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Since this is such a huge issue for many apartment dwellers (myself included), I came up with a wonderful idea. I think there should be three classes of buildings in terms of noise.
1. White - For people who want to live in a museum, with not even normal living noise around them. No loud music, no yelling, no screaming while swimming, etc.
2. Blue - For normal people who don't mind living with some noise during the day (vacuum cleaners, loud but not deafening music, etc.), but it gets quiet at night - between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
3. Red - For the noisy, obnoxious people who want to be able to make as much noise as they want whenever they want, regardless of anything or anyone else. If they want to yell at each other full volume at 3:00 a.m., this is the building for them!
It's funny how everyone says they want a quiet building; where are all the people who obviously don't mind or would even like a noisy one?
An ad could read something like this: "Blue apartment for rent." Everyone would know what it means, and they could choose to rent there or stay away. There should also be a clause in the lease that if you make sustained noise in a white or blue building, you're out.
Wouldn't it be nice if the "red" tenants knew they were red? How about this: White Landlord (one who will throw you out on your butt if you break the agreement, Blue Landlord (one who thinks he's a good landlord, but is easily circumvented, and Red Landlord (one who doesn't care).
I absolutely would welcome some sort of arrangement like that. In fact, I suggest it at every apartment complex I look at. If nothing else, why can't they have one designated "quiet" building, where everyone living there agrees that if you make any noise between 10 & 6 you will be shot at sunup?
And while I'm dreaming, how 'bout a childfree building, too?
I absolutely would welcome some sort of arrangement like that. In fact, I suggest it at every apartment complex I look at. If nothing else, why can't they have one designated "quiet" building, where everyone living there agrees that if you make any noise between 10 & 6 you will be shot at sunup?
And while I'm dreaming, how 'bout a childfree building, too?
While I like the idea in general, that last would run afoul of Fair Housing laws as familial status is a protected class.
I bought one of those room filter fans....and just turn it on a higher level whenever I hear neighbor noise. I DO like the idea of the 'warning' color buildings.
While I like the idea in general, that last would run afoul of Fair Housing laws as familial status is a protected class.
Living next to a family with children doesn't have to be a noisy experience. I grew up in a quiet family. It's all a matter of having good parents that are considerate of their neighbors.
^There are exceptions to just about every rule. I've lived in many apartments. Many times I've had neighbors who had children. Every single time, these children made my experience less pleasant than it would have been had they not been there. So while maybe living next to a family with children may not have to be a noisy experience, I've yet to come across a case for me where that isn't the case. If given a choice, I'll stay as far away from kids as possible.
I bought one of those room filter fans....and just turn it on a higher level whenever I hear neighbor noise. I DO like the idea of the 'warning' color buildings.
At my last apartment, I needed a fan that sounded as loud as a jet taking off to drown out all the yelling and screaming next door. I used a fan, but it didn't always help. Then I moved - but I'm still addicted to the white noise, so I'm still using the fan! Go figure...
I use an air purifier at night to drown out noise as a pin dropping wakes me up. I never thought about using it during the day too.
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I used a fan, but it didn't always help. Then I moved - but I'm still addicted to the white noise, so I'm still using the fan! Go figure... 
