Practical Tips for Moving to Temporary Housing

Whether you’re moving temporarily to another city or state (for work, for study, for family reasons, etc.) or need interim lodgings until you find a permanent home in your new area (or until your new home is ready to be lived in), moving into temporary accommodation may be your best solution. You will have a home between homes that will provide you with a safe and comfortable living space for as long as you need it and will help you bridge the gap between your old life and your new one.

To be able to make the most of your temporary living situation, however, you need to take all relevant factors into account (the duration of your temporary stay, the size of your family, the necessary amenities, the cost of different temporary accommodations, etc.), research your temporary housing options (short term rentals, extended stay hotels, corporate housing, etc.), and plan things out in advance (decide what to take with you, organize your move, take care of the paperwork, etc.).

Here are some expert tips for moving to temporary housing to help you in your endeavor: 

Why you may need temporary housing when moving

Moving out of state temporarily has little in common with moving to another state permanently to begin a new life there. However, in both cases you may need temporary accommodation.

Moving to temporary housing until you can move into your new home

For one reason or another (end of your lease agreement, sale of your property, etc.), you may be forced to move out of your old house or apartment before you have found a new home to settle into – or before you can move into your new place. That’s when temporary housing comes in:

1) Moving before you have found a new home

Finding the right new home for you and your family is not easy – especially when you’re moving to an area that you don’t know.

You need to carefully research your new city – the atmosphere in the different neighborhoods, the available amenities and opportunities, the transportation options, the school districts, the housing prices, etc.

It will take you some time to get to know your new area and decide where exactly you want to live – then, it will take you some more time to find a house or apartment that you like and can afford.

Moving to temporary housing will give you the time you need to explore your new area, research the real estate market, and find the perfect new home for you.

Related: How to choose a good neighborhood to move to

2) Moving before your new home is ready

Even if you have already found a place that you like, you may not be able to arrange everything in such a way that you can move into your new home on the same day when you need to move out of your old property – you may not have yet closed on the new house, the place may be in dire need of repairs, you may want to renovate the home before you start living in it, etc.

Related: 10 Valuable tips for renovating your new home before moving in

Whatever the case, if you cannot move into your new home right away, you will need temporary accommodation.

Moving temporarily out of state

If you need to move to another city or state for a while, but will eventually return home, things will be completely different – yet, you will still need temporary housing for a certain period of time.

1) Temporary relocation for work – When moving temporarily in connection to your work, you will certainly not take all your household items along and, in most cases, you will not move your family either:

• In the event of a short-term assignment, your employer will likely pay for your move and provide you with living accommodations (or pay for them), so you will have little to worry about. Even if it’s up to you to organize your job-related move, a prolonged stay in a hotel is often the most convenient option and it rules out most relocation problems;
• If your assignment is going to last for more than a year, you may want your family to come with you. In such a case, you may consider renting your current home and moving into temporary rental accommodations in your new city.  

See also: The ultimate guide to relocating for a job

2) Moving for study – When moving for college or for internship, you will be moving alone and will only need your personal items and study-related materials:

• If you’re going to live on campus, you won’t need to look for temporary lodgings – the college will provide you with a dorm room;
• If you prefer to live off-campus, you will need to find a place to rent (and, most probably, a roommate), but the process should not be very complicated – you won’t have any larger items to move and won’t need to worry about the things you won’t be taking with you as they will stay safe in your family home.

3) Moving during home repairs or renovations – If you’re making major repairs or renovations, it may not be possible to stay in the home while the project is under way. You will have to find temporary housing for your family and storage for your items while the work is completed and your home is ready.

4) Moving to provide help or to deal with something – You may need to stay in a different city for some time to take care of a loved one or to take care of some legal issues. In such cases, you will need temporary accommodation, but will only take some essentials with you and won’t move your household – you will leave your home as it is, waiting for your return.

These radically different reasons to move into temporary housing will define the kind of short-term accommodations you need and the specifics of your move.

How to find temporary housing

Depending on why you need temporary accommodation, you will need a different housing solution.

Temporary housing options

Different temporary housing arrangements come with different benefits and drawbacks – which options will be right for you will depend on the specific circumstances in your case:

1) Hotels or vacation houses

This is your best option when you need temporary accommodations only for a short period of time (less than a month) – you will avoid all the troublesome procedures related to temporarily renting a place and moving all your belongings several times to several different locations.

Hotels and vacation houses offer full service amenities, so you won’t need anything else than your clothes and essentials – it will feel as if you have gone on vacation for a couple of weeks. You will have nothing to arrange and nothing to worry about – your rooms will be fully furnished, there will be restaurants and daily housekeeping, and you will have plenty of entertainment options (bar, swimming pool, spa center, fitness center, etc.).

