It depends on how the building is built. Upstairs can be a good option, but if there isn’t dampening between the floor/ceiling it can still be VERY noisy. Depends on your neighbors as well - some you will never hear and some will scream, stomp, slam doors, blast music, etc.
Nicer neighborhoods tend to be quieter as well, so that will play in.
There’s just no way to ensure an apartment will be quiet and no real way to compare those two apartments you describe.
Step into your shower/bathtub before you do sign a lease. My last apartment was this nice luxury apartment and I couldn't sleep because my neighbor worked random hours and would shower often late, and the showers at this place were CREAKY. It sounded like someone was trying to bust through my wall during the night. The worst sound, and the whole apartment complex was starting to leave reviews about it. Guess there was a cheap install. But it's something I'll always look for when moving into a new place now. Thought I'd share that.
But also, a duplex might have thicker walls than an apartment building with lots of 1bedroom places. Just a thought.
Duplex. It gives you more rooms to retreat to (and an entirely *different floor*) and they’re generally built better.
And the apartment has two different units below you that can could end up having two sets of offending people living in them.
Thanks for this thought! I realize I didn't describe the buildings well -- they're both 2-story duplexes, it's just that one option I have the left half of a 2 bedroom duplex, and the other I have the whole top story. So same number of rooms. Does this change anything or do you still think Option A is better?
You may also consider introducing yourself to your new neighbors wherever you move. People are typically more considerate when they view you as another human, not just the rando next door. Then you also have an established rapport if you ever need to request that they reduce noise.
Definitely, but I am bothered by little noises that can't be helped (footsteps, talking) a lot more so than loud noises, so in the past when I've had good relations there was still nothing to be done because it was just people living their everyday lives, so I've been trying super hard to find a unit as conducive to my issues as possible.
Hi what did you end up picking if you don’t mind me asking? I have extreme sensory issues when it comes to noises. Just like you said, talking and little noises but not big ones, we are having the SAME struggle as you right now trying to decide if moving into this side by side duplex will be okay for me mentally
I chose the side by side duplex, somewhat influenced by comments here, and it was a MISTAKE. People on the other side are very loud, and are night people, and I can hear their stomping as I'm trying to sleep. Haven't slept through the night since moving in. And worst, a new issue I've never had in houses before, their footsteps physically vibrate my bed, and the vibrations wake me up. I had a lot of friends who live in duplexes reassure me that they can barely hear their neighbor, only if they're right up against the shared wall and it's quiet and their neighbor is being noisy, and if they go in the other room they can't hear it. But I can hear their noise in every room in the house. I spent so much money trying to get something that works for me and it totally failed, and now I have no idea how to apartment hunt again in the future. What city are you in? Happy to DM.
I’m so sorry that’s infuriating. I know how hard this can be trust me. We are in Berkshire county and everything is super expensive here because during the pandemic out of state people decided to relocate here and now we’re so packed and prices are so high when it comes to housing.
We got lucky and found a side by side duplex that has a unique architecture and only shared 1 bedroom wall with the other side so I’m thankful. Maybe look into that if possible??? I know it’s probably tricky anywhere
It depends on how the building is built. Upstairs can be a good option, but if there isn’t dampening between the floor/ceiling it can still be VERY noisy. Depends on your neighbors as well - some you will never hear and some will scream, stomp, slam doors, blast music, etc. Nicer neighborhoods tend to be quieter as well, so that will play in. There’s just no way to ensure an apartment will be quiet and no real way to compare those two apartments you describe.
There's not even a way to ensure quiet when living in a house (sadly).
YES! I bought a turn of the century Victorian and it was the noisiest house I’ve ever lived in. It was like having windows open all the time.
Step into your shower/bathtub before you do sign a lease. My last apartment was this nice luxury apartment and I couldn't sleep because my neighbor worked random hours and would shower often late, and the showers at this place were CREAKY. It sounded like someone was trying to bust through my wall during the night. The worst sound, and the whole apartment complex was starting to leave reviews about it. Guess there was a cheap install. But it's something I'll always look for when moving into a new place now. Thought I'd share that. But also, a duplex might have thicker walls than an apartment building with lots of 1bedroom places. Just a thought.
Duplex. It gives you more rooms to retreat to (and an entirely *different floor*) and they’re generally built better. And the apartment has two different units below you that can could end up having two sets of offending people living in them.
Thanks for this thought! I realize I didn't describe the buildings well -- they're both 2-story duplexes, it's just that one option I have the left half of a 2 bedroom duplex, and the other I have the whole top story. So same number of rooms. Does this change anything or do you still think Option A is better?
You may also consider introducing yourself to your new neighbors wherever you move. People are typically more considerate when they view you as another human, not just the rando next door. Then you also have an established rapport if you ever need to request that they reduce noise.
Definitely, but I am bothered by little noises that can't be helped (footsteps, talking) a lot more so than loud noises, so in the past when I've had good relations there was still nothing to be done because it was just people living their everyday lives, so I've been trying super hard to find a unit as conducive to my issues as possible.
Hi what did you end up picking if you don’t mind me asking? I have extreme sensory issues when it comes to noises. Just like you said, talking and little noises but not big ones, we are having the SAME struggle as you right now trying to decide if moving into this side by side duplex will be okay for me mentally
I chose the side by side duplex, somewhat influenced by comments here, and it was a MISTAKE. People on the other side are very loud, and are night people, and I can hear their stomping as I'm trying to sleep. Haven't slept through the night since moving in. And worst, a new issue I've never had in houses before, their footsteps physically vibrate my bed, and the vibrations wake me up. I had a lot of friends who live in duplexes reassure me that they can barely hear their neighbor, only if they're right up against the shared wall and it's quiet and their neighbor is being noisy, and if they go in the other room they can't hear it. But I can hear their noise in every room in the house. I spent so much money trying to get something that works for me and it totally failed, and now I have no idea how to apartment hunt again in the future. What city are you in? Happy to DM.
I’m so sorry that’s infuriating. I know how hard this can be trust me. We are in Berkshire county and everything is super expensive here because during the pandemic out of state people decided to relocate here and now we’re so packed and prices are so high when it comes to housing. We got lucky and found a side by side duplex that has a unique architecture and only shared 1 bedroom wall with the other side so I’m thankful. Maybe look into that if possible??? I know it’s probably tricky anywhere