If your home requires major renovations, the home may become temporarily unlivable. This presents a unique predicament because you and your family may be displaced for up to several months while renovations or repairs are completed. On the one hand, staying in a hotel for that length of time would be costly and unfeasible. On the other, most rental apartments come unfurnished and require a lease for a fixed amount of time. How do you find a short-term rental solution that is flexible enough for your needs but won’t break the bank while your home is being renovated?

The good news is there are several options available that you might not have previously considered. Let’s explore some of these short-term rental options and provide some additional tips to help you find the solution that’s best for you.

Reasons for Needing Temporary Housing During Renovations

Granted, many home renovations aren’t intrusive enough to require you to vacate the home — for example, if you’re remodeling a bedroom or adding a room. However, when you’re facing major renovations or repairs, moving out temporarily makes more sense — and in some cases, it may be mandatory. Let’s look at two of the most common instances in which you might need alternative temporary housing.

Major Elective Renovations

If you choose to perform major updates in several parts of the home, there’s an increased chance that the home itself may be unlivable while renovations are in progress. Utilities like electricity, water, and sewer lines may need to be shut off for extended lengths of time, or the excess dust might be unsafe to breathe for extended lengths of time. There might also be structural work in progress that makes the home temporarily unstable.

Repairs and Restoration due to Natural Disaster

Fires, floods, or major weather events can do extensive damage to a home. In many of these cases, it may be unsafe to stay in the home until repairs and restoration efforts are completed — for example, receding floodwaters can breed dangerous bacteria and mold, or high winds might have torn off part of the roof. In such cases, it’s usually necessary to relocate temporarily — and in many cases, your short-term housing may actually be covered by insurance.

Options for Short-Term/Temporary Housing

If major renovations have temporarily displaced you and your family, you have several short-term housing options. Let’s look at the most common solutions.

Extended Stay Hotels

Extended stay hotels typically provide suite-like accommodations at discounted weekly or even monthly rates. They are generally more affordable than conventional hotels, but they can still be pricey over the course of a few months. Additionally, even if the suite provides a kitchen or kitchenette, it will still feel much like a hotel, which can have a negative effect on family moods after a time.

Sublets

One temporary housing option to consider is finding someone willing to sublet their home or apartment to you. Occasionally, people currently under a lease may sublet part or all of their space to someone else, either to help with rent or to occupy the entire unit while they are traveling. Sublets can often be found through Craigslist, by word-of-mouth, or by social media. While subletting can be a good solution for some, be aware that unless you know and trust the person implicitly, the risk for scamming is higher with this option.

Vacation Rentals (e.g., Airbnb, Vrbo)

Short-term rental platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo have become quite popular in recent years, allowing individual “hosts” to rent out rooms, apartments, or entire vacation homes for days, weeks, or months at a time. These vacation rentals provide a better sense of “home” and typically come furnished, but they aren’t always cheap, and some users have reported bad experiences and the occasional scam.

Corporate Housing/Short-Term Rentals

One fairly reliable alternative to finding short-term rentals is to consult a corporate housing agency. These agencies focus on providing fully-furnished temporary apartments for people who need to stay for a few weeks or months. While many people using corporate housing are business travelers on extended stays, these units are also ideal for locals who need a place to live for a couple of weeks to a couple of months. You can specify the amount of space and type of amenities you need, and the agency will find you a comfortable, well-appointed apartment for the same price (or less) than that of an extended stay hotel.

Other Tips to Find the Best Housing Solution

When you stay in temporary housing, you want to make sure the place offers the comfort and convenience that you and your family need — especially since you will be there for a while. Here are a few other factors to consider when deciding on short-term housing.

• Your renovation timeline. You may only have an estimate as to when renovations will be complete, and the end date may change based on unexpected circumstances. Be sure the place you rent gives you at least a month-to-month flexibility and doesn’t lock you into a commitment for longer than you need
• Pet accommodations. If you have one or more pets, look specifically for pet-friendly accommodations. Otherwise, you may have to house your pet with friends, or worse, pay for a kennel.
• Location. While renovations are ongoing, you still have to go to work, the kids still have school, etc. Try to find temporary housing that doesn’t extend your commute times to the point of inconvenience.
• Cleanliness and sanitation. With the ongoing pandemic, sanitation is more of a concern than ever. Be sure to ask your host or agent about what steps they’re taking to clean your temporary housing, and be certain you’re comfortable with their answers.
• Your stuff. You’ll probably need to bring additional luggage for an extended stay, along with sensitive paperwork and possibly some keepsakes. Be sure to ask about storage options for things you need to bring with you.