The only drawback is the relatively high price you will have to pay for all the convenience and luxury – hotel stays can be quite a drain on your budget. Vacation houses, however, may be quite affordable during off-season months.

2) Extended stay hotels

Extended hotel stay is a very convenient option when you need temporary lodgings for a month or so. The rates are more affordable and the overall experience is more home-like.

Extended stay hotels offer suitably furnished rooms or suites with small kitchens, on-site laundry facilities, and all kinds of services. Amenities vary from hotel to hotel, but most locations offer great convenience and plenty of recreational and entertainment options (including exercise facilities and swimming pools).

Everything necessary for a comfortable life will be available, so you won’t need to take any household items with you – just your personal essentials.

There will be very little documentation to be taken care of and no additional arrangements to be made.

3) Corporate housing

Most companies provide convenient corporate housing options to employees in need of temporary living accommodations. Corporate housing is, in fact, available to anyone looking for short-term lodging.

Corporate housing homes offer a lot of great advantages – they are usually located in nice suburban areas, come completely furnished, and provide a variety of useful amenities which are included in the rent.

Therefore, moving into temporary corporate housing means that you will have very little to pack and relocate – only your personal items.

4) Short-term rentals

If you need temporary housing fora longer period (six months, a year) and especially if you have your family with you, it will be best to search for an appropriate rental home.

Temporary rental homes provide a lot of living space at an affordable price and a chance to feel at home and keep a normal daily routine, so they’re perfect for families with children.

If you choose this option, though, you’ll be bound by a lease agreement and will need to set up all the desired utilities and services yourself. You’ll also have to bring a lot of things with you, so your relocation will be more complicated.

Bonus tips:

• Look for month-to-month rentals so you can move out as soon as you no longer need temporary housing.
• Look for furnished short-term rentals, so you don’t need to bring along your furniture, appliances, and other bulky household items.

How to choose the best temporary housing option for you

When looking for temporary accommodation, you need to consider several important factors – the duration of your stay, the living space you need, the location of the short-time lodging, the amenities you would like to have, and any other specific needs, requirements, and preferences you may have:

• For how long are you going to need temporary accommodation? – The best choice for a one-week stay will be very different than the best choice for a six-month stay (as detailed above). And if you don’t know how long you’ll be staying, you’ll need a flexible option, so you can add time or leave immediately without any problems;
• How much space do you need? (Is your family coming with you? How large is your family? How many bedrooms will you need? Do you have pets?) It may not make much sense to rent an entire apartment if you’re alone, but a hotel room won’t do if your four kids are coming along. And if you’re moving with pets, you will need to look for pet-friendly short-term rentals;
• What amenities do you require? – Think about what you definitely need and what you’d like to have – and what the available amenities will mean for your move (the more furnishings, facilities, and services there are available, the fewer items you will need to take along, so the simpler your move will be);
• Where do you want your temporary home to be located? – Downtown or in the suburbs? Close to your workplace, to your children’s school, or to any specific institutions or facilities?
• What price can you afford? – The best temporary housing options are usually quite expensive, so, depending on your budget, you may need to make compromises.

Good to know: How much does temporary housing cost?

When it comes to temporary housing, the rule of thumb is that the longer you stay, the cheaper the rates will be:

• Extended stay hotel rates vary based on the length of your stay (you can get discounted rates if you stay for a month or longer) and the hotel chain (the average studio rate ranges from $40.00 per night at budget hotels to $150.00 per night in upscale chains). Needless to say, one-bedroom suites are cheaper than multiple-room suites. Extended stay hotels offer a relatively economical solution, especially in large cities where the available short-term housing options are limited and rental prices are high;

• Short terms apartment rentals are cheaper than hotel suites, but some utilities and services may not be included in the rent. You’ll likely be able to get a better deal if you sign a lease for a longer period (three months, six months, etc.). It may be a good trick to find a new property whose owner still has mortgages to pay off and needs urgent cash – in such a case, you will have a better chance to negotiate a more affordable short-term lease.

When looking for cheap temporary housing, keep in mind that there may be additional fees (for pets, for parking, for specific services, etc.) and be sure to find out how much extra costs add up to before making your final choice.

How to find short term housing

There are plenty of options, so finding temporary housing when moving – convenient and affordable temporary housing – should not be very difficult.

Start with an internet search – use phrases such as “temporary rentals”, “cheap short term rentals”, and “temporary stay apartments” and the name of your new city or the name of the particular neighborhood where you want to live.

