8 Tips For Finding Short-Term Corporate Housing

You may have felt the stressors of these situations before: You’re trying to find a job in another state before moving there but want to do a test trip beforehand. Or your home is undergoing renovations, and you need a place to stay that’s comfortable for a month or more. Or maybe you’ve just been put in charge of organizing your company’s first business trip. For these situations and more, finding the right extended stay solution is paramount.

Short-term corporate housing may be the solution for you.

Planning accommodations doesn’t have to be a stressful ordeal. Today, it’s easier than ever to find corporate housing that’s ideal for your comfort, budget, and schedule.

First off, what is corporate housing? It’s a convenient exten ded-stay solution for business travelers who want lodging that is fully furnished and equipped with everything they need to feel at home. Essentially, it’s an alternative to staying in a hotel. For some, it can be an alternative that’s more budget-friendly, more personalized, and more comfortable.

There are corporate housing options to be found coast to coast, from short-term corporate housing Washington, D.C., to short-term corporate housing San Francisco—you just have to know what you’re looking for. To that end, here’s a list of tips to find the right corporate housing for you.

Throughout your search, it’s essential to keep in mind the amenities you want. For example, will you or your coworker be in town long enough to want to cook your own meals? If so, you’ll need to make sure you have a fully-equipped kitchen and all the necessary appliances. Ask yourself these basic questions and decide whether you will need any of the following:

• WiFi
• High-Speed Internet
• Laundry
• Security
• Pool Access
• Gym Access
• Onsite Parking
• Air-Conditioning
• Housekeeping Services

By drafting a “must-have” list, you can quickly skip the options that don’t fit and focus on the ones that do.

Like any aspect of travel, getting a head start can help you find a better deal and get a lay of the land. While rates may fluctuate, you can familiarize yourself with the current market and what options are available. Doing so offers plenty of benefits:

• Increased odds of securing popular rental properties that are usually booked
• Time to process references, credit checks, and negotiations
• Less time on the hunt for last-minute apartments
• Freedom to start budgeting for the rest of the trip

Don’t be too eager and get overly invested in housing options that are out of reach. Have a price range in mind and stick to it. This goes double when you’re in charge of organizing a business trip for your company: You need to stay cost-efficient. Heed these suggestions to help prevent you from exceeding your budget:

• Research the typical housing cost in the area you’re interested in to guarantee you’re receiving a fair rate. Create a quick list of different properties and their square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and total price. This will give you an average to base your research off of.
• Reconsider what you consider a necessity because sacrificing one thing can dramatically affect the price—for instance, choosing a location that is central would probably significantly bump up the cost. Or, perhaps trading a smaller room might grant you better amenities.
• Incorporate the cost of living into your budget. This includes anything from gas prices to the tax rate. It may give you more or less spending power, depending on the standard you’re accustomed to at home.
• Weigh different expense options. Apartments might be cheaper further away, but transportation costs could outweigh the price difference. In this scenario, you’d be stuck in a housing situation that’s equally as expensive and has a long commute.

In town for a convention or conference? That might require housing that’s conveniently located or has easy access to public transport. Odds are you would prefer to minimize your commute time. Other destinations you might consider living near include:

• Airports
• Entertainment centers
• Grocery stores
• Highways
• Restaurants or Malls

Moreover, you can’t disregard safety as a factor in selecting a neighborhood. Especially when looking for short-term corporate housing in New York City or short-term corporate housing in Los Angeles, being located in the right area can make all the difference.

It can be tough to find a place that checks all your boxes when there is high demand and low supply. Thus, the time of year that you’re seeking accommodations will affect the cost of housing. Consider when you need housing and, if possible, try to lock it down during slow times of the year.

While it can be easy to enter “short-term corporate housing NYC“ or “short-term corporate housing Portland” into a search engine and turn up a lot of results, not every site is reliable. As an individual not familiar with your destination, seeking housing can invite potential scam artists to take advantage of you.

