Once you recognize that true peace in the home is a matter of good soundproofing, shopping for the condo that will suit you over the long term is easy. Read on for a few simple tips on making a sound decision when looking for your new home.
We want to love our neighbors, but what if you're awakened every night at 2 am by the sound of babies crying or you can't fall asleep because someone is shaking the walls with their snoring? Sure you love kids, but do you want to hear them driving their metal bulldozers up and down the hallway at 7 am on a Saturday? Probably not. Well if you didn't check the soundproofing in your condo before you bought it, these are issues that could send you back to your real estate agent and looking for a new home.
Likewise, have you considered your own decibel level? If you're a normal family moving into condo, studio or conversion surrounded by single folks and poor soundproofing, you may have a bumpy ride ahead. They will shake their fists on sleepless mornings when they awake bug eyed to the sound of your children playing basketball in the room over their bedroom, they will curse them when their romantic evenings are punctuated by the sounds of rolling marbles and shrieking, they will smolder when quiet moments alone with a cup of tea, a glass of scotch or a gripping novel are torn to shreds by the thumping, screeching and clatter of your beautiful blameless children.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways to avoid these kinds of conflicts before they even start. The first, and easiest place to begin is with the unit itself. If the unit you're interested in has proper soundproofing, it shouldn't matter that you are a family of five or that your neighbor just bought a new guitar. Proper insulation, flooring and windows will allow everyone to keep their sounds to themselves. Here's how to find out if the prospective unit has the right amount of noise control:
1. Ask Around: if you're really serious about buying a particular condo unit, take the time to ask the people who will be living around you what the soundproofing is like. Then ask them to turn on their TVs and stereos and go to the new place for a listen. If you don't hear anything, you're on your way. This could also be great time to meet the people you'll be sharing the land with.
2. If at all possible, ask to see the condo during a busy time of day. Early evening is usually a good bet. This is a time when most people are home, clanging around in their kitchens or doing what they do for entertainment.
3. Get a building inspection that includes soundproofing. Ask to see any documentation regarding the soundproofing in the building and make sure it meets the minimum standard that's written into the building code.
If the soundproofing is less than perfect however, you don't have to scratch the building off your list. There are still a number of ways to ensure that you and your neighbors can peacefully coexist after you move in.
1. Location: if you're a noisy family that doesn't want to cause a ruckus, look for a ground floor unit that allows your kids to be who they are without any complaints from anyone downstairs. Likewise, if you're a quiet couple that doesn't want to be disturbed unnecessarily, look for top level units.
2. A great condo in a great location is hard to pass up so if you find one with thin walls that you absolutely love, consider renovating it for acoustic bliss. Sometimes changes can be as simple as installing new windows or a carpet with a thick underlay. It's all about cushioning. If the condo association allows structural changes, you may also want to consider a floating floor or a hung ceiling. There are a number of companies that specialize in sound proofing systems if you decide to take this route.
So best of luck and when you find that nifty condo conversion in the fine neighborhood or the flat in the brownstone on the perfect tree-lined street, make sure to do a sound check before you buy.
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