• Browse sites like Airbnb and HomeAway that connect property owners who are interested in renting out their homes for a short period of time with people who are looking for temporary accommodation;
• Visit the website of Extended Stay America – the largest extended stay hotel franchise on the continent;
• Work with a broker – Brokers know what temporary housing options exist in the area you’re interested in and can identify your best choices based on location, rate, and amenities. Brokers are usually paid by the property managers, so their services won’t cost you anything.

One final piece of advice: Be flexible. You will only be staying in your temporary home for a little while, so you can make some compromises in order to find more affordable short-term accommodations – expand your search area, forgo certain luxuries, settle for fewer amenities, etc. You won’t need to put up with the inconveniences for long – and it will be worth it.

How to pack for a temporary move

Once you have found appropriate temporary accommodation, you need to decide what to take with you and what to do with the rest of your possessions.

What to consider when packing for temporary housing

It goes without saying that when moving to temporary housing you won’t take all your belongings with you. In fact, it will be best to take as little stuff as possible – the things you’re going to need during your temporary stay and the things you don’t want to part with.

To be able to make the right choice about what exactly to take along, you need to take the following factors into account:

1) How long you are going to stay into temporary housing

As a rule of thumb, the longer you’ll spend in the temporary housing, the more items you’ll need to take with you:

• If you’ll be staying in your temporary home for just a few weeks, you will only need your personal essentials (clothes, toiletries, documents, etc.), some electronic devices (phone, computer, etc.), and work-related (or study-related) materials;  
• If you’ll be living in temporary housing for a long time (a year or more), you may want to bring most of your belongings with you.

2) What is available in your temporary home

Hotel rooms, extended stay hotel suites, and corporate housing homes come fully furnished, so you won’t need to move any furniture or other larger household items. Some temporary stay apartments, however, may not have everything that you need (or want).

So, when packing for temporary housing, your first task is to make a detailed list of the household items you’re going to need during your short-term stay and to find out if they are available in your temporary accommodation or not. This refers to beds and mattresses, dressers and couches, tables and chairs, kitchen appliances and electronic devices, silverware and bedding, curtains and area rugs, and everything else you may need. It will come as an unpleasant surprise if you assume that a coffee-maker, for example, will be available and then it turns out not to be, so you have to somehow retrieve your own coffee-maker from the storage unit (or from your permanent home) or buy a new one.

Even if everything you need for your daily life is available in your temporary home, you may prefer to use some of your own items (such as kitchen utensils or bed linen, for example) instead of those provided with the temporary accommodation, but you need to know whether such items are available or not, so you can make your plans accordingly.

Therefore, when moving to temporary housing, be sure to obtain a complete inventory list of everything available in the accommodation, so you don’t end up lacking something essential or going through the effort of (and paying the price for) packing and moving a bulky piece only to find out that your temporary home already has it.

3) What the weather will be like

When packing for a temporary move, you need to take into account the climatic conditions in your destination area during the period of your temporary stay, so you know what kind of clothes and shoes to take with you. (If you’re going to move to Florida for two months in mid-summer, for example, you won’t need to bring along your winter clothes and boots.)

Choose weather-appropriate clothes, shoes, and accessories that can be matched with one another in several different ways to allow for a change of looks. Avoid taking garments you are not likely to have the occasion to put on (such as formal clothes, sports outfits, etc.) or specialty items you won’t be able to use.

What to pack for temporary housing

Once you have considered all the above factors, you will know what to pack for your move – everything that is not available in your temporary accommodation but you’re going to need, your personal essentials and valuables, and some favorite items (your kid’s favorite blanket, for example) that will bring comfort and coziness to your temporary home.

Sort out your things

When packing for temporary housing, have in mind that the more stuff you relocate, the more expensive and difficult the moving process will be (not to mention that you risk damaging your cherished possessions when moving them several times from one location to another). So, you’re strongly recommended to sort out your belongings and pack for moving only what you really need or want to keep with you – everything else can either stay at your permanent home until you return or go to storage.

Have in mind though that the more things you put into storage, the more you will have to pay for the service. So, it is a good idea to get rid of any old items you don’t need or don’t like anymore before your move – donate them to charity, give them away to friends, or sell them to pocket some extra money for your move.