If you require a short-term rental in Atlanta, Georgia, or Jacksonville, Florida, TP Corporate Lodging offers a great selection of fully furnished apartments in prime locations in both of these cities. Give us a call at 800.428.9997 to see what we have available.

When traveling or relocating to a new city, one can almost always find numerous options for short-term stays or long-term leases — but finding temporary housing can be a challenge at times. And yet, there are many situations in which people need a place for longer than a few days or weeks, but not long enough to warrant signing an unfurnished lease. As a result, they often end up jockeying between hotels and Airbnb rentals for weeks or months, often at great expense.

The truth is that there are numerous temporary housing options out there — if you know where to look for them. There are ways to find comfortable, furnished lodging for as long as you need — without necessarily breaking the bank. The following guide will provide an overview of temporary housing options ideal for extended stays, explain where to look for them, and provide additional tips to help you select the ideal housing choice for your needs.

Reasons Why People Need Temporary Housing

Why would someone need to come into a city for several weeks or months at a time? It turns out there are plenty of situations that call for extended stays. Let’s look at a few of the most common.

Long-Term Hospital Visits

When someone is ill and needs long-term treatment that their typical healthcare provider can’t offer, they may need to travel to a healthcare facility that offers the care they need. If the facility offers treatment on an outpatient basis, that patient will need a comfortable place to stay for the duration of the treatment. Likewise, family members may need to stay in town to offer support and look after their loved ones.

Extended Business Trips

More and more companies these days are sending employees and team members to various locations for long-term assignments. You may be sent out of town, for example, to lend your expertise on a complicated project, to facilitate opening a new branch location, or to scope out new clients. An increasing number of business trips nowadays call for stays of several weeks or even several months.

Relocation

People move to a new city for many reasons, whether it’s a job transfer, to take a new job, new military orders, or just for a change. Sometimes, people must relocate before finding permanent housing or before a permanent place becomes available. At other times, an incoming family may need to wait for a new house to be built. In cases like these, temporary housing provides comfortable accommodations until permanent housing becomes available.

Film and TV Shoots

Location filming has become quite prevalent in recent years, especially in growing film and TV hotspots like Atlanta. These shoots often last for weeks and months on end, and the cast and crew need comfortable places to stay in the meantime. Temporary housing can often rescue a filming budget from tens of thousands of dollars in hotel bills.

Home Renovations and Repairs

Occasionally, natural disasters can make a home unlivable, or home renovations are so extensive that the family may need to vacate while construction takes place. Extended-stay housing can offer shelter for months at a time while these repairs or renovations are completed.

Options for Short-Term/Temporary Housing

Now that we’ve explored some of the reasons why people seek out temporary housing, let’s take a closer look at what housing options are typically available in a city and how/where to look for them.

Extended Stay Hotels

For expected stays of several weeks or more, one of the first places people tend to look is extended stay hotels in the area. You can usually find these hotels in almost any commercial cluster in a city, especially near major highways, thoroughfares, and airports. Extended stay hotels usually offer suite-like accommodations at discounted weekly or even monthly rates, and some even configure their suites like small apartment units to make guests more comfortable. While extended stay hotels provide a more affordable solution than conventional hotels, the costs can still add up over time. In addition, even extended-stay suites can feel cramped and claustrophobic after several weeks.

Vacation Rentals (e.g., Airbnb, Vrbo)

Another option to look at for temporary housing is to check out vacation rentals, which can be found in abundance on sites like Airbnb and Vrbo. These rentals can be found in almost any city or town these days, but you’ll find the greatest selection of tourist destinations. Some of these rentals will offer discounted rates for extended stays, and they range in size from a single room to a fully furnished house. The downside to this approach is that most of these rentals are managed by individual owners. While platforms like Airbnb do try to monitor for consistency in honesty and quality, the system is not foolproof, and people do have bad experiences from time to time. Additionally, the discounts are generally not deep enough to keep costs from accumulating over time.

