Table of contents

• Preparing for a seamless relocation
• Understanding relocation accommodation
• Overcoming the challenges of relocation accommodation
• 5 key factors to consider when selecting extended stay accommodation
• Creating your comforts of home at Aligned Corporate Residences

Moving to an unfamiliar destination can be an exhilarating yet daunting experience.

Whether you’re relocating for career opportunities, military service, international adventures, during home repairs and renovations, or simply seeking a change of scenery, securing the right accommodation for an extended stay is pivotal to a smooth transition.

With a myriad of accommodation options available to you, demystifying the complexities and choices is important to creating a positive transition for you.

In this article, we’ll delve into the realm of relocation accommodation, explore the hurdles that travellers often face, unveil our top recommendations for streamlining your extended stay accommodation selection, and demonstrate how Aligned Corporate Residences excels at providing a warm, welcoming, and expertly curated accommodation experience, tailored to create the comforts of home for you.

Preparing for a seamless relocation

The feelings you experience when relocating can be a whirlwind of excitement, anticipation, and curiosity. It’s important to embrace these emotions and lean on your support network when needed. Regardless of your reason for relocating, meticulous planning, adaptability, and an openness to change will ease your transition into your new surroundings.

When it comes to relocations, there’s a lot to consider, from researching your new locale and finding the perfect accommodation that caters to your unique needs, to organising the logistics of moving, settling into your workplace, and immersing yourself in the local community. The to-do list can seem never-ending, especially if you’re moving with your loved ones or cherished pets.

Relocations can be made simple by leveraging the expertise of relocation professionals, and selecting service providers who champion your journey. AltoVita, K2 Mobility, Elite Woodhams Relocation, and Sirva Relocations are a few relocations professionals that can assist you. If you’re relocating for work, your organisation may have established connections with reputable relocation companies or be able to offer valuable recommendations to facilitate your transition.

You might be wondering what that support looks like. Well, it differs depending on your organisation and what support processes are in place.

Some companies will organise temporary accommodation for your first few weeks in your new destination while you find your forever home. Some may appoint a local consultant, like Dovetailer, who will act as a guide, driving you around to look at schools and residential properties helping you find the right fit for you. Depending on the level of support provided, some relocation companies will even help pack up your home for you! We recommend you consult your organisation’s Human Resources department to find out more about the relocation support available to you.

For additional support in preparing for your move, take a look at Kent Relocations’ ultimate moving house checklist and tips for relocating employees.

Understanding relocation accommodation

Relocation accommodation encompasses temporary housing solutions tailor-made for individuals, colleagues, and families embarking on an extended stay in a new destination.

This category of accommodation is known by various names, such as temporary housing, corporate housing, extended stay lodging, relocation housing, or transitional accommodation, among others. Whatever you call it, relocation accommodation occupies a unique niche, straddling the realms of short-term corporate lodging and conventional long-term lease agreements.

Unlike conventional short-term accommodations, relocation housing (or relocation accommodation) offers the cozy comforts of home, making it an ideal choice for those in search of familiarity, flexibility, and convenience during their transition to a new location.

While often labelled as “temporary,” relocation accommodation can serve as a home away from home for the duration of your relocation, whether it’s a short assignment, a longer-term arrangement, or an indefinite stay.

Relocation accommodation should provide you with:

• Tasteful furnishings, allowing you to relax and unwind after a long day at work.
• Modern kitchen appliances, so you can maintain healthy eating habits, from a daily juice to cooking the family roast.
• Convenient in-home laundry facilities, including enough laundry powder to get you settled in.
• Essential utility connections, so you don’t need to worry about connecting them yourself.
• Private balconies or terraces to invite the outdoors in.
• Secure car parking that is onsite and easy to access.
• Vigilant security measures.
• Access to recreational and lifestyle amenities.
• Payment options and plans.

From hotel rooms and serviced apartments to Airbnb’s and traditional residential leases, there are many accommodation options available to you. To help you understand the nuances, we’ve written an article comparing relocation accommodation options.