Don’t forget essentials and valuables

Whatever temporary accommodations you have chosen, there are some absolute essentials you need to bring along:

• Documents – not only your driver’s license and social security card, but also birth certificates, passports, insurance policies, credit cards and financial documents, medical records, etc.;
• Medications – your prescription medicines and a first-aid kit, including allergy meds and medication for pain and stress relief;
• Clothes, shoes, and clothing accessories (weather-appropriate, as discussed above);

• Toiletries – you can buy new hair products, cosmetic products, and other personal-care items but you may prefer to bring along some of your things – a hair brush, a nail clipper, etc.;
• Important electronics – your laptop and phone, of course, but also their charges, your camera and your music player, and any other expensive pieces of electronics you need and enjoy;
• Toys and games for your children (as well as their special care items and study materials) – your little ones will need their comfort, entertainment, and education. And if you have infants, you can’t do without their specific baby items, of course;
• Your pets’ items – your pets will also need much care during the stressful relocation period, so you need to bring along their food dishes, bedding, medications, and toys;
• Small tools – a pocket knife, a bottle opener and a can opener, a flashlight, batteries, screwdrivers, nails, a hammer and whatever else you think you will need;
• Jewelry and other valuable items – needless to say, anything that is very expensive or that is invested with high sentimental value should come with you.

Must-read: Packing tips for moving

What to do with the items you’re not bringing along

If you’re going to return to your current home after your temporary move, you can simply leave everything as it is – just make sure your property is well secured and your belongings will be safe there. In case you’ve decided to rent out your home for the period while you’re away, set clear rules about the maintenance of your property and the usage of your items. Needless to say, you should not leave any items of high monetary or sentimental value in your home.

If you’re selling your old home or moving out of a rental property, you will need temporary storage for the items you’re not taking with you. You have several options:

1. Store your stuff with your moving company

If you need temporary storage for a short period only (a few weeks or a couple of months), your chosen moving company may be able to take care of your items – many professional movers provide storage services at affordable prices and favorable conditions.

The movers will pick up your belongings, keep them in a secure storage facility, and deliver them to your new home upon your request. The additional charge will be worth it because storing your belongings with your moving company will save you a lot of time and effort and will ensure your peace of mind – the pros will handle all the logistics of moving and storing your belongings and your items will be safe and well protected in their secure storage facility.

Besides, the cost will likely be lower than the cost of renting a storage unit and paying for the transportation of your belongings to and from the storage facility.

2. Use portable storage containers

If you need temporary storage for a month or so (up to six months), portable storage containers may be your best bet. They are very strong and completely insulated, so they provide excellent protection to the items inside them – and they can be kept either in front of a property or at a specialized storage facility for as long as needed.  

If you decide to use a portable storage container, a pod will be dropped off in front of your home and left there for you to load with your belongings. When you’re ready, the pod movers will pick up the container and transport it to your new home or to a secure storage facility. It will cost you about $100-$200 per month per container, depending on the size of the pod.

Related: Portable storage containers

3. Store you items in a self-storage unit

If you need temporary storage for a longer period of time (several months, a year, or more), it may be best to store your belongings in a self-storage unit. Just make sure you find a safe, well-kept, conveniently located storage facility and choose an appropriate size storage unit that can be rented on a month-to-month basis. (Consider renting a climate-controlled unit, especially if you have antiques, fine furniture, or other delicate possessions.)

Self-storage is quite affordable (storage units typically cost between $50 and $250 per month, depending on the size of the unit, the location of the facility, the available extra features and amenities, and the rental period), but you will need to organize (and pay for) the transportation of your items.

Related: How to choose a storage facility; How to prepare items for storage

Take care of the paperwork

Unsurprisingly, there will be some paperwork to deal with when moving to temporary housing – depending on the duration of your temporary stay and the regulations in your state, you may need to apply for a temporary change of address, to update your car’s registration and your driver’s license, etc.

• Set up temporary mail. If you’ll be staying at your temporary home for longer than 14 days, the USPS can forward your mail to the new address (for up to a year). If there is no way for you to receive mail at your short-term housing, you can get a PO Box;
• Cancel or transfer services and subscriptions. Have the utilities at your old home turned off and cancel home-delivery services. If you have magazine or newspaper subscriptions, contact the publications and change your address to your temporary location. If you’re moving to another city, cancel your membership to various organizations, clubs, hobby groups, gyms, etc.;
• Pay up financial dues. Be sure to pay up all bills, debts, and/or other financial obligations you may have before moving out. It’s important to  know that you don’t owe anything to anyone before you go away;
• Collect important documents – personal documents, financial documents, medical records, schools records, etc.;
• Update your driver’s license and car registration (if necessary);
• Update insurance policies (as needed).

Now, there remains only one last item on your temporary move checklist – organize a successful relocation.

Hire experienced and trustworthy movers to help you move to your temporary home (if you’re happy with their services, you can use the same moving company again when the time comes to move back home or to move to your permanent new home) and ensure a safe and smooth moving day.

 If you have followed the above tips for moving into temporary housing, everything will go like clockwork – and you will be able to enjoy your time in your temporary home. Good luck!