For this reason, you need to ensure you find short-term corporate housing from a reliable source. If necessary, enlist the help of a professional.

Pro-tip: Do not trust listings from Craigslist. The site is unregulated. Be especially wary of deals that seem unrealistically good. If it’s too good to be true, assume that it is.

Before you sign or click the “I agree” checkbox on any agreement, it’s the responsible practice to go through the details and terms prior. As the individual tasked with booking your company’s housing, you’d hate to be the one responsible for selecting a less-than-desirable setup or falling victim to a scam that leaves you without funds or, worse, without a place to stay.

Prevent any misfortunes by:

• Researching and reading online reviews of the owner and rental properties.
• Scanning the price breakdown for any hidden fees.
• Confirming the available amenities and agreed-upon costs are in the agreement.
• Being suspicious of any demands for cash-only payments.

Don’t give con artists a chance to take advantage of you. But, should you become a victim of fraudulent business, report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the authorities.

Enlisting the assistance of an established company goes beyond a tip. Such businesses focus solely on providing corporate housing rentals for individuals and businesses and, thus, are an invaluable resource. Although clientele tends to be predominantly professionals, the corporate-housing industry has expanded to serve students, relocating individuals and families, and more.

Not only do corporate housing companies provide fully furnished temporary housing—they are also accustomed to catering to the varying needs of different clients. Simply let the agency know what you’re looking for in terms of:

• Desired amenities
• Duration of stay
• Number of occupants
• Preferred location
• Price range
• Size of accommodations

When selecting a corporate housing company (CHC), there are a few vetting protocols to be aware of, including:

• Probe their online presence. The quality of their website and online material can be a good indicator of the service and standard they can offer you.
• Call several companies to receive quotes. You can prevent stacking—when a CHC will reach out to other CHCs for a property you are interested in to see if they have anything available. The CHC might then stack their fees on top of the other CHC’s to get you the property you’re interested in. Don’t let a CHC double-dip your funds.
• Request customer testimonials. If their track record isn’t available online, then don’t be afraid to ask. It’s reassuring to know that they have serviced a client with similar needs.
• Ask apartment communities you’re interested in for CHCs they recommend. Names of CHCs that pop up the most frequently may be more trustworthy.
• Take a look at the property in person, if possible. Photos and descriptions might not accurately represent their listings. Seeing them in person is a surefire method to guarantee you aren’t being duped.

A little extra precaution can go a long way, particularly when you’re responsible for finding housing for several people. Avoid the doubt and headache that comes from finding the right CHC with Zeus Living.

Zeus Living offers and manages beautifully furnished homes for travelers of all kinds. Zeus designs each studio, apartment, and home to be cozy and functional, ensuring you have a comfortable space to live and work out of (should you need to bring work home). Functionality—including homecare essentials for the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom—and prime locations are priorities when it comes to the business travel experience, and Zeus goes the extra mile to make sure every one of its leases is wired for work.

It doesn’t stop there. Enjoy other Zeus perks, like:

• Self check-in
• On-call support
• Easy cancellation
• Flexible scheduling
• Budget-friendly accommodations

When you book with Zeus, you can hand over the reins to industry professionals who specialize in catering to professionals. Your company can enjoy short-term lodging in a comfortable home-away-from-home with amenities that make hotels seem basic—and without the exorbitant price tag.

Your criteria for excellent short-term corporate housing will probably be specific to you and your team. However, using the tips above, your planning process can be less stressful. Corporate housing and convenience should go hand in hand—Zeus Living understands this and makes it their mission to provide comfort to every individual with transparent pricing, on-call assistance, and specialty request options available to all.

Sources:

Money Under 30. Finding a short-term Rental Anywhere.

https://www.moneyunder30.com/how-to-find-short-term-rentals

UPack. Finding short-term Housing.

https://www.upack.com/articles/finding-short-term-housing