This is probably a minor rant, but I’m sick of this place. I can’t use my treadmill because it makes too much noise…not good since I’m trying to run a marathon. So it’s off to the gym for me I guess. Also it’s either too hot or cold in here. I just plain don’t like it anymore…I guess it’s condo hunting for me now.
Don’t assume that because you own it that your neighbors are going to like the treadmill noise any better. Condos are not necessarily built any better than apartments. Check out the rules first.
Bob
I’ll be sure to move into the ground floor next time. Or get a townhouse.
This is true. A lot of old condos started as rentals. A lot of new condos are made from cardboard and paper mache.
Your landlord might be willing to let you move mid-lease to a ground floor unit if one becomes available. They’re not exactly everyone’s first choice.
If your location field is literally accurate this may not be such a good idea, but can’t you just run outdoors?
I live in a second floor apartment, and my downstairs neighbor would probably be *thrilled *if I got a treadmill, since I just jump around on the floor. 
Has anyone actually complained about the treadmill noise, or are you just being pre-emptively considerate (and good on you if so!)? Because when I talked to my neighbor about the working-out noise, his response was “Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do. You do it on the least creaky part of the floor you can find, I know that it’s going to last less than an hour, and you never do it after 7:00p. I realize that you’re being as considerate as you can, and if for any reason I really just can’t take it that day, I’ll let you know.”
Now, most neighbors clearly aren’t quite as understanding as mine, but you may be overestimating the annoyance factor. Try asking them if it bothers them!
wait… so the difference between a condo and an apartment is that one is bought and the other rented? I never knew.
Yes, asking is really underrated. After having lived in my apartment for a year or so, I realized that my speakers are next to the wall separating my apartment from my neighbour’s. I have music on pretty much constantly. So do I quit listening to music, move my speakers (more involved than it sounds, trust me), or ask him after a whole freaking year or more? One day I locked myself out and asked to use his phone, and while I was in there I asked about the music. He’d never heard as much as a note.
Nor me. I learn so much from this board, like the difference between “salary” and “wages”. I thought they were synonyms.
It is. Not only might you find out that they’re completely unbothered, but in my experience, just the fact that you asked gains you some goodwill. Most people will be much more understanding if they feel that you’re at least *trying *to be considerate of them.
Of course, buildings are different, but my neighbor and I are pretty aware of each other’s movements and schedules, so I never work out in the morning, or in the middle of a baseball or football game, or when I know he has company, and if possible, I’ll adjust my schedule to work out while he’s not home. In return, he’s willing to tolerate what I’m sure sounds like the house falling down around him for a few hours a week.
Move to Florida; my Darling Marcie and I will sell you our townhouse and give you the treadmill we have on the ground floor. Save you a lot of time and trouble.
That’s not necessarily a problem with apartments. My GF owns a house that’s constantly freezing because she can’t afford to fill her oil tank. My apartment is always comfortable, and I don’t pay a cent for heat.
Find a place with a thermostat instead of those bloody awful steam heaters.
Ugh, I swear I will never live in a place with oil heat. It *always *runs out on a friggin’ weekend when it’s 20 below.
Yeah, but if you promise to pay the oil company $1678765, they’ll come around to fill your tank within a week or two.
You might want to consider renting a house, which is what we are doing right now. All the pleasures of home ownership with none of the responsibilities.
You couldn’t get me to buy unless you literally gave me the house. Mortgages are…not fun.
Yes, back in my apartment days I’d swear one of the people that lived above me was constantly juggling bowling balls…badly.
-Joe
People who live in apartments (in my experience) tend to be pretty understanding as long as you’re reasonable about what you’re doing and when you’re doing it. Hey…it’s not a perfect world and sharing walls means sharing sounds. I’ve lived in some pretty flimsy apartments in my day. I don’t even mind hearing other people’s music as long as they have similar taste to mine. Alas, the guy with the non-stop Mexican Polka collection never turned off his CD player. That was kind of a drag.
What, and writing a rent check every month is like having an orgasm?
Depends what or who you are renting I suppose.
When you run- when you’re done, you should be somewhere ELSE!
[/Lewis Black]
At least with the rent check usually comes a service agreement with the apartment management. If a pipe breaks it’s not my financial problem (unless I want emergency service, usually).
I have a condo/townhouse right now. I don’t really like it. All the downsides of an apartment with all the downsides of owning a home. Anaamika’s probably got the right idea about renting a house. All the upsides of having your own house and all the upsides of not being wholly responsible for it.