Everything you need to know when booking temporary furnished housing.

Never Ever Pay Anything Up Front - Pay When You’re Certain

This should be filed under common sense, but it bears repeating. Being pressured for wire transfers, or a cashier’s check, by a prospective landlord, should be a red flag. You’re coming from out of town, or out of state, yes - but you don’t need a surprise scam to start your adventure. Be certain of what you’re getting into, and when you are convinced it’s 100% above board, use your credit card for any security deposit, or application fee. That, at least, gives you the safety valve of filing a complaint with your credit card company, if things go awry.

Read the Reviews

Many previous short-stay tenants at the place you are considering will have left online reviews of their experience. Read them; they can be a solid indicator of what the unit is like, how the neighborhood and amenities worked out, and how they were treated by the landlord. Fake, glowing reviews are often very obvious - dig a little deeper, and see the ones that balance the positives with the negatives. Then, when negotiating or inquiring, you can ask specific questions, to confirm whether or not the prospective abode is going to be a good fit.

Watch for the Red Flags - Listen to Your Gut

You’re coming into an unfamiliar location, so be on guard. If an ad seems too good to be true, it likely is. A super-low price, coupled with pristine photos of the place, and a list of five-star reviews a mile long - those should all be red flags. If the prospective landlord seems too eager or pushy to get your deposit - press pause. Follow your instincts, and remember - “too good to be true”.