Overcoming the challenges of relocation accommodation

Relocating to a new area brings its share of challenges. On one hand, you anticipate the excitement of a fresh chapter, but practicalities can present unexpected hurdles.

Adjusting to a new environment, navigating unfamiliar streets, and grappling with the emotional strain of leaving behind familiar surroundings and loved ones can be difficult. Add the stress of finding suitable accommodation, establishing a sense of belonging, and forming new social connections in uncharted territory, and the task may seem insurmountable.

Anticipating these challenges is pivotal to ensuring a smooth and successful relocation.

Here’s our list of the 5 essential elements to consider when seeking extended stay accommodation.

5 key factors to consider when selecting extended stay accommodation

When you’re on the hunt for the perfect extended-stay accommodation, pay close attention to the following:

1. Comfort and Convenience: Your chosen accommodation should epitomise the comforts of home, offering well-furnished spaces, inviting bedrooms, and a fully equipped kitchen with appliances such as a full-sized fridge and dishwasher. Seek providers that include utility connections including high-speed Wi-Fi, and regular housekeeping service. Be sure to consider the layout of your apartment, and the number of bedrooms you need. If you need a dedicated place to work from home, be certain your provider will accommodate that.
2. Location: Opt for accommodation close to your workplace, essential amenities, educational institutions, and recreational venues. Consider important amenities that align with your lifestyle. Look for an accommodation provider that offers a concierge service to help connect you to these amenities. This strategic positioning will save you valuable time and enhance your overall experience.
3. Flexibility: Life during relocation can be unpredictable. Project timelines can change, contracts can be extended, or finding your permanent home didn’t take as long as you anticipated. Favor providers offering flexible terms to adapt to unforeseen changes in your plans.
4. Personalised Experience: You have unique preferences. Consider how your accommodation provider can tailor their offering to your specific needs, creating the comforts of home for you. Select a provider who listens attentively to your requirements and tailors their offerings to create a bespoke experience that resonates with you. If you’re relocating with a beloved pet, explore pet-friendly accommodation options and understand any associated fees.
5. Making connections: Relocating to a new area can sometimes lead to feelings of isolation. Consider accommodation providers who make you feel like you belong and value your wellbeing. Opt for a provider that fosters a sense of community, providing opportunities to interact with fellow residents and engage with the local community.

Creating your comforts of home at Aligned Corporate Residences

We are committed to alleviating the stress associated with relocation accommodation, and providing a supportive community to help you thrive in your new environment.

Collectively, our team take immense pride in offering serviced residences as the quintessential choice for relocation accommodation. Here’s why our apartment-style accommodation aligns with you:

