10 Tips to Find Stress-Free Corporate Lodging

Your biggest challenge when looking for corporate housing? Keeping your employees happy. That means finding them a corporate apartment which includes all the comforts and amenities of home. To help, we’ve gathered ten tips for corporate relocation specialists trying to find stress-free corporate housing.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a long-term or short-term stay – when it comes to corporate housing, a smooth transition and comfort are key.

• Employees want the coziness of home without having to worry about maintenance, furnishing, utilities or any other inconveniences.
• Employers want smooth sailing on their end as well. You want an apartment that will appear as advertised. (An unpleasant experience for your employees ticks up the stress level for you.)

If you don’t know the key attributes for corporate housing, the process quickly becomes a headache. Bear in mind the following ten tips to land a place that’s comfortable for your employees and stress-free for you.

10 Tips for Finding Premier Corporate Housing

1. Look for a prime location – Especially in a city like Madison, housing varies drastically from neighborhood to neighborhood. With such a student-heavy population, the line between off-campus and professional housing can be blurry.

Most professionals have passed the days of 3 a.m. partying and general student debauchery, so look for a complex that’s removed from or knows how to control the student scene. If you can find an apartment close to the workplace, even better.

2. Ensure apartments are furnished – Corporate housing should always include attractive, up-to-date furniture in good condition upon move in.

A note of caution: Don’t assume all pre-furnished apartments are high quality. Many include furniture that looks like it was ripped out of the 80’s. Tour the apartment in person to guarantee you won’t be renting such eyesores.

Also, should you see an unfurnished apartment that you like, we can almost always rent out furniture to turn a regular apartment into a corporate apartment.

A property manager should also be responsive to specific furniture requests. Notify them of special requests well ahead before move-in so they have time to make the necessary accommodations.

3. Find flexible lease options – Any true property manager of corporate housing understands that lease length needs vary greatly between businesses. They should provide short-term and long-term options, ranging from a month to years.

Know that if you rent for shorter than a three-month lease, you’ll likely pay a premium fee. It might also be difficult for property managers to order special furniture for such a short stay.

Conversely, if you have multiple employees in need of long-term (multi-year) leases, you should be able to negotiate a good deal with a property manager.

4. Search for all-inclusive payment – Paying for each utility and rent separately is a pain. A quality property manager should bundle these expenses into one simple monthly payment.

5. Find a reliable owner – Search online to see what past residents have to say about their property managers. Websites like Yelp and apartmentratings.com are great resources for renter reviews.

Go beyond a digital search. Call property managers or, better yet, meet them in person. Face-to-face dialogue gives you a feel for how responsive they’ll be to your concerns.

6. Be sure the apartment will be move-in ready – It’s the chief concern among most corporate relocation specialists. You want know that your employees are going to move into a clean apartment that has electric, gas, cable and Internet up and running.

7. Ensure cable and Internet are up-to-date – It’s the 21st century, folks. High-speed Internet with a wireless router is expected, especially in corporate housing. Full cable or digital TV may be included, though these amenities are negotiable if you’re looking to shave a few bucks off rent.

8. Seek out premier amenities – For premium comfort and convenience, look for housing with lots of amenities like a pool, garage parking and a fitness center, and where concierge service, housekeeping and laundry services are an option.

9. Expect a variety of housing packages – Although every corporate housing package should include some essential items, like basic furniture and utilities, a property manager should also present you different packages.

These packages may vary in price depending on the amenities and services provided. Steve Brown Apartments offers four corporate housing options: Basic, Professional, Executive, and Signature.

10. Secure an “at-home” experience – Corporate housing shouldn’t feel like corporate housing. It should feel like a home.

Tour prospective apartments to gauge the level of comfort and customization. A property manager willing to go the extra mile to deliver a personalized experience will make all the difference.

When you discuss housing with a property manager, address each of these ten factors. Their response will tell you if they can deliver the stress-free corporate housing you and your employees deserve.

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