do something about it.  So it’s better to talk the issue through with them.  Find the courage to speak with them about your pressing concern, but don’t expect them to figure things out right away.  Go ask them directly, “What’s been bothering you?” But be polite so you won’t be misunderstood.

Offer Solutions

Speaking with them, and telling them the problem is not enough. Sometimes, you need to offer solutions. If their problems are simple, they’re likely to reconcile.  Unless their issues are quite complicated, they may not agree with what you say. The least you can do is accept their decision. Remember to keep your calm even if your neighbors are not.