POV: You’re in the middle of moving, but your new home isn’t ready for you to move into yet. Been there. So if you’re wondering where you’re going to park your moving container—or where your movers will put your stuff—at the end of your trip, we’ve got the guide for you. Keep reading to find out more about the most popular mid-move temporary accommodation options:
A Guide to Mid-Moving Temporary Housing Options
5 min readHang tight in your empty home
Let’s be honest: in this economy, budgeting for temporary lodging in the middle of a move can feel overwhelming. And before we suggest anything else, we’d recommend that you consider hanging tight in your old home—even if it’s empty—for as long as you can. In many cases, you can negotiate with the new homeowner to slightly adjust the sale price and delay your move-out. That way you can remain in the home with your bare essentials without having to shell out extra cash for a temporary place while you wait for your new home to be available.
Average price: Varies depending on buyer/seller negotiation
Find a hotel or extended stay hotel
Depending on how long you need a place to stay, a hotel or extended stay hotel may be a good choice. That said, hotel stays will be pricey, no matter your choice. But you’ll also have the convenience of getting room service and maybe even complimentary breakfasts in the morning. Not to mention coffee and Wi-Fi will always be available, which will make your life easier as you potentially juggle multiple timelines around your move, family, and work.
Average price: $90 per night/$2,680 per month
Rent a home
Home rental is a fantastic choice for a temporary home because there are so many options on the market. The sky is truly the limit from renting full, single-family homes to apartments and tiny homes. The most popular places to find temporary home rentals are with sites like Airbnb or Vrbo, but you can also find adventurous rentals for things like tiny homes at websites like TinyHouseListings.com or GlampingHub.com. Renting a house from another homeowner makes it a bit easier to transition from one home to another. Because this way, you’ll be in a “home” each step of the way.
Average price: $160+ per night
Sublet an apartment
Subletting an apartment is essentially the same as signing a short-term lease, but the main difference is that you’ll be signing it with the original tenant of the apartment (along with the landlord). You can look for month-to-month or three to six-month agreements, which is great for longer-term temporary housing needs. So if you and your family are waiting on your new home’s building to finish, but you don’t want to feel like you’re living out of suitcases while you wait, short-term rentals may be for you.
You can find places to sublet by checking Sublet.com, vacation rental or timeshare rental pages, and even Facebook! Relying on your community for help finding a sublet may be necessary, too.
Average price: 70-80% of rent costs in your area
Single folks and students have a few more housing options
Having a family is a wonderful thing but doesn’t always allow for the cheapest housing options in a pinch. Individuals and students, on the other hand, have alternatives like renting a single room on websites like Roomies.com, Spareroom.com, and Rent.com—booking a single hotel room, or even finding a temporary place through subsidized student housing.
Crash with friends or family
This one’s an oldie but goodie. And if you really cannot afford to spend another dollar on your move, staying with friends or family can be just what you need when you’re mid-move. Moving is so expensive, so we definitely suggest this option for families of any size. It’s okay to ask loved ones for help when you need it!
Average price: free (but it doesn’t hurt to help with household chores!)
Ask about corporate housing
If you’re moving for a new job (and your employer is providing relocation assistance for your move), they may even have some housing options available. Corporate housing is usually only offered on a short-term basis, so you’ll definitely want to be sure how much time you’ll have in your temporary accommodations. The good news? While corporate housing is usually apartment-style, they’re fully furnished apartments—including furniture, housewares, and even cable and internet in some cases. And it’s usually free to employees or reimbursable.
Couchsurf
Couchsurfing is like if crashing with friends and renting a room got together and had a baby. If you’re a big solo traveler, you may already be familiar with it. Couchsurfing is known worldwide for providing a bridge between travelers and open-hearted homeowners. It allows its members to be connected and provide temporary, need-based housing for travelers. This is best for extra-short stays (think: 2–3 nights), and it’ll only cost you $2.39 per month (or $14.29 per year) to sign up.
Average price: free, aside from the inexpensive monthly ($2.39) or annual ($14.29) fees
Conclusion
Finding temporary housing in the middle of a move can be stressful to coordinate, whether you’re moving yourself or hiring movers. From renting a room to subletting an apartment to crashing with family, the possibilities are endless. But if you plan ahead and pick the right option for your family’s budget and timelines, you’ll be able to move seamlessly from one home to another.
Frequently asked questions:
What should I do with my belongings?
If you’re staying in temporary housing that is smaller than you’re used to, you can do a few things with your belongings before moving into your permanent home:
- Put your things in a self-storage facility.
- Use a portable storage container for storage.
- Ask your professional moving company for storage.
- Ask your landlord if there’s additional storage available.
When is the best time to move?
The best (and cheapest time) to move is usually during the middle of the week in the non-peak season, which takes place in the fall and winter. This is usually the best time to find temporary lodging as well.
How do I know if I need temporary housing?
Reasons you might need temporary housing include:
- You’ve recently gotten a job in a new state but haven’t found a house yet.
- You sold your previous home faster than you hoped and haven’t yet found a new one.
- You’re building a new home (or renovating), but it’s not ready yet.
- You’re planning to live somewhere for a short period of time (think: short-term work assignments).
- You’re a student (or teacher) requiring off-campus housing.
- You’re receiving medical treatment and must live near medical facilities.
- You’ve been displaced by a natural disaster.
- You’re visiting family for an extended period.
What is the cheapest mid-move temporary housing option?
Aside from staying with friends or couchsurfing, the cheapest mid-move temporary housing option is probably going to be renting a room on sites like Roomies.com, Rent.com, or even Craigslist.
What should I make sure to keep handy for short-term housing?
While it depends on whether you’re staying in a place that is fully furnished (or not), here are a few things you may want to bring with you to make your temporary stay more like home:
- Bed linens and bath towels
- Utensils and cookware
- Toilet paper and cleaning products
- Easy-to-assemble furniture (think: IKEA and Costco)
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