Crazy Condo Neighbors

We have a remodeling thread, we also have crazy drivers thread. While this is about someone acting crazy, and relates to owning a home it fits neither. Hence a new thread. If you have a crazy condo association, feel free to chime in :rolleyes:

After I sold the California home, Knott and I began looking in earnest for something here. We love our neighborhood but did not think we could afford to own here. One day, while walking the dogs, I saw a small unit that looked like the owners were prepping for sale. We contacted our agent, yes, they are about to list. We bid, held our breath and we got it! It's small, quirky, has character, ground floor end unit so we can garden a tad (a requirement I'd had), friendly neighbors, GREAT area but there is just one thing that should have been disclosed in the MLS. "You're upstairs neighbor is crazy".

Heh. I could write a book on this. I'm currently the only owner living in my building -- the other 5 units are rented out. No doubt they all think I'm the crazy one, since I tend to insist that they follow the trash rules and I spray the hallway with air freshener every time they fill it with the odor of whatever the hell it is that they are cooking. (Seriously people, why don't you ever eat anything that actually smells appetizing?? Not to mention, if you put decent weather stripping around your door, you'd save money on heating and the rest of us wouldn't have to know that you burned the eggs.)

Congrats on your new home. Have fun making it your own.

Not crazy but we do have "Mr. Stompy Pants" living upstairs. He's an Asian man roughly the size of my left leg, and yet he can walk with a tread that honestly sounds like he's tossing bowling balls around. To add to that he sings VERY bad karaoke at the top of his lungs, routinely. At first he was annoying, now we just sing along with him and laugh when he stomps up the stairs, we'll shout out "HEY, STOMPY'S HOME!!!"

It's been fine ...so far, in terms of neighbours. I've lived in 3 different condos for the past 25 years.

Fortunately even though the guy upstairs has an alcolhol problem, he's never made any disruptive noise. It helps he's an owner and wants to be cooperative with condo board.

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Originally Posted by Pax

Not crazy but we do have "Mr. Stompy Pants" living upstairs. He's an Asian man roughly the size of my left leg, and yet he can walk with a tread that honestly sounds like he's tossing bowling balls around. To add to that he sings VERY bad karaoke at the top of his lungs, routinely. At first he was annoying, now we just sing along with him and laugh when he stomps up the stairs, we'll shout out "HEY, STOMPY'S HOME!!!"

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It is fascinating how some people can make so much noise even though they don't weigh much. I've had some very petite upstairs neighbors who routinely stomped around like elephants, and larger neighbors who were very quiet.

The thing that really gets me is toilet seat slamming. I've had a couple of neighbors who are always slamming their toilet seats. I don't mean an occasional "oops, it slipped out of my hand," I'm talking about loud intentional slamming every single time they heed nature's call. I just don't understand why they do this. Are they angry at the toilet?? Does it need to be punished???

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Originally Posted by ny biker

It is fascinating how some people can make so much noise even though they don't weigh much. I've had some very petite upstairs neighbors who routinely stomped around like elephants, and larger neighbors who were very quiet.

The thing that really gets me is toilet seat slamming. I've had a couple of neighbors who are always slamming their toilet seats. I don't mean an occasional "oops, it slipped out of my hand," I'm talking about loud intentional slamming every single time they heed nature's call. I just don't understand why they do this. Are they angry at the toilet?? Does it need to be punished???

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Stompy does that too, I assumed he was opening/closing the lid by roundhouse kicking it. My mental image is of the tiny little man yelling yahhhhh in time with a crappy karaoke song, while leaping into a fabulous kick.

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Originally Posted by Pax

Stompy does that too, I assumed he was opening/closing the lid by roundhouse kicking it. My mental image is of the tiny little man yelling yahhhhh in time with a crappy karaoke song, while leaping into a fabulous kick.

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Does stumpy garden outside your living room or even bedroom window at zero dark thirty at night? I'd take "stompy" over crazy. ;) :cool:

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Originally Posted by Trek420

Does stumpy garden outside your living room or even bedroom window at zero dark thirty at night? I'd take "stumpy" over crazy. ;) :cool:

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No, but he does vacuum and sing at midnight. ;)

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Originally Posted by Pax

No, but he does vacuum and sing at midnight. ;)

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We'll trade!

I should have known she'd be trouble. The day we were moving in, I put our large wood planter on the slate front deck, propped the small bicycle sculpture in it while going back for another load. She trundled up to us and complained that she feared she'd get tetanus from the sculpture whenever she uses the nearby garden hose. That was the time for me to calmly and all friendly-like state "That's ok. WE'RE going to take care of the garden around our condo". How could we have known then, that she's obsessed with every detail of the grounds, and looking in bedroom windows?

