Welcome wagon

A welcome wagon is an event that occurs soon after a household moves in. Sims will visit the lot and ring the doorbell, giving the newly moved-in Sims an opportunity to meet other Sims and make connections early on.

The Sims
In The Sims, the welcome wagon usually consists of just two Sims. By default, in Neighborhood 1, Mortimer and Bella Goth will be the ones greeting the new arrivals. Otherwise, two random Sims from other households are selected and used for the welcome wagon.

The Sims 2
Welcome wagons in The Sims 2 are more sophisticated, and will usually consist of three neighbors, preferably unemployed, that the new arrivals do not know of yet. While the game will typically use neighbors, it will use townies for the welcome wagon if there aren't enough neighbors around. The game will also usually pick three Sims for the welcome wagon, although in rare occasions only two or even one Sim is used.

The welcome wagon will usually consist of adults and/or elders, although teens have sometimes been used.

Welcome wagons occur whenever a Sim moves into the neighborhood, even if they lived in it previously. If a family moves into the neighborhood, moves out, and then moves in again, they will receive another welcome wagon.

Sims living in an apartment will have a different welcome wagon. Instead of neighbors and townies from other lots, the welcome wagon will consist of apartment neighbors.

The Sims 3
Welcome wagons return in The Sims 3 and are similar to those in The Sims. The game will pick Sims from neighboring inhabited lots and will generally not use townies.

The Sims 4
The Sims 4 initially did not have a welcome wagon, but the feature was reintroduced in patch 20. When Sims move into a neighborhood, neighboring Sims from the same neighborhood will visit the lot with some fruitcake.

There will be no welcome wagon if there are no other neighboring Sims in the neighborhood.