Sublets

Another temporary housing option, one that works well for some people, is the option of sublets. Quite often, people may need to leave their home for months or years at a time, so they will sublet their home as temporary housing, usually at a rate comparable to what they’re actually paying in rent. Finding a good sublet can be challenging because they aren’t broadly advertised. Most people find sublets through online classifieds like Craigslist, word of mouth, or perhaps via social media. The other challenge with subletting is that it’s a largely unregulated market, so it’s easier to get conned.

Corporate Housing/Short-Term Rentals

The fourth option for temporary housing is to seek corporate lodging in the area, typically through a third-party corporate housing agency like TP Corporate Lodging. Corporate housing companies specialize in setting up and renting fully furnished apartment housing for several weeks or months at a time. The rates are significantly more affordable than extended stay hotels or vacation rentals. This can be an excellent solution for corporate travelers and people needing extended stay lodging for any of the reasons mentioned above.

Tips for Finding the Best Temporary Housing

Once you have decided on the best option for finding short-term housing in your area, here are some additional tips and considerations for narrowing the search down to the best choice for you.

• Pet-friendly options. If you need to bring your pet with you on your extended stay, look for housing options that accommodate pets — preferably at minimal or no additional cost.
• Proximity to work. If your stay is business-related, look for lodging close to the workplace, or choose an agency that can find a place close to your workplace. The same holds if you’re in town for medical reasons — find a place close to the hospital.
• Job housing benefits (e.g., per diem). If your company is paying for your housing, or if you’re being issued a federal per diem for housing, look for lodging that fits that budget or an agency that will work within your per diem budget.
• Cleanliness and sanitation. This issue has become more critical with the coronavirus pandemic. Before taking any housing solution, ask about what steps they are taking to clean and sanitize so you can be safe.

If you are looking for affordable, comfortable temporary housing in Atlanta, GA or Jacksonville, FL, TP Corporate Lodging offers a selection of fully furnished apartments with complete amenities in some of the most convenient neighborhoods in town. Give us a call at 800.428.9997 for current availability.

If you come to Atlanta on an extended stay — to work, for example — you may inadvertently become sedentary during your stay. If you stay in a cramped hotel room, for example, you’re liable to fall into the habits of working long hours, eating restaurant food every evening and crashing in your hotel bed every night, with little or no time for other activities. A couple of weeks of that activity, and you’re liable to start feeling sluggish, sickly and maybe even a bit tight in your clothes. What can you do to stay healthy and active while visiting Atlanta? Here are a few tips that may help.

Get Out and See the Atlanta Sights

Another way to get some great physical activity during your stay in Atlanta is to walk around and take in all the famous sights! In the Downtown Atlanta neighborhood, don’t miss the World of Coca-Cola, Georgia Aquarium, College Football Hall of Fame, CNN Center, and the Center for Civil and Human Rights — all of which are connected by Centennial Olympic Park.

Hop on the Atlanta streetcar toward the Edgewood/Sweet Auburn district for great nightlife as well as spots that commemorate the city’s role in the American civil rights movement, including the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site (including Dr. King’s birth home), the King Center, and Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Other great spots to visit while you’re in town include the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the High Museum of Art, the Atlanta History Center in Buckhead, Ponce City Market (check out the rooftop!), Zoo Atlanta, Fernbank Museum, the Fox Theatre, Jimmy Carter Center, and the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum. For some quirky sightseeing and tourist experiences, be sure to check out Little Five Points and the Krog Tunnel.

Don’t forget to catch a Braves game at the Suntrust Park or head over to the Mercedes Benz stadium for a Falcons football game.

Take Time for Recreation

It’s easier said than done, but after all, you can’t work all the time. Try to discipline yourself to take a little time off to commune with nature or participate in other outdoor activities. To save time and make it more convenient to get outdoors, consider staying near the Atlanta BeltLine, a new multi-use trail system that connects to numerous Atlanta neighborhoods and green spaces, such as Piedmont Park and Oakland Cemetery.

You can also find corporate housing along the scenic Chattahoochee River just north of Atlanta, where you can enjoy fishing, boating or a picnic lunch along the banks. If golf is your game, Atlanta is home to numerous championship courses, and corporate housing is available there, too. Even staying in a walkable neighborhood will give you more excuses to get outside during your downtime. Doing so will help you unplug and de-stress, not to mention help you stay physically healthier.