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Originally Posted by Trek420

We'll trade!

I should have known she'd be trouble. The day we were moving in, I put our large wood planter on the slate front deck, propped the small bicycle sculpture in it while going back for another load. She trundled up to us and complained that she feared she'd get tetanus from the sculpture whenever she uses the nearby garden hose. That was the time for me to calmly and all friendly-like state "That's ok. WE'RE going to take care of the garden around our condo". How could we have known then, that she's obsessed with every detail of the grounds, and looking in bedroom windows?

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You are way nicer than me, I'd be up in her face in a heartbeat if she looked in my bedroom window.

She sounds like she has something clinical going on. Really. The next time you catch her peeking in your window, call the police.

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Originally Posted by Crankin

She sounds like she has something clinical going on. Really. The next time you catch her peeking in your window, call the police.

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She quieted down a bit since we called the police on her. :cool:

She'd made a half @zzed attempt at a break in one day while I was walking the dog. :eek: At over 75 she's not very good as a cat burglar. Probably should keep her day job; being elderly, confused and retired. So the only evidence was obvious damage to the bottom of our door. Bean, our 70 lb, veeeeeery friendly, canine good citizen certified dog, probably would not put up with her breaking in any way. she knows that too:rolleyes: The only time I've seen him growl was when she's near our window.

She's taking her role as queen of the landscaping just a little too far. This all started when we took out the dead and dying ivy. :rolleyes:

When we were living in our first floor condo in Belize, the man who owned the third-floor unit right above us would occasionally get in at 3 am and play his guitar...or he'd wake up really early and start playing before 6 am. Often alcohol was involved. We were amazed that sound carried right through the second floor, but it did. And the second-floor folks, when they were there (they only visited a few times a year), sounded like a herd of elephants above our head with their stomping around on the tile floors above us.

Learned our lesson. If we ever live in a condo again, it will be on the top floor.

ishhh and I was looking into selling our home (too big for us) to get a nice - high-end - condo when we retire in 6 years. Not so sure anymore. :p

We have noise rules here. And a patrol officer from a security company who is on duty from 8 pm to 5 am. If someone makes noise at night, you call the patrol officer and he tells them to knock it off. If the problem continues, you can get the condo management involved.

One thing we don't have is a carpet requirement. They thought it wasn't necessary when the condo association was formed because everyone had wall-to-wall carpets back then. Now that many people have hardwood floors and noise complaints have increased, they won't institute a carpet requirement (covering 80% of the floor with rugs) because it would require a change in bylaws. So my recommendation to Helene or anyone else is to make sure your condo has a requirement to cover at least 80% of floors with rugs. It makes a big difference.

And yes, top floor units are best, if you can get one (and if it's in your price range).

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Originally Posted by Helene2013

ishhh and I was looking into selling our home (too big for us) to get a nice - high-end - condo when we retire in 6 years. Not so sure anymore. :p

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Condos can be ok. I had no problems with my neighbors in CA, and that was not as "nice" a neighborhood. Made some friends, no real issues.

We've found out our new neighbor's been here over 30 years, has a record of "hazing" new people. Some problem with anything changing, I think. They've never seen it as bad as this got but then she may have some dementia at this point.

Simply put, I will garden. It's why we bought this (also the location and low HOA). If she wanted to garden around my home, she needed to buy this home. She didn't. And of course, this means war! :rolleyes: ;)

Then consider a townhouse or something that doesn't demand you to physically look after the lawn, shovelling snow, a lot ...life doesn't get easier when one gets older.

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Originally Posted by Helene2013

ishhh and I was looking into selling our home (too big for us) to get a nice - high-end - condo when we retire in 6 years. Not so sure anymore. :p

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Stick to the top floor and you should be fine. I guess you can still end up with some crazies, but at least their noise shouldn't drive you crazy!

Right. But we're not there yet! Who knows...we may be fulltimers in a motorhome (we'll be in our late 50s so enough time to enjoy life) and if we don't like the neigbhours, you can just move the rig somewhere....pretty easily. :p

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Originally Posted by Helene2013

Right. But we're not there yet! Who knows...we may be fulltimers in a motorhome (we'll be in our late 50s so enough time to enjoy life) and if we don't like the neigbhours, you can just move the rig somewhere....pretty easily. :p

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That's what we're considering as well. Just travel for a while and see where we'd prefer to be.

Us too...I think a motorhome is our next adventure!

