After a long week stuck trying to keep pace in the rat race, there are few things more cathartic than being able to get a few friends together for a good, old-fashioned celebration. However, if you live in an apartment complex, you may find that your idea of a good time quickly bleeds over into your neighbors’ idea of a potentially dangerous disturbance. Take things too far, and you could wind up straining your neighbor relationships, getting a visit from the police, or even having to deal with the possibility of eviction. Does this mean that you should spend your weekend hours in quiet solitude?
Absolutely not! There are things that you can do to ensure that your apartment party doesn’t end up stepping on any toes. Here are a few tips:
1. Double-check your contract.
Before you decide to throw an all-night rager, be sure that you won’t be doing anything in violation of your rental agreement. Your contract should give you a basic outline of what behavior is and is not acceptable as a renter. If you’ve gone over the paperwork and don’t think that you’ll be within your rights to throw the kind of party you want, consider celebrating at another location, such as a public park or at a local venue.
2. Keep everyone in the loop.
Rather than surprising your neighbors out of a deep sleep at 2:00 a.m. with your best karaoke rendition of Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up,” consider doing some damage control before the party ever even gets underway. Visit the other residents in your building and let them know that you’ll be having a party and when. Tell them that you’ll be doing your best to keep things from getting out of hand, but that should your celebration begin to bother them in any way, they can always contact you directly. Just by touching base with your neighbors, you’ll be showing them that you are a considerate person, and who knows? Maybe you can even invite them to join in the fun!
3. Go easy on the alcohol.
If your goal is to throw a party that won’t get you in trouble with apartment management, then alcohol is probably going to be your biggest foe. When alcohol is consumed, one of the first things to go is inhibition. After that, you can bet that you’ll be having a much more difficult time keeping everything from getting too rowdy. As such, limit the amount of alcohol being served, and instead focus on providing other activities for your guests. Also, be sure to have other food and snacks available, because those that drink alcohol on an empty stomach are likely to get drunk much more quickly.
4. Have the party earlier.
A party that lasts all night may seem like the only way to go, but remember that neighbors are much more likely to get annoyed by your revelry if it interrupts their sleep schedule. Instead, schedule the party for earlier afternoon or evening. Your guests will have just as much fun and you won’t have to worry about waking the neighborhood.
5. Keep the numbers down.
It may seem like a good idea to let loose and just throw open the doors to anyone and everyone who wants to stop by, but when you don’t limit the number of people invited to your party, you run the risk of losing control of it. Smaller numbers are easier to entertain, are less likely to spill out into the apartment halls or common areas, and are more willing to remain personally accountable for their actions. On the other hand, if your apartment is full to bursting with people you’ve never even met before, you won’t have much say in what form the party will take.
6. Have an end in mind.
It may feel more fun and spontaneous to just allow your guests to trickle slowly in and out at their leisure, but by planning a definite start and stop time for your party, you can ensure that the celebration won’t go on indefinitely. Let your guests know when they’ll be expected to pack things up and go, and let you neighbors know when you anticipate everything to be finished. Not only will this help prevent your party from becoming a nuisance to your neighbors, but it will also give you a chance to get some sleep once everyone has left; you’re going to need it the next morning, once you see just how much cleanup there is waiting for you…
Do you have any helpful tips on how to keep your party from costing you your apartment? Share them through the comments section below!