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Apartment Etiquette: 10 Tips for Being a Good Neighbor in an Apartment

09 Jun 2011 By: Diane Gottsman

Apartment Etiquette: 10 Tips for Being a Good Neighbor in an Apartment

  1. Keep it down. Apartment walls are notoriously thin. Keep the decibel levels reasonable or you’ll be giving your neighbors a play-by-play of your life, whether you’re laughing, fighting, watching a movie, playing music or having sex. Be considerate, especially late at night and early in the morning.
  2. Remember, Sparky has to be a good neighbor too. Make sure your dog isn’t howling all day or barking all night.  Doggy day care, anyone? Make sure your pet gets ample love, treats and at least a couple of good walks each day.
  3. Be a model citizen in the parking lot. That means driving slowly and carefully – small kids think the parking lot is their back yard and unfortunately, accidents and mishaps are common when speeding behind the wheel.
  4. Stick to your own space and make sure your guests do the same. Just because you know your neighbor is working during the day, stay out of their assigned parking spot.  You never know when they may come home for a quick break and you are violating their turf.
  5. Turn the car stereo down. You may rock’ n to Lady Gaga on your way home but turn the volume down once you enter the parking lot to avoid sharing your window-rattling music with hundreds of neighbors.
  6. Waiting for a ride? Honking for a pick-up is just plain rude. Ask your carpool driver to give you a quick ring or text – not while driving, though. Better yet, look out your window and be prepared!
  7. Stay on top of the laundry. Don’t let your tighty whities occupy the washer or dryer all day while others are waiting to do their own laundry.Don’t hang your lingerie and other laundry on the balcony to dry.  Invest in an inexpensive drying rack and use it indoors.
  8. Pool rules. If you plan to spend the day sunbathing (use your sunscreen), reserve your table or lounge chair with caution. You don’t want to annoy swimmers who are actually outside swimming as you nap, while waiting for the sun to come out before you dip your toes in the water. By the way, a few more pool faux pas: if you are out sweating and grungy, consider rinsing off before diving in, keep your music to a low roar, stay off your cell phone in the pool, keep conversation private, and no skinny dipping around the kids.
  9. Clean up after yourself. After using the community grill, pick up your trash and make sure the fire is completely out.
  10. Save the skateboard for the skate park. Don’t practice your smooth moves in the parking lot, stairwells or any other common areas. That applies to your nieces, nephews and guest’s kids as well.

Peaceful, harmonious apartment living is all about treating others with respect and consideration. When you do, it’s amazing how many people will respond in kind.

Best,

Signature

Diane Gottsman

Diane Gottsman is a national etiquette expert and modern manners professional, sought out industry leader, television personality, accomplished speaker, Huffington Post blogger, author, and the owner of The Protocol School of Texas, a company specializing in executive leadership and etiquette training. Diane is routinely quoted in national and international media including The New York Times, The BBC, CNN, Bloomberg Business Week, Kiplinger, Huffington Post Canada, U.S. News and World Report, and Forbes. She is the resident etiquette expert for two popular morning talk shows, SA Living and Good Day Austin. She has been seen on The TODAY Show, HLN Headline News, WGN Chicago, and CBS Sunday Morning. Her clients range from university students to Fortune 500 companies and her workshops cover topics ranging from tattoos in the workplace to technology at the dinner table and the proper use of social media.