Am I allowed to be annoyed by this?

[ijack]

The contractors started worked on our basement yesterday. Today, approximately 30 hours after the work started I got an email from our neighbor asking us to let them know our construction schedule because the noise is very loud and it's effecting their child's sleep and the mom's work (she works at home). These neighbors finished work on their basement last week, so for the past 2-3 months we've been living with their construction noise and it never once occurred to me to complain about it. She's asking me to let her know when there will be "loud" work days and have the guys talk in quiet voices when they're outside.
Is she being ridiculous or is this a common thing that neighbors should do?

[cjeanette]

She just had her own construction crew and is now upset at yours? Oh hell no.

[zarapipe]

Oh yes

[Deleted]

I assume your contractors aren't working at 2am, so I vote that your neighbour is being weird. The request to have the contractors talk quietly when outside is the strangest part of the request. If the neighbours can't even bear to hear people talking outside, they should have moved to a more rural area with tons of space between houses.

[sometimesrunner]

WTF? I would not receive that email well.

[Nonny]

What kind of terms are you on with these neighbors? Because there is only one of my neighbors where I'd feel the need to reply (politely). All the other neighbors I'd laugh at and ignore.

[ijack]

Okay, thank you. I'm so freaking annoyed at her right now. And I will reply, because I feel like I have to, and I'll try to be nice, but I don't want to!

[otowngirl]

I'd be annoyed, but I'd probably reply kindly, apologize and tell them that I'll address the "talking" with the crew. And then not do it, because, ridiculous.

[LoveTrains]

Oh eff her.

[takeonyou]

I would be more than annoyed.

Hi Self Important Ass,

I would think this noise would be a nice downgrade from having your own basement work done for the past few months. I won't be asking the contractors to lower their voices when they are outside because they are outdoors during the day. I don't know what days will be loud or quiet, such is the nature of construction.

Eff off,

Your neighbor

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[mushmouse]

"I expect it will go much like your recently completed construction. Which would you say the noisiest stages were for you?"

[ECB]

I'd say "Sure, I can give you an idea of their schedule.  But what have you been doing for the past couple months as you had workers in your house also making quite a racket?".  Just to point it out to her....

[heyrebekah]

"I imagine they will keep a similar construction schedule as the workers who just finished your very noisy remodeling project."

[ECB]

Oh- much better responses before me!

[ijack]

Maybe I should just send her this

[soozy87]

They don't need to use their "inside voices" when they are outside.

[emilyinchile]

I'd say something about how you expect the project to take X number of days, and won't it be great when it's finished and you guys finally all get some peace and quiet after their long project as well!

The quite voices thing is ridiculous, and I wouldn't even address it in my response to her, much less with your workmen.

[dexteroni]

Ridiculous, and I wouldn't even pretend to entertain her request. My reply would be something along the lines of "I know, construction can be loud, as I'm sure you realized having had your own for the past few months. Hopefully having it next door is at least a bit quieter than having it in your own house! Take care and eff off, love, ijack" If you want, you can add "Construction is expected to take XX days; unfortunately I have no idea which of those days will be louder than others."

If she pushes back I would reply with "I really don't think our construction is any louder for you than yours was for us. We did X and Y to help minimize/work around the noise on our end. Maybe that will work for you. Once again, please eff off, ijack" (no love this time)

[cjeanette]

Oh and I think she is being too passive aggressive asking for a schedule. Just say you think they are too loud.

[aurora]

Yes, you are allowed to be annoyed.

How to respond depends largely on how much you want to maintain a friendly relationship. I would probably do something along the lines of the "it will probably proceed much like your own construction" response.

[ddi741]

Yeah I'm with the others, either don't respond or respond with the 'probably similar to your remodel'.

[monsterz]

I would be very annoyed. They have no right complaining unless it is very early in the morning or late in the evening. Given that they just recently completed a construction project they are delusional expecting there be no noise.

[sa]

I mean I get where she's coming from - I work from home and it is really annoying when I'm on a conference call and work is being done on an apartment next door or above us. But it has to be done and if not during the day, then when? I don't expect any special accommodations because I work from home. I deal and chalk it up to one of the downsides of being home during the day.

The fact that she just had similar work done on her house, makes her request even more annoying.

[flatlan]

WTF. Yes, I would be very annoyed.

[takeonyou]

I work from home and I nap six kids each day. Stream classical music and get over it.

Fwiw, my freaking house collapsed and not one kid woke up until I was evacuating them. Loud noises, house shaking. I have little sympathy for her.

And to keep this board related, shouldn't she have childcare if she is working from home?

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[AAM2012]

I would ignore and share a few laughs with my DH at her expense. In fact, I may actually try to be even louder just to piss her off.

[BabyLove]

happyplace.someecards.com/27859/delayed-flight-note-passing-war

[imojoebunny]

Yeah, your right to be annoyed. I live in renovation city. My old house was in one too. My new one is in one now. Pretty much everyone renovates something, and frequently tears it down all together in this area. I am all about being apologetic, and saying, sorry, I know this is a pain. In fact, it was the first thing I said to my new neighbor when I met her at my new build house in an old neighborhood. Turns out she just finished renovating her place a month ago, and totally understood.

I just had some woman write me a lovely, handwritten letter asking me if she could put her construction dumpster on a property we own, while she renovated for 6-8 months. She stated that it would be the best location. Really? How entitled can you get? Some people just lack thought.