Preparing to buy first home- Worried about neghbors

chamelious

One of my main worries about buying my first house is neighbours, more specifically them being too loud or us being too loud. I'm a musician, and we like to watch films relatively loud. It was never a problem (somehow) in the flats we lived in for 8 years, and its not a problem in the semi we're living with my mum in at the moment. I'm just worried we'll find a great house then discover a week after moving in that we have this issue.

Any advice?

tidds

Have a listen when you first view, see if you can hear. Ask the owner, they might be honest. Knock on the neighbours door. Some 60/70's houses were built within solid walls and thus you can hear the neighbours a bit.

Jamiesmum

Detached house?

Knock on neighbors doors of properties you're interested in and see how friendly they appear to be, if they greet you etc.

If you buy a semi then move your musical instruments into a room on the opposite side of the house to minimize sound. Keep ideas in your head for when your viewing them and see if you can make it work.

Is there a reason you need to listen to films loudly? Don't mount the television or any surround sound on too the wall if it joins on too a neighbours living room, see how the layouts will work with your furniture.

What instruments do you play?

dc197

Other people's noise:
Talk to the next-door-but-one neighbours to ask about the next-door neighbours.
Talk to the people opposite about the same.
Visit it at night, weekends, so see if there is any noise.

Your noise:
Treat others as you wish to be treated.

hazyjo

Look for 'halls adjoining' if a semi - ie your hallways are next to each other, but the rooms are on the outside wall. Probably a bedroom will be next door at some point, but at least the living spaces won't.


Jx

chamelious

Should be clear i'm not talking about excessive noise at unsociable hours. I simply want to be able to watch a film in the evening without having to have it on far too quiet, and to not be able to hear everything thats going on next door.

DigForVictory

Talk to the vendors - ask if neighbours play (learn/teach) music - you may find yourself moving into a musical community?!

Best of luck

ariba10

Have you thought abou Earphones?

chamelious

Yes. Obviously. I'm not willing to wear earphones every time i want to do something loud for the next 25 years.

I should re-iterate this again. I'm 30 years old, I've lived as i do now for 30 years in 4 or 5 houses and not had a problem so far.

D00gie72

If you've not had any issues in the past there's no reason to think you will suddenly start having noise problems just because you have bought a house. Like others have said with your noise - just be conscious of others. As for other peoples noise, go ahead and visit at different times of the day and speak to the neighbours etc that will give you an impression. However bear in mind that neighbours change and no one can say what sort of people you may get living next door in the future.

chamelious

Thanks. I guess its just a gamble really, especially when i don't have 200k to spend on a house i'll actually like!