6 Criteria When Searching for a Short-Term Apartment

Have you recently been transferred to another city or town with your job? Maybe you will just be temporarily living in another town or city for school, an internship, or for some other reason.

A long-stay presents a unique challenge in that there is no need to buy a home or lease a place, but paying for a hotel room each and every night doesn’t seem wise either. This is where long-stay rental apartments, suites, or apart-hotels can come in extremely handy.

These types of short term rentals are typically set-up different than a traditional hotel room, plus there are other added benefits in going this route. If you’re considering an apartment rental, here are several criteria you’ll want to keep in mind.

1. Location Should be the Top Priority

When it comes to your priority list, the location of the property should be top of the list. There’s a good chance you may not have your own car in this temporary location, which means you’ll be relying on public transit, walking, and cabs. This means you want to be in a location that is central to everything you need and want. Perhaps that means you’re located close to your office or school, which will make the commute a breeze.

You will also want to think about the nearby amenities that make the location even more convenient. Things such as a grocery store, restaurants, shops, etc. can all help to make your stay that much more comfortable.

2. A Fully Equipped Kitchen is a Must

Any long stay property should also feature a fully equipped kitchen. Going out for each and every meal is not only going to get pretty expensive over time, but it’s also a hassle. The long-stay rental should feel like home in that you have the same sort of comforts and conveniences.

A fully equipped kitchen should include a full-sized oven, microwave, dishwasher, fridge/freezer combo, and plenty of cupboard and counter space.

3. Is the Property Pet-Friendly

Some people also require a long-stay property that is pet-friendly since they will be bringing an animal with them. Not all properties welcome cats and dogs, the most common pets, so this is something you will want to look into well in advance.

4. Does the Property Feature Security

As far as your peace of mind goes, you want to be sure the property offers on-site security. This means people need to be guests at the property in order to have access to it. You can also ask if your room includes the use of a safe for things such as your passport, travel documents, money, and such.

5. What Kind of Amenities are Located On-Site

Just like a typical hotel most apart-hotels offer their own list of amenities which may or may not matter to you. Things such as a pool, tennis courts, gym, on-site convenience store, outdoor entertaining space, outdoor grills, etc. are all common at these types of properties.

6. How Does Housekeeping Work?

When you stay in a hotel room service comes in daily to tidy up the place, make the bed and/or change the sheets, provide fresh towels, and re-stock the mini bar. In a long-stay unit this isn’t usually the case. Instead it may be up to you to do the majority of the cleaning and housekeeping may only come in once in a while. Again this is something you can ask about in advance.

Choosing the perfect long-stay unit involves a little research on our part but by spending the time to do so you’ll be sure to find the perfect unit that meets all your needs.