Short term housing has become increasingly popular in recent years. Sure, it has been around for a long time, but it is looked at more as a practical solution now rather than the huge inconvenience it was once viewed as. This could be because an increasing number of people seem to be jumping at the opportunity to move where there are hot career opportunities or retire in their dream location. In a perfect world, you will be able to go from one home directly into another. Unfortunately, life rarely offers smooth sailing. Thankfully, short term housing can be found just about everywhere.
What is Short Term Housing?
As the name suggests, this is a furnished place where you can live for a short time, whether it be a week while you are waiting for your movers to bring your belongings or a month while you get settled and find a place to live in a new city. Maybe you sold your house faster than expected and need to live somewhere while you wait for the people to vacate the home you purchased. Whatever the case is, this is a smart solution to help with your transition
Short term housing can often be found at some hotels, but it is also quite commonly seen at apartment complexes. Some give you the option to pay by the week or month, with a month rate generally giving you a bit of a discount.
These temporary homes include a kitchen, furniture, and basic amenities that you need to be comfortable. Those in apartments may have a washer and dryer while options in hotels might have a laundry facility in the building or nearby, or a laundry and dry cleaning service. If your place of employment is relocating you then in most cases your short term housing will be paid for a specified length of time.
Things to Remember
Since your belongings will likely be in a storage unit or in a moving container, you will have to make sure you keep out enough stuff to get you by. This could be tricky if you do not know how long you will be staying in one. The biggest obstacle will be deciding what clothes, shoes, and accessories to bring with you. You do not want too much because you will have to move it, but too little could be a problem too.
In some cases you may need to bring your own bedding, so find out ahead of time. Additional items to consider include iPod and docking station, medication, important documents, phone charger, scissors crockpot, favorite recipes, and high-quality knives if you do a lot of heavy cutting in the kitchen.
Pictures Can be Deceiving
If you are securing short term housing online through a private offer, keep in mind that pictures can be very deceiving. If the photos look like a hotel, ask for additional photos or a quick video tour taken with a cellphone. Some prefer to book their stay through a hotel or apartment complex because they offer an increased level of security, but this does not mean you should dismiss private housing. The retiree who goes south half the year may have a very comfortable home they are willing to rent out at an affordable price if you promise to water their plants and feed the fish.
Pets and Smoking
If you are a smoker, you will find that most short term housing is non-smoking, but sometimes there are smoking accommodations available. A smoking space may be available outside or a designated area. If you have pets make sure they are permitted. You might need to inquire about any weight and breed restrictions too. On the other hand, if you are allergic to animals you might want to find out if pets have been permitted to stay there previously.
