How to avoid random move in?

[mistakenolive]

Okay, so the last time a villager moved, the plot was taken up right away by Piper, who I guess was voided out of someone who I visited/traded with (she mentioned a specific island but I can't remember, doesn't really matter I guess). I really didn't care for this because I thought I'd have more time to island-hop and pick out someone, preferably a personality I don't have (I have no smugs, crankies, or jocks currently).

Miranda just asked to leave today, and I'd really, really like to avoid that situation again. I don't deal with villager trading normally, so I'd like if someone could help me understand the "void". Should I avoid having visitors/visiting others until I can pick someone? How long do you have before a plot gets claimed?

Sorry if these are really basic questions, but I'd really appreciate any help I can get.

Thanks!

 

[EtchaSketch]

You should have the entire next day after the villager is in boxes to get another villager! I’d recommend not going to other player’s islands unless you’re grabbing a villager in boxes from there c:

 

[Kumabachi]

In my experience it doesn't matter if you visit other islands or not. My latest villager that came from a void was from an island I visited two or three weeks before having an empty house. Also: There was one time a random villager moved into an empty house that was not from a void (both times the second day after the house was empty)

 

[brockbrock]

The only way to avoid a random villager move-in or a void villager moving in from what I know is finding a villager via adoption or a NMT trip the day your plot is empty (as in, the day after your villager is in boxes, about to move out). There's a chance the plot won't be purchased the next day, but it also might and the risk usually isn't worth it.

 

[AdehhRR]

Yep., you gotta do it the day the plot is open. I have had 2 days before someone moved in too I am pretty sure.

 

[Tiffany]

I've only had 2 villagers move so far. the first one was Skye and her plot stayed empty for close to a week(I invited my camper to move in at that point). The 2nd one Purrl I sold to someone and her plot was only empty for 1 day before I got a voided villager. Now this has me wondering if going to other islands does have anything to do with how fast the plot is taken because when Skye moved I had never visited or been visited by another player at that point.

 

[daisyy]

yeah this is easily (one of) my least favorite thing(s) about NH. if you TT to stay on the day you're currently on, then that's the only 100% way to keep an empty plot until you find the villager you want.

 

[Ella.]

In my experience it doesn't matter if you visit other islands or not. My latest villager that came from a void was from an island I visited two or three weeks before having an empty house. Also: There was one time a random villager moved into an empty house that was not from a void (both times the second day after the house was empty)

The villager you encountered on the island, did you talk to them prior to them moving in? I have an open plot right now and I'd like to island hop but I also don't want a random villager moving in.

 

[Hirisa]

Here’s a related question: Can anyone confirm or disprove that disconnecting from the internet - like going into airplane mode - is how you purge your game cache of voided villagers? I turn my Switch’s airplane mode on when I know I am about to have a vacancy, whether due to a villager moving out or my building a plot because I trade a lot and don’t want to pick up someone’s voided villager.

The thing is that I read that advice somewhere but I don’t actually know if its accurate.

 

[mistakenolive]

The villager you encountered on the island, did you talk to them prior to them moving in? I have an open plot right now and I'd like to island hop but I also don't want a random villager moving in.

I know for sure I never talked to Piper before she moved in because I had never seen or heard of her before that. It seems the only option either of us have is to get a new villager ASAP, or TT to stay on the same day, like daisyy said.

Thanks for the input everyone, it's good to know.

 

[Lady Timpani]

In my experience it doesn't matter if you visit other islands or not. My latest villager that came from a void was from an island I visited two or three weeks before having an empty house. Also: There was one time a random villager moved into an empty house that was not from a void (both times the second day after the house was empty)

So if I’m understanding this right, you have at least one full day to fill a plot before a villager from another player’s void will take that plot? They don’t buy the plot as soon as it’s available?

 

[kylie32123]

What I do to avoid that, so I have a few days to find someone that I want, is time travel backwards. So, the day the plot is open, you have just that day, so I remember the date. I time travel backwards to 5:01 AM on that day the plot is open to keep it open for another 24 hours. As long as you don't let your game save when it hits the 5 A.M. mark on the day AFTER your plot is open, you're good. Before it saves, just close the game and time travel back to the date your plot was open.

 

[Kumabachi]

The villager you encountered on the island, did you talk to them prior to them moving in? I have an open plot right now and I'd like to island hop but I also don't want a random villager moving in.

I did not talk to that villager before, that I know for sure! As I understand it these villagers from the void are ones that already moved away from the island you visit, so I think it‘s not possible to talk to them.

So if I’m understanding this right, you have at least one full day to fill a plot before a villager from another player’s void will take that plot? They don’t buy the plot as soon as it’s available?

Yes, as the others already answered your question , you have at least one day.