• Feel Right at Home: Our fully furnished residences are thoughtfully designed to provide you with all the comforts of home. From spacious living areas to well-equipped kitchens, you’ll have everything you need at your fingertips. We provide more than the basic kettle and toaster, we think the comforts of home are important, like an oven and cooktop, full-sized refrigerator, microwave, and dishwasher. You don’t need to venture away from home to do your laundry, stay in the comfort of your residence and use your private washer and dryer, while our Studio residents can take advantage of the communal on-site laundry facilities.
• Flexible Stay: Whether you require accommodation for a few weeks or several months, even for the entire duration of your work assignment, our flexible rates cater to your unique requirements. We understand that plans can change too, so our team works closely with you during your residency to anticipate any potential changes to your scheduled departure date, avoiding any last-minute anxiety.
• Tailored Accommodation: We champion personalisation. Our team collaborates closely with you to understand your preferences and crafts an accommodation experience tailored precisely to your needs. Our concierge will reach out prior to your arrival to understand what’s important to you. From choosing the right apartment layout to the firmness of your pillow, we work with you closely to understand what’s important to you.
  If you’re a culinary enthusiast, we’ll equip your kitchen with everything from food processors to blenders, and for coffee lovers, coffee machines and bean grinders. Our attention to detail goes beyond the kitchen. Whether it’s indoor plants, bed linens, throw cushions, full gym access or yoga mats, we customise every aspect of your accommodation to align with what matters most to you. Your comfort and satisfaction are our top priorities.
• Pet Friendly: Recognising that pets are cherished members of the family, we offer pet-friendly accommodation. Simply inform us about your furry companion, and we’ll ensure your accommodation suits both human and pet residents. We know they have their own unique set of needs!
• Connections and Community: Consider us your extended family. Our dedicated team is committed to fostering real connections with our residents. We know you by name, exchange greetings as we cross paths, and are always up for a friendly chat over a cup of coffee. It’s our treat! If there’s one thing that we’re passionate about, it’s leaving positive lasting impressions, and we’ll do everything we can to achieve that. Residing in our serviced residences provides you the opportunity to become part of a vibrant community.
• Wellbeing and Belonging: We host events and activities that foster interactions among residents, making it effortless for you to establish new connections. Every month, we invite you to join us for breakfasts or dinners, where you can gather with your fellow residents and our team. Many of our residents have discovered fellow sports enthusiasts, catching a game together, or another movie buff who’s up for a film night every now and again.
  It’s also a fantastic chance for us to support local businesses, whether we’re using their catering services, dining at their establishments, or purchasing their products. Additionally, we collaborate with community organizations, sports clubs, and leisure facilities to enhance your stay by providing complimentary access to their amenities and programs, such as swimming pools and gyms.
• Convenience: Our prime locations place you close to major project sites, business hubs, entertainment districts, and essential services like schools, supermarkets, and shopping precincts, ensuring that everything you need is never too far away.

Transitioning to a new location becomes significantly smoother when you envelop yourself in familiar comforts. Our residences are carefully curated to instil a sense of belonging, expediting your settling process so you can embrace your new journey. Envision relaxing on a plush sofa, whipping up your favourite meals in a well-equipped kitchen, and enjoying restful nights in a cozy bedroom – all within an environment that exudes a sense of home.

Conclusion

At Aligned Corporate Residences, we acknowledge the challenges that accompany relocation. Our unwavering commitment is to provide you with a relocation accommodation experience that not only aligns with your needs but surpasses your expectations. Our residences epitomise the perfect amalgamation of comfort, convenience, and community, ensuring your transition is as seamless as possible. As you embark on this exciting new chapter, allow us to be your trusted partner in creating a warm and inviting space that you’ll be proud to call home.

Discover Aligned Corporate Residences to determine which of our locations best suits your requirements.

Reach out to our dedicated team to explore how we can support you in securing the ideal relocation accommodation.

Table of contents

• How to prepare when relocating to a new area
• What is relocation accommodation?
• Challenges you may face when relocating
• 5 things that matter most when looking for extended stay accommodation
• The benefits of staying in a Corporate Living Accommodation serviced residence

Embarking on a journey to a new location can be both exciting and challenging. Whether you’re relocating for work, in the military, returning from overseas, or have been displaced from your permanent home, finding the right accommodation for an extended stay is crucial to a smooth transition.

With many options available, the process of sourcing accommodation for your relocation can be overwhelming.

In this article, we’ll explore what relocation accommodation is and the challenges that it can present to travellers. Plus, we’ll share our top tips for streamlining your relocation accommodation experience, and how Corporate Living Accommodation aligns with your preferences to create comfortable, convenient, and connected accommodation. We’ve also included a link to 106 tips from a relocation specialist.

How to prepare when relocating to a new area

You might be feeling excited, anxious, curious, frustrated, nostalgic, free… or a combination of them all! This range of emotions is perfectly normal, and it’s important to allow yourself to feel how you feel and tap into your support network when you need to. Whatever the reason for your move, careful planning, adaptability, and a readiness to embrace change will help you settle into your new location.

When it comes to relocation, there are a lot of things to consider, like researching your new location, finding the right accommodation for you and your specific needs, preparing and securing your permanent home, packing, moving, unpacking, familiarising yourself with your new neighbourhood, settling into work… the list goes on, and if you’re travelling with your loved ones, including your beloved pets, that list is even longer!

