Welcoming a new Community Member

I welcome our new flatmate upon arrival and open the door for them.

First off: You are awesome for showing the Community spirit and opening the doors for your new flatmate to arrive in their new home 🏡

It’s not a hard task, but all the more important and special to them.

We set up a guideline for you, so you can make sure to leave a good and lasting impression:

1. Welcome them with a smile: Make your flatmate feel welcome and at ease. They probably traveled far to get here, or even just entered a yet foreign country. You are potentially their first significant encounter, which can make a huge difference.
2. Show interest and connect: Introduce yourself and tell a bit about yourself. Ask your flatmate how their travel went, what they’re doing in the city, and what else you want to know. Still, try not to overrun them with questions as the journey was probably exhausting.
3. Do first things first: Show your flatmate their own room. Let your flatmate know you want to give a quick flat tour. If they’re too tired, you can both agree on postponing the flat tour to a later hour.
4. Welcome them to your Community: Guide your flatmate through the flat. Show all Community Areas like bathrooms, kitchen, utility room, balcony, etc. In case you know by heart, let them know who lives behind which bedroom door. If other flatmates are at home, feel free to knock at their doors so that they can introduce themselves.
5. Go into detail: Let your flatmate know about flat features and make sure they know asking questions now is appreciated. Show your flatmate the basic functions of the dishwasher and washer dryer. Most importantly, share the WiFi password with them! Do you have special internal rules in your Community? Let your new flatmate know so they can adapt right away, but make sure to mention that everything is decided on in conformity with every flatmate. There is no “right of the elder”.

Lastly: Travel back in thought to the day you arrived - what was a helpful hint from the start for you? What information might have been missing? Extend the guidelines above with whatever pops into your head!

And most importantly: Don’t stress out. If you miss one of the points mentioned above, you can surely catch up on it as soon as possible! It’s supposed to be a fun experience for you as well.

A new Community Member moves in and I want to know what to consider.

• Provide space for your new flatmate in the fridge, kitchen cupboards, bathroom, etc. before their arrival. They will be able to adapt easier as they feel appreciated from the first minute.
• Introduce yourself when you bump into each other the first time. Show your interest and appreciation by asking a few questions and telling them a bit about yourself. 
• Try to make your flatmate feel at ease. They’re the new kid and don’t know anyone here. They probably feel just like you when you arrived - in good spirits but also a little lost or really excited!
• Let your new flatmate know about your internal Community rules, but please make sure they understand that they’re part of the whole now, and are entitled to define those rules just like any other flatmate. There is no “right of the elder”.
• Engage with the new and current flatmates to meet up for a Community evening. Share a drink, make Tacos, or play a good old game of cards while figuring out your mutual and individual Co-Living needs. Establish new rules if you like, or leave it as it is when everyone is happy.

Pro Tip: Surely everyone’s busy. If you have one of homefully’s many chalkboards, doodle a date for your Community evening to schedule the best date for it in no time or create your own Co-Living WhatsApp group.