8 Tips for Short-Term Housing When Moving to a New City

Moving to a new city can be exciting. But it can also be chaotic.  

Before you sign a lease or buy a home in a new, potentially unfamiliar place, try staying in short-term furnished housing first.  

Doing so will give you breathing room to explore neighborhoods, test commutes, and make smarter long-term decisions.  

Short-term furnished rentals combine the comforts of home with flexibility you won’t get in a hotel, and Furnished Quarters has an extensive inventory of furnished short-term housing in major cities and suburbs to do just that throughout your move and all its planning. 

Below are eight practical tips to help you make the most of short-term housing while you get your bearings in a new city, plus how our experienced team can make each tip easier. 

1. Use your temporary stay to scout neighborhoods, not just listings

Live like a local for a few weeks: try weekday commutes, visit grocery stores at the times you’d actually shop, and spend evenings and weekends where you’d hang out. Short-term furnished apartments let you test several neighborhoods without committing to a long-term lease. 

Why it helps: People who relocate often change their minds about where they want to live once they experience day-to-day life in a place, so sampling neighborhoods before committing reduces costly mistakes later.  

How Furnished Quarters helps: We offer furnished apartments in multiple neighborhoods so you can compare lifestyles and commutes first-hand. 

2. Prioritize commute and transit accessibility

A 10- to 30-minute difference in commute can completely change your daily life. 

Test the actual commute during your temporary stay (rush-hour travel time, public transit reliability, parking availability) rather than relying only on mapping apps. 

How Furnished Quarters helps: Listings include neighborhood details and commute-oriented amenities (near transit stops, parking options, and more), so you can prioritize apartments that match your daily routine. 

3. Think beyond square footage: Consider usable living space 

Compared to a hotel room, a furnished apartment gives you separate living/kitchen/bedroom areas and more usable square footage, which matters if you work from home, live with family, or host friends.  

Corporate-style furnished rentals typically offer significantly more space and privacy than hotels at a higher nightly rate. 

How Furnished Quarters helps: Furnished Quarters’ apartments come fully equipped (workspace, kitchen, linens) so you can maintain routines and evaluate whether a specific location or neighborhood fits your lifestyle. 

4. Use the stay to build a local network and test community fit

Join neighborhood meetups, co-working spaces, or local Facebook and Nextdoor groups during your temporary stay. Meeting neighbors and checking out local social opportunities helps determine whether you’ll be happy long-term. 

How Furnished Quarters helps: Many of our properties are in walkable, community-centered neighborhoods and our team can suggest popular amenities such as coffee spots, gyms, cultural attractions and other highlights nearby. 

5. Keep an essentials checklist (and use furnished housing to minimize moving friction)

Short-term furnished housing removes a huge checklist burden — no need to buy small appliances, bedding, or cookware right away.  

Use the time to create a “long-term move” checklist of utilities, internet plans, DMV tasks, and local healthcare providers so you can move in smoothly when you sign a lease or close on a home. Recent moving guides recommend structured checklists to reduce stress and speed the transition.  

How Furnished Quarters helps: Our apartments are move-in ready with essentials provided and utilities included — so you can focus on settling in, running errands, and checking off the long-term to-dos. 

6. Budget smartly: Compare total cost, not just nightly rates

Short-term furnished apartments often come out cheaper per square foot and more cost-efficient for stays of 30-plus days versus hotels (fewer meals eaten out, kitchen access, and no hidden fees).  

Corporate housing market trends show growing adoption because it’s more economical and livable for relocations and extended business travel.  

How Furnished Quarters helps: Transparent pricing for 30+ day stays and overall cost efficiency helps you budget for future long-term rent payments, deposits, and eventual moving expenses. 

7. Use the temporary period to vet schools, healthcare, and services

If you’re relocating with family, use the temporary stay to tour schools, meet pediatricians, and scope out other essential services.  

Even short stays give you a much better sense of school district placement, extracurricular offerings, and local providers than online research alone. 

How Furnished Quarters helps: Tell us your priorities (school district, proximity to hospitals, family-friendly features) and we’ll suggest neighborhoods and apartments that fit those needs. 

8. Plan for flexibility — but set decision deadlines

A temporary stay gives you flexibility, but don’t let “analysis paralysis” drag on indefinitely.  

Set a clear timeline for when you’ll evaluate (like “30 days to decide on a neighborhood,” “60 to 90 days to choose a long-term lease or home purchase,” etc.).  

Migration data shows millions of people move each year and many of them use staged transitions (temporary housing then eventually lease or buy a home) to reduce stress and churn.  

How Furnished Quarters helps: We offer flexible lease terms so you can extend your short-term lease as needed — whether you need a 30 day stay, a 90-day transition, or something even longer.  

Making the most of your move to a new place with planning and real-life research 

Short-term furnished housing is more than a roof over your head — it’s a decision-making tool.  

By living in a space that mirrors your everyday life, you’ll choose a neighborhood and a long-term home with confidence and less regret.  

Our team makes that transition easier by offering thoughtfully furnished apartments across desirable neighborhoods, transparent pricing, and local insights that help you feel at home faster. 

Ready to test-drive your new city? Browse available short-term apartments and find a furnished home where you can live, explore, and decide with confidence.