Cook Your Own Food

Atlanta has an amazing foodie scene, but eating the rich meals found in restaurants night after night will start to take its toll after a while. As an alternative, try staying in a corporate apartment with a full kitchen. Head to the grocery store for healthy, organic fruits, veggies and meats, and prepare your own meals. Not only does this give you more control over your food choices — it can save you money, and the act of cooking can itself be therapeutic after a long day at the office.

Take Advantage of Fitness Amenities

Most hotels these days have on-site pools and fitness facilities. Likewise, corporate housing is typically located in luxury apartment communities which also have amenities like exercise rooms, swimming pools, walking trails and even saunas. Before heading off to work in the morning (or before crashing at night), make a point of heading to the fitness center or the pool to get some exercise. Doing this even a few minutes a day will help you feel better, stay fit and have more energy.

Staying healthy and active while visiting Atlanta, Georgia has a lot to do with where you stay. TP Corporate Lodging offers many affordable housing options throughout the Atlanta, Georgia area. All our units have fully equipped kitchens, most are in apartment communities with fitness centers, and we also offer numerous locations in walkable areas like Midtown Atlanta, Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park, Buckhead, and Vinings. Give us a call at 800.428.9997 for current availability.

When you travel to another city for an extended stay, whether for business or pleasure, you have a number of options with regard to lodging. Many people look at extended stay hotels by default, and a growing number have begun looking to hosting platforms like AirBnb for short-term rentals. However, since both of these options can get quite expensive for extended stays, corporate housing has emerged as a more comfortable and affordable alternative for extended travel stays. But what, exactly, is corporate housing, and when might a corporate apartment be a good fit for your needs?

Corporate Housing Defined

The most basic definition of corporate housing is a fully furnished and decorated residence (usually an apartment) that is intended for temporary stays. Unlike a hotel room or suite, corporate housing is a furnished apartment equipped with all the essentials of home that a renter might need: living and dining space, a full kitchen with housewares, bathroom(s), usually 1-3 bedrooms, high-speed WiFi, and plenty of square footage to stretch out after a long day. These multi-bedroom apartments are typically managed, maintained and rented out by a dedicated corporate housing agency (like TP Corporate Lodging), but because they are found in existing apartment communities across the area, guests can frequently avail themselves of the amenities offered by that community (e.g., swimming pool, fitness center, outdoor space, and even concierge services in some communities).

Corporate Housing is Specifically Intended for Extended Stays

Unlike hotels, which are primarily intended as short-term accommodations, corporate housing is intended to function as a “home-away-from home.” For that reason, most agencies will only rent their units for extended stays. You can typically rent a unit for as little as two weeks, or as long as several months. Beyond that, you’re only responsible to bring your luggage and supply your own groceries; the apartment comes with everything you need to live comfortably for an extended period of time. Perhaps even more importantly — the cost per month is considerably less than a hotel stay for an equivalent length of time.

Who Can Stay in Corporate Housing?

As the term suggests, corporate housing was originally intended to accommodate business travelers who need a furnished apartment or house to stay for longer than a few days (for example, during a specific assignment or as temporary housing during relocation). However, corporate lodging isn’t just for business travelers these days; in fact, almost anyone planning to stay in town for 2 weeks or longer can enjoy the advantages of corporate housing. Some examples:

• Relocating individuals and families (i.e., those who need temporary lodging while seeking a permanent residence)
• Professionals coming to town for project-based work (e.g., film industry workers or military personnel)
• Families needing lodging while a loved one undergoes medical treatment
• Households temporarily displaced by disasters (insurance companies often utilize corporate housing for this purpose)
• Corporations needing to house a group of people in town for training or other projects
• Vacationers who want a comfortable home base for an extended short-term stay
• Almost anyone else who needs to stay in town for a few weeks but wants to avoid expensive hotels.

Need Temporary Housing? Try Our Corporate Apartments

If your travels bring you to Atlanta, Georgia or Jacksonville, Florida for an extended temporary basis, TP Corporate Lodging is here to help with your housing options. We are a corporate housing provider that offers comfortable furnished apartments in luxury communities with ample amenities. Give us a call at 800.428.9997 for current availability.