As for "carpet required" rules for condos, I suspect these rules are less common these days as hardwood and tile floors are much more popular than carpets and it would hurt sales if such a rule were in effect. Many older units are being upgraded with hardwoods or tile these days. In Belize, all our condo floors were tile, and boy, did the noise carry from the floor above. Even side to side, with concrete walls in between, we had a unit on one side of us and could hear them sliding furniture around, though we couldn't hear their TV or conversations. There should be laws requiring everyone in multi-family housing to use pads under their chair and table legs! We did, but no one else in our building seemed to.

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Originally Posted by emily_in_nc

Us too...I think a motorhome is our next adventure!

As for "carpet required" rules for condos, I suspect these rules are less common these days as hardwood and tile floors are much more popular than carpets and it would hurt sales if such a rule were in effect. Many older units are being upgraded with hardwoods or tile these days. In Belize, all our condo floors were tile, and boy, did the noise carry from the floor above. Even side to side, with concrete walls in between, we had a unit on one side of us and could hear them sliding furniture around, though we couldn't hear their TV or conversations. There should be laws requiring everyone in multi-family housing to use pads under their chair and table legs! We did, but no one else in our building seemed to.

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It's not a wall-to-wall carpet requirement, but a requirement to cover at least 80% of the floors with rugs of some kind. It's pretty standard in many apartment buildings. Unless you're on the top floor, your life is miserable without such a rule. Even on the top, you can hear more noise from downstairs and next door when there are not enough rugs. And without sufficient rug coverage, you are basically giving up all privacy because your neighbors know everything you are doing at all times. When my upstairs neighbor had only a couple of small rugs, I knew everything about her. I knew she abused her dog by locking it in a cage in the corner for most of the day. I knew when she zipped up her suitcase before leaving for a trip. I knew when she was having sex with her boyfriend (it was the only time she was quiet.)

We don't have that carpet rule where I live. I don't hear people walking upstairs. I do think my building in terms of the floor structure has been constructed to avoid much noise. Would I be bothered by children running around upstairs? No, as long as the children weren't beaten by parents. That would bother me.

I grew up surrounded by 5 siblings and have memories of crying infant sister when I was 10 yrs. old.

I think the guy upstairs cares about his place that he owns (even if he likes crashing through the muddy wilderness in his Hummer. I can see his dirty car in garage which he spends money at the car-wash.) because I think he invited a bunch of (drunk) friends for a short chat about 1 yr. ago They kept on using the bathroom... for an hr.

Thereafter I haven't heard anything. I bet he (and girlfriend I think), really didn't want people tromping all over his place using his bathroom indiscriminately.

Lest people think condo living is a terrible thing.....for certain if you will be single for a huge chunk in your life and as you age, just make sure there's someone else to look after garden, lawn, running up and down 2nd floor, basement, etc. I have a single 51 yr. sister who has a semi-detached home in Toronto. She has no children. She now has some balance problems because of an ear infection/disorder right now. And it will be long term.

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Originally Posted by emily_in_nc

Stick to the top floor and you should be fine. I guess you can still end up with some crazies, but at least their noise shouldn't drive you crazy!

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We're ground floor end unit. Our upstairs neighbor is nice, we rarely hear her and get along well. Our next door neighbor, also pleasant. He's a student and pretty quiet. But that could be because his parents own the unit above him also. ;)

Crazy condo lady has a penchant for over-watering randomly wherever she can. We removed 3 large plants, totally root rotted. It's been raining hard as per usual in the sunny PNW and today she was still out there watering our grounds with the public hose of the building.

We'll be removing that :mad:

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Originally Posted by ny biker

Now that many people have hardwood floors and noise complaints have increased, they won't institute a carpet requirement (covering 80% of the floor with rugs) because it would require a change in bylaws. So my recommendation to Helene or anyone else is to make sure your condo has a requirement to cover at least 80% of floors with rugs. It makes a big difference.

And yes, top floor units are best, if you can get one (and if it's in your price range).

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My HOA has requirements for particular sound isolating material under a new wood floor if someone wants to replace the carpet or travertine in their unit. It works well!

I would not live in a place that had a carpet requirement. My current house is 95% hardwood and I am a lot healthier!
We are in the beginning stages of thinking about what we are going to do when we sell this house, in probably 3 years. It's hard to find condos and townhouses around here, in areas we want to live in. I will consider moving to a neighboring town, but I don't want a long commute to work or a change in lifestyle. DH is 3 years younger than me and will be working for at least 5 more years, maybe more. We are leaning toward buying a small condo here, maybe even in places we wouldn't have considered before, and another condo out in the Berkshires. We just have to figure out how we will handle all of the bike stuff we have!

