Are your neighbors truly intent on making your life
hell? Or do they simply have a habit
that happens to be irritating to you?
There is a good possibility that your neighbors are not
aware of their bad behavior. For
example, they may have previously lived in a neighborhood where people were not
vigilant about picking up after their dogs, so they might not understand that
the little gifts Fido leaves behind on your lawn are unwelcome presents.
Yes, there are truly awful and terrible neighbors out there,
but those are most certainly the exception and not the rule. Perhaps your neighbor doesn’t realize how
loud his early-morning drilling really is.
It’s entirely appropriate to knock on their door and calmly
mention your problem. If you don’t feel
comfortable confronting the neighbor in person, then sit down and write a
polite note. In either situation, don’t
ramble on or be overly apologetic. Keep
your complaint concise and to-the-point.
You can be assertive and clear about your needs while still maintaining
absolute courtesy.
In all likelihood, your neighbor had no clue that what they
were doing was so bothersome to you. A
civil conversation or a respectful note may be all you need for them to adjust
their behavior.
Talk is Cheap. I Want Them Out.
If talking fails, it is time to take action. These people did not respond to a polite
request from you, so perhaps they need a little nudge from an official
warning. Patience is indeed a virtue,
but too much patience merely makes one a sucker. You need to stand up for yourself and, if your neighbors have
taken no heed of your gentle warnings, it’s time to be more aggressive.