Your travel plans are bringing you to Atlanta for a few weeks (or even a few months). You’ve heard that corporate housing is a comfortable and more affordable alternative to a motel or hotel room, even an extended stay hotel, and you’ve decided to give it a try. The challenge is that corporate lodging units aren’t always found on typical travel sites like Expedia or Hotels.com. So how does a corporate traveler go about finding furnished rentals in Atlanta? Where do you look for them? Let’s explore some of the more common places to find these short-term housing solutions.

Find Temporary Housing Through a Local Atlanta Corporate Housing Agency

One of your best resources for finding corporate housing rentals in Atlanta is to work with a localized agency like TP Corporate Lodging. The advantage of working with someone locally is that the agency will have deeper knowledge of the area and will be better able to recommend an apartment convenient to where you will be working during the day. Also, because a local agency can negotiate directly with luxury apartment communities in the area, they may have access to much better housing options that don’t appear on the national platforms.

Furnished Apartment & Short-Term Rental Platforms

In recent years, online sites like AirBnb and HomeAway have really gained steam as platforms where people can find and rent furnished housing in almost every city in the world. You may also find some corporate housing options on sites like these. However, the primary caveat is that many of these available units are individually owned and managed by private “hosts,” and there’s only so much these sites can do with regard to quality control. To improve your chances of finding a reliable corporate housing agency on AirBnb, for example, be sure to look for the AirBnb “Plus” symbol on listings, or go specifically to AirBnb’s corporate housing section.

Check Corporate Housing Websites

If you want to limit your Internet search more toward corporate housing specifically, a growing number of website platforms now offer listings for corporate housing rentals across the United States. Websites like corporatehousing.com and furnishedhousing.com can be an excellent resource for renters looking for corporate housing providers, especially if your travels will take you to multiple locations. The primary disadvantage is that sites like these won’t always have localized information on things like the best neighborhoods, fastest commuter routes, etc. You might find comfortable accommodations, but your location may be inconvenient at best.

Book a Corporate Housing Rental in Atlanta

TP Corporate Lodging specializes in providing affordable short-term corporate apartments for business travelers in some of the finest furnished rental apartment complexes in Atlanta. To check out availability for your Atlanta home-away-from-home, call us today for a corporate rental quote at 800.428.9997.

As one of the region’s busiest hubs for commerce — not to mention a growing hotspot for film and television — Atlanta sees many people come to town for extended stays. However, if you’re planning a short-term stay in Atlanta lasting a month or longer, you may be in for a bit of a challenge. As with most cities, the housing options seem primarily geared for visitors staying a few days (hotels) or for a few months (apartment leases), with fairly few options for in-between stays of a few weeks or a couple of months. Even with so-called extended stay hotels, the cost of lodging really adds up as the weeks go by.

One option that is growing in popularity among extended stay travelers is to work with a corporate lodging company — an agency that arranges for furnished corporate apartments for guests who need to stay a month or longer. Corporate housing offers the comforts of home as opposed to simply a bed, shower and kitchenette, and it comes at a reduced cost to most hotels. If you’re planning a short-term stay in Atlanta, here are a few tips for choosing corporate lodging.

Find Out What’s Included in the Rent

The term “fully furnished” may mean different things to different agencies. For some, it might mean a fully decorated apartment with fully equipped kitchen, cleaning supplies, etc. For others, it might mean you have a place to sleep and a place to sit. In some cases, utilities are included in the rent; in others, you pay utility costs separately. Make sure you know in advance what the agency includes in the rent (including any deposits) so you don’t encounter unwanted surprises.

Ask About Amenities

Many corporate lodgings are located within established apartment communities. In many cases, you may utilize any of the on-site amenities of that community (e.g., swimming pool, fitness center, theater room). However, don’t assume you have access to all these features. If the corporate agent doesn’t specifically tell you what amenities are included in your rent — ask. 

Work with Someone Local

Many corporate housing agencies can arrange housing in a number of different major cities — but that often restricts them as far as local knowledge of the neighborhoods, commuter routes, etc. When you work with an agency local to Atlanta, you get the added benefit of localized expertise, so you’re more likely to get an apartment in a good area, with nearby shopping and dining, and convenient to your temporary workplace.

Whether you’re planning a short-term stay in Atlanta to help open a new office, shoot a film or even take an extended vacation with the family, TP Corporate Lodging offers local expertise and access to furnished apartments in some of Atlanta’s best neighborhoods. Give us a call at 800.428.9997 for current availability.