I wonder how well cork flooring would reduce upstairs/downstairs noise. I expect a lot, but since we only have it downstairs I don't know. I LOVE that stuff.

when I was in grad school I lived below a semi professional flemenco dancer and her roommate a theater major. Someone was either wailing out gypsy songs, pounding feet or declaiming whenever I was awake and home. The result is that I can pretty much sleep through anything, including the SAG guys snoring ( chain saws with in reach of the bed).

I can't remember much else about grad school.

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Originally Posted by Trek420

Does stumpy garden outside your living room or even bedroom window at zero dark thirty at night? I'd take "stompy" over crazy. ;) :cool:

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Bumpity bumpity bump; and we're back from getting a restraining order on crazy condo lady. Legal issues so probably should not comment except to say did you know when you're reporting stalking that there is no charge to get a restraining order?

Sweet!

Oh yikes!! Trek and Knott, so sorry you're still having to deal with that (plus whatever worse stuff you can't talk about here/now). :(

Hope the restraining order has the desired effect.

This is why DH doesn't want to move to a condo.

Then what is the solution for 1 level home? Believe me, one does not want to live indepedendently in a multi-level house in the last decade or so of life. I saw what happened to my father, who was healthy (except for cancer) and mobile until 6 months before he died @ 85 yrs. last year. His bed ended up being in the living rm. as soon as you open the front door. He couldn't be upstairs.

Now we worry about our mother- she's by herself in a 3 level house with 3 bedrooms. She'll stay there --resolutely until something terrible happens.

Townhouse at least one can have less maintenance....?
A bungalow is rarer and rarer these days at least, less of them are being built in the cities where I am and have been in the past.

We have lots of one level separate homes and condos (that look more like duplexes or row houses) in our area. Some with garages. Some with HOA's that cover all exterior maintenance. Many of them are purchased by retirees.

We're house searching now (looking to buy something for med school that is less of a commute) and we're definitely considering these issues. I've ruled out stacked condos (since I wouldn't want to be on the bottom and I doubt people would want us on top) - except for a well-sound-insulated new building. We don't want a separate house because we just won't have time for the upkeep.

Hugs to Trek and Knott - i can't even imagine how frustrating that must be!

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I've ruled out stacked condos (since I wouldn't want to be on the bottom and I doubt people would want us on top) - except for a well-sound-insulated new building.

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Does someone play a musical instrument/music or?

Life is not perfect in a condo but I would not be interested in the upkeep for a standalone or even semi-detached home. A sister lives by herself in a 2 bedroom semi detached--2 levels. Her home. She has balance issues at times, and now is deaf in 1 ear. She ...is only 54 yrs.

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Originally Posted by shootingstar

Does someone play a musical instrument/music or?

Life is not perfect in a condo but I would not be interested in the upkeep for a standalone or even semi-detached home. A sister lives by herself in a 2 bedroom semi detached--2 levels. Her home. She has balance issues at times, and now is deaf in 1 ear. She ...is only 54 yrs.

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We both ride bike trainers, we have pets (including a 100+ pound dog who is with us sometimes) who run around, and DH is one of those people whose "walking sounds" would suggest that he is far heavier than he is.

Some of the semi-detached homes here have HOA's that maintain everything on the outside. You just worry about the inside. They're set up as condos legally, but they look like houses.

Trek and Knott,

My heart goes out to both of you. No one should put up with such non-sense and hope that the restraining order will do something. And maybe as you say, she is in early stages of dementia. As awful as it may sound, it may be better for her if her dementia advances quickly. I think its more cruel for people to linger in stages of dementia. There is no quality of life to the person nor to the family.

Something is really wrong with our culture when the "trouble maker" is allowed to go on with their business, while consciencious neighbor has to tolerate/put up with the CRAP.

We have quite a few of those, too, but I've heard the crazy neighbor issues get even thornier with just one other HOA member.
We are leaning toward just buying a smaller home. There aren't too many one level homes here, and I'm good with that. If I need to move again when I'm 85, well, my kids can deal with that...
There is an over 55 community about 3 miles from here, in Acton. Detached patio homes, with a great floor plan (our neighbors moved to one with the same design in Sudbury). I have sworn I would not move to one an age restricted community, and what's worse, it's on a golf course, not my kind of people. But, it's detached, has a 2 car garage, and a basement that can be finished. Bedroom on main floor, one upstairs, and a huge loft that could be an exercise space. Also, a study and full dining room and eat in kitchen, along with great room. The price is right, but they are almost sold out. I just can't get myself to move this year.

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Originally Posted by Blueberry

We both ride bike trainers, we have pets (including a 100+ pound dog who is with us sometimes) who run around, and DH is one of those people whose "walking sounds" would suggest that he is far heavier than he is.

