On multiple occasions, I've been given gifts for construction or maintenance work done in or near my apartment. When the landlord replaced my kitchen flooring, an action that I requested and directly benefited me, he gave us a bottle of wine to apologize for the inconvenience. When painters painted around our building, they came by beforehand to apologize and gave us hand towels as gifts. I've heard that in other situations, construction companies who make a lot of noise will pay people restitution or for them to stay in hotels on especially noisy work days.
While I'm sure such gifting and apologizing does not always happen, it is welcome that it is a part of the culture and I will miss it.
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