While it can seem an Everest-sized mission, relocating is made easier by utilising the expertise of relocation professionals, and choosing the right service providers who will support you through the experience. If you’re relocating for work, your organisation may have existing connections with relocation companies or may provide recommendations of people to assist with your transition.

If you need some assistance in preparing to relocate, Personnel Relocations has compiled a handy list of 106 tips from a relocations specialist.

What is relocation accommodation?

Relocation accommodation refers to temporary housing solutions designed for individuals, colleagues, and families who are relocating to a new area for an extended period. This could be due to various reasons such as corporate relocations, expat assignments, long-term projects, or personal circumstances.

At Corporate Living Accommodation, we’ve had residents stay with us while their homes are being repaired by their insurer, under NDIS as respite or to connect them with their healthcare providers when they live far away, corporate assignments, and while working on major projects including North East Link in Melbourne, part of Victoria’s Big Build and the Walmer Street Bridge, connecting Kew and Abbotsford.

Referred to in a multitude of ways, you might know relocation accommodation as temporary housing, corporate housing, extended stay accommodation, relocation housing, or transition accommodation, to name just a few. Regardless of how you refer to it, relocation accommodation uniquely sits between corporate travel accommodation like hotels and serviced apartments, and traditional long-term leasing agreements.

Unlike traditional short-term stays, relocation accommodation offers the comfort and convenience of home, making it a perfect choice for those seeking familiarity, flexibility, and ease during the transition to a new location. With furnishings, kitchen appliances, laundry facilities, utilities, balconies or terraces, parking, security, and access to leisure facilities, relocation accommodation has a lot to offer.

While it might be referred to as “temporary,” relocation accommodation isn’t necessarily limited to shorter stays, and is often available as a permanent place of residency while you’re on a relocation assignment or posting, regardless of the duration of your relocation.

Challenges you may face when relocating

The experience of relocating to a new area comes with its own set of challenges. On the one hand, you may be anticipating the start of a new chapter, however, the practical aspects of relocation can throw the proverbial spanner.

Adapting to a new environment, navigating unfamiliar streets, and dealing with the emotional impact of leaving behind your familiar surroundings, and loved ones, can be a lot to manage. Add to that the stress of finding suitable accommodation that meets your needs, establishing a sense of belonging (finding a good hairdresser, or a cafe that makes your morning coffee just the way you like it) and building new social connections in an unfamiliar place… the process can become so overwhelming you don’t know where to start!

Anticipating these challenges is crucial to ensuring a smooth and successful relocation experience. At Corporate Living Accommodation, we’re dedicated to alleviating accommodation-related stress and offer a supportive environment to help you overcome these obstacles.

We’ve put together a list of 5 key things to consider when searching for relocation accommodation.

5 things that matter most when looking for extended stay accommodation

When searching for the ideal relocation accommodation, be sure to consider:

1. Comfort and Convenience:  Your accommodation should offer the comfort of a home, with well-furnished spaces, cozy bedrooms, and a fully equipped kitchen with appliances including a microwave and dishwasher. Look for providers that include utility connections, Wi-Fi, and regular housekeeping service. Convenience is essential, allowing you to re-establish your routine and lifestyle effortlessly.
2. Location, Location: Choosing accommodation near your workplace, essential amenities, schools, and leisure spots can save you valuable time and enhance your overall experience in the new area.
3. Flexibility: Life during relocation can be unpredictable. Look for providers that offer flexible leasing terms to accommodate any unexpected changes in your plans.
4. Personalised Experience: Every traveller has unique preferences. Seek accommodation providers who listen to your needs and align their offerings to create a personalised experience that resonates with you. And if you want to relocate with your pet, look for pet-friendly accommodation, and be sure to research what they provide and any additional fees you may encounter.
5. Community and Connection: Moving to a new area can sometimes lead to feelings of isolation. Opt for accommodation that fosters a sense of community, providing opportunities to connect with fellow residents and the local community.

