Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: problems at move-in time?

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Sunday, January 19, 2003, at 10:19  PM, Ted Chesky wrote:

> Great Oak Cohousing in Ann Arbor Michigan will be open for business
> sometime this June. We're trying to be proactive about setting up some
> processes, policies, or whatever to deal with problems that might come 
> up
> around our move-in time, or shortly thereafter.

1. Don't expect new construction to work as well as old construction. 
No matter how thorough your inspections were, something won't work. 
Prepare for disasters -- fridges will go out in the middle of the 
night, tubs won't drain, faucets will leak, outlets will be dead, the 
closet for the washer and dryer will be too small, the pole in the 
closet will fall out of the wall. Move in early in the day and plan to 
sleep on the  floor in the dark.

2. Don't expect there to be toilet paper or light bulbs. The new house 
fairies don't do that.

3. Don't all move in on the same day.  You can't help each other if 
everyone is moving and the moving trucks will get in each other's way. 
You will all have to pay for extra carry distance. If you are in 
apartments and have an elevator, it won't last past noon without a nap.

4. Don't forget to keep communicating with those who have not moved in 
yet. They will feel left out enough all ready.

5. Unless you are moving in very far apart, don't expect any help from 
your neighbors -- they are all packing and moving as well.

6. Don't expect the happiness and relief to make up for all the moving 
madness. It helps but not on the third day.

Sharon
-----
Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org

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