Some of the semi-detached homes here have HOA's that maintain everything on the outside. You just worry about the inside. They're set up as condos legally, but they look like houses.

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Sounds like a solution, Blueberry. And understandable especially with bike trainers. We live near major bike-ped. paths that go more than 30 km. long and connect up to routes, in Calgary and Vancouver. So no need for bike trainers for us. Interesting about the dog. In Vancouver, our highrise condo does have quite a number of dog owners --both big and small. We do see dog walkers with multiple leashes coming out of the elevator..that's how I know about a lot of dogs.

Seems like dog owners in condos and apartments have trained dog not to bark hardly at all or its something else. There's a dog that is in the unit above me. I hardly hear it bark. I don't mind if a dog barks occasionally but not left alone all day to bark. I actually consider ok for some owners in condo building, to have a well trained, cared-for dog....they are another measure of security for the building. I personally know of 2 different people where their dog, alerted a home invader by barking forever.

Also outside the front door of building, is a doggie dish most times, with water. There are also hooks to temporarily tie up dog on leash for a few min. But not for long, because your dog might get stolen. Seriously, this happens in Vancouver at times.

Just make sure you live near a park, it motivates dog owners to walk their dog, get them to go to washroom...and keeps home building clean. :)

I've lived in condo buildings for the past 24 years...3 different cities. It helps if the condo /strata board has a healthy, large reserve fund and there's also a well-run, reputable management property company that does stuff that volunteer board members don't have time. It helps to be part of a bigger development with more unit owners to share the cost of common expenses for repairs, etc.

Crankin, I totally agree about feeling confined to buy into a retirement community and surrounded by same age group people thinking in same generation ways. Maybe if you're just on the edge of the development instead..

This is why I am a strong, strong proponent of neighbourhoods for multi-generations/families, designed for walkability, cycleability and lower car traffic speeds where key services, shops and transit are within 15 min. walk 1 way. (We won't be able to drive in last decade of life.... and there's more and more of us who don't have children to help. Demographics across North America show this.) https://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com...eighbourhoods/ If surburbs offers all this, great. If not, in the last phase of life, no. It's a huge disadvantage unless you have someone transport you all over the place to do chores, shop for even milk, access services.

My doctor is only a 15 min. walk. Same for dentist..just another extra 5 min. In Vancovuer it's 15 min. walk for each doctor, dentist and another extra 5 min. to pharmacy. The hospital there is ....a 20 min. walk...where I was hospitalized for my head injury. My partner walked home with my busted bike from the fire station (only 10 min. walk way) where the firefighters stored my bike.

Do I mind occasionally, hearing a child cry, etc.? No, as long as the kid is not being beaten up. After all, I grew up with 5 other siblings. You get used to sounds .....of life. I realize retirement communities may provide in house social activities....but honestly for me, I like being and living with a broader range of ages for sharing ideas, etc. The cycling community over the decades, has provided that for me.

My mother will get a good deal for house...when it must be sold. Over 15 years ago, my parents bought into a walkable, cycleable neighbourhood. Public school across the street. Grocery store is just 5 min. walk down the street. Another 5 min., there are cafes. There are bike lanes on their street in last 10 years. They chose this location.....because 2 of their adult children don't drive. So home had to be close to transit. This is in Toronto.

The place I am referring to is not a retirement community, per se, in that there are no "activities," medical care, or different levels of living as you get near the end. It looks like any regular patio home/townhome development (of which there are scant few around here), but you have to be 55 and over to live there. Many move there while still working. This seems to be a growing trend. Ideally, I'd love to find a small ranch or Cape in west Concord, where I can walk to restuarants and a drug store (but not grocery, except a natural foods place). However, it is hard to find a house in that category that doesn't need major work and the cost is high. If we go one town over, I would be back in the regional community my kids grew up in, and there is a growing village center in one area that might work. I could walk to drug store, farm market, a couple of restaurants, yoga, and a whole bunch of new places. Depending where in this area I was, I could also walk to my doctor and major grocery store. I had a little nasty incident on my neighborhood list serve today, and I am quite ready to leave this town. It's nothing important, but I've never felt like I've belonged here, despite the fact I moved only 9 miles. After almost 10 years, it shouldn't be like this.

I'm not hesitating because of issues with the building or the HOA, just because I wouldn't want to make life frustrating for my neighbors. Said dog is an elder statesman and quite the gentleman. He has been approved everywhere we have asked. But he can walk heavily. And my cats run around and chase their toys.

We have outside riding space too - but I will have a potentially odd schedule for a while, and getting in some exercise inside is nice.