Each of the residents in our condo complex have to pay a hefty fee each month for repairs on our condo. This morning around 8:30am I was awakened by loud banging noises from ladders and then a radio is turned on and I mean it is BLASTING. I could hear everything on the radio as if it were playing in my own room. I looked out my slider to see what they were doing this time only to find that the workers stashed all their stuff onto our patio (we have a ground floor condo). Stuff that they removed from somewhere above us was leaning against our storage door and something that resembles a pressure washer is next to our slider. If I tried, I wouldn’t be able to walk out onto my patio or do anything. They are even using our outlet and every time they turn on their drill our lights flicker. And the “pressure washer” thing sounds like a pressure washer.
I am asking God for patience but at the same time I have to blast my tv volume to drown out their radio. I am on maternity leave…so much for the much needed relaxation I wanted to get before baby arrived.
I want to make a complaint but I don’t know if it is worth arguing over…I mean, I don’t believe they are breaking any noise ordinances but I might check the homeowner’s association manual to see the rules for if you live in a condo.
I just simply think it is inconsiderate but at the same time I don’t want to be looking like the bad guy. I like to listen to music when I am working on something (I just don’t turn it up loud out of consideration for others).
Okay my rant is over…is it worth complaining about or should I just wait it out? I certainly would like a nap right about now…haha…but I don’t think that is going to happen for a few more hours.
Being a Christian doesn’t mean being a doormat. I would pleasantly ask the construction workers if they could move their materials off your property. If they are rude, then you might complain to whomever the proper authority is at your condo. The workers probably don’t realize they’re bugging you and chances are they’ll be more considerate if you let them know, nicely, that they’re disturbing you. Ask St. Joseph to intercede for you before you ask. He was a worker himself.
I guess I am not making a big deal about it…I found this in our condo’s hoa manual:
No occupant will make any noise or offensive activity that will annoy or interfere with the right, comfort, and convenience of other condominium occupants. Music in all units must be played at a moderate level and must not be audible outside the unit after 10:00 PM or 10:00 AM.
Okay my rant is over…is it worth complaining about or should I just wait it out? I certainly would like a nap right about now…haha…but I don’t think that is going to happen for a few more hours.
The HOA rules you quoted are with respect to yourself and the other residents. I would imagine the rules tell you what the responsibilities are regarding maintanence from the condo managers are, but if not you still have some rights.
Unless they are working on your particular patio they have no right and have no cause to block your access or use your property. Simply tell them to remove it and stage their material elsewhere.
Common courtesy applies and regardless of the time of day construction workers are to be considerate of you, not you of them. Most of these people are really nice …especially to pregnant women…and in my experience will go out of their way to be accomodating to home owners. Of course not all of them are but I would bet if you simply asked them to turn it down they will. If not take your garden hose and as you wash off your patio and their radio fries because you are ‘clumsy’ aiming it…so be it. It is not being the ‘bad guy’ it is being comfortable in your own home.
They cannot block your door for any reason unless they are physically working on it. You might not be able to do anything about some of the noises they make but you do have a say in noises not related to their work.
Truly if you go out and talk to the construction workers, explain to them that you are about to have your baby any day now and would like to be able to rest, could they please keep at least the radio down (the other equipment is a bit much to ask them not to use, you really want them away from your condo by the time baby is born).
You also have a fire hazard with them leaning things up against your slider - that is one of your exits should a fire occur.
Now if you are too shy to talk to them directly (I would have been) talk to the condo. person responsible for hiring them. Be nice and explain your concerns but don’t expect the equipment noise to abate - they do have to use it and there is no way to make that quieter. They might even be near your condo right now because they were told you are expecting and to please get everything done there right away so the noise has “moved on” by the time baby is here .
I’m a construction worker (Union Ironworker), and in Chicago, we can’t work on condos in certain areas until 8am because of the noise ordinance, but after that, it’s fair game. But, we would never disrespect someone’s property like that, and I know if you tell those guys what you’re unhappy with, they’ll fix it. The company they work for is ultimately responsible for any damage, and they don’t want you complaining to them, so…
This is true. However, we, like anyone else, like to work normal hours and go home to our families. Hence, the 7-3 or 8-4 work hours.
If you want us to work around your nap schedule, we’ll do it. But, according to our contract, we get double time for off shifts. So, now that $65/hour I’m getting paid will be $130/hour.
For that price, this lovely woman can get a room at a posh resort, have her nails done, pedicure, massage, and get a real good nap!
To the OP: Those guys will do whatever you ask. Trust me.
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