The benefits of staying in a Corporate Living Accommodation serviced residence

At Corporate Living Accommodation, we take pride in offering serviced residences as an exceptional option for relocation accommodation. Here’s why our apartment-style accommodation is your best choice:

• Feel Right at Home: Our fully furnished residences are thoughtfully designed to provide you with all the comforts of home. From spacious living areas to well-equipped kitchens, you’ll have everything you need at your fingertips. We provide more than the basic kettle and toaster, we think the comforts of home are important, like an oven and cooktop, full-sized refrigerator, microwave, and dishwasher. You don’t need to venture away from home to do your laundry, stay in the comfort of your residence and use your private washer and dryer, while our Studio residents can take advantage of the communal on-site laundry facilities.
• Flexible Stay: Whether you need accommodation for a few weeks or several months, even the full term of your work assignment, our flexible rates cater to your unique requirements. We understand that plans can often change, whether it’s the ever-changing needs of infrastructure projects, a contract extension, delay in home repairs, or you just haven’t found your forever home, we work closely with you to minimise disruption to your residency.
• Tailored Accommodation: We believe in the power of personalisation. Our team works closely with you to understand your preferences and tailor your accommodation experience to your own specific needs. Our concierge will connect with you prior to your arrival to discover what’s important, and what’s not. If you love to flex your culinary muscles, we’ll ensure you have all the kitchen appliances and equipment you need, from food processors and mix masters to air fryers and blenders. If you’re a cafephile and love to brew a fresh cup of joe at home, we’ll make sure you have a coffee machine and bean grinder waiting for you. Our tailored accommodation doesn’t stop in the kitchen, so whether it’s indoor plants, bed linens, pillow profiles, throw cushions or yoga mats, if it matters to you, it matters to us.
• Pet Friendly: We understand that pets are very important family members. If you’re travelling with your fur baby, let us know so we can ensure your accommodation is suitable, as not all our locations are pet-friendly. Our tailored approach doesn’t stop at our human residents!
• Nurturing Connectedness: You’ve heard the phrase, “it takes a village…” well, think of us as your village. Our experienced team is passionate about creating genuine connections with our residents. We greet you by name, say hello when we pass you, and we love to sit down and have a cuppa and a chat. Our shout! We want to ensure your experience is a positive one. Providing a space where you feel connected. A place where you feel like you belong.
• Wellness and Community Spirit: Living in our serviced residences gives you the opportunity to become part of a vibrant community. We organise events and activities that encourage interaction among residents, making it easy for you to forge new connections. Each month we host a breakfast or dinner and welcome you to come along to get to know your residence team and neighbours. Some of our residents have found a movie mate, golfing buddy, or fellow football fan to catch a game with. It’s also a great opportunity for us to support local businesses too, whether we utilise their catering services, book a table at their venue, or purchase their produce and goods. We also work with community organisations, sporting clubs and leisure precincts to complement your stay with access to their facilities and programs, like swimming pools and gyms.
• Convenience: With prime locations in proximity to major business hubs, infrastructure project sites, entertainment areas, and essential services, our serviced apartment-style residences ensure that you’re never far from what you need.

Transitioning to a new area can be made significantly easier by surrounding yourself with familiar comforts. Our residences are meticulously designed to provide a sense of belonging, helping you settle in quickly so you can focus on your new journey. Picture yourself unwinding on a comfortable sofa, cooking your favourite meals in a fully equipped kitchen, and enjoying a good night’s sleep in a cozy bedroom – all in an environment that feels like home.

Conclusion

At Corporate Living Accommodation, we recognise the challenges that come with relocation and are committed to providing you with a relocation accommodation experience that not only meets your needs but exceeds your expectations. Our residences offer the perfect blend of comfort, convenience, and community, ensuring that your transition is as smooth as possible. As you embark on this new chapter, let us be your partner in creating a warm and welcoming space that you’ll be excited to call home.

Explore our residences to see which Corporate Living Accommodation location suits your needs.

Contact our team to find out more about how we can support you with relocation accommodation.