Corporate Housing: Three Important Considerations

Corporate housing can provide benefits to those who move around frequently, need a place to live while looking for a permanent house, or who need only to live in an area temporarily while doing contract work for a company. Your typical apartment is going to require a six-month lease at minimum, which may be far too much to commit to. By signing a shorter lease (or even finding a month-to-month deal), you can avoid wasting money on a place you aren't even living in. Of course, just as with a regular apartment, there are some important considerations to think about before you move in. Know What You Are Looking For If you're going through a provider or are depending on your company to find corporate housing for you, make sure they know what you have in mind. These places can vary widely in what they provide to their residents. Do you need a place in the posh part of town, with a gated community and a private garage? Or are you happy living in a seedy area of downtown as long as it saves you some money? Either extreme, or something in the middle, will probably be available if you look hard enough. Regardless of which way you lean, remember that even a couple of months can seem a lot longer when you're actually going through it. Make sure you pick something you can live with. Your Pets Just as with any apartment, corporate housing is likely to have pet restrictions. Often, these restrictions are centered on weight and breed. Many apartments, for instance, will have a list of five to ten dog breeds that simply aren't allowed. Dobermans, German Shepherds, and Rottweilers are commonly among these breeds. Dogs over 75 pounds are often forbidden as well. Some apartments will not allow dogs at all, so you may be restricted to a cat or nothing. If you have a pet you can't part with for the duration of your stay, make sure you know whether or not they can come with you to your new place. Longer is Better If you want to save money, you can do so by making sure you stay a bit longer. While you may be able to find month-to-month leases or shorter leases, you're probably going to pay a premium for the privilege. By committing to at least a three-month stay, you'll get a better rate and you'll likely find much more to choose from.