Business travel is a booming industry. The combined value of international and domestic business travel was $292.2 billion in 2014. Over 482 million unique business trips were taken over the course of the year. Breaking it down, the average business traveler spent $949 on airfare, hotels, taxes, and ground transportation per trip.

The youngest business travelers accounted for the age bracket of business travelers who spent the most per trip in 2014. The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) found that Millennials were 60% more likely to purchase preflight upgrades like extra legroom and in-flight entertainment during business trips, and BCG also found that millennial business travelers spend 13% more on airline tickets than non-millennial business travelers, including both Gen Xers aged 31 to 44 and Boomers age 45 to 65.

For the budget-conscious traveler, business travel doesn’t have to be expensive. In our guide, you will learn cheap business travel tips for airlines, how to minimize costs while maximizing your return on points, and the best places to stay on a budget. You will also learn how to save yourself time while saving your company money.

**The Best Places to Stay.**

Our guide for cheap business travel tips extends beyond booking and air travel tips. Originally, the best places to stay were at hotels, yet today, business travelers have the luxury of booking vacation rentals and short term rentals instead. Opting for a hotel alternative can save on costs.

**Hotel Chains.**

Major hotel chains like Starwood allow business travelers to both generate and redeem points at any of their locations or through any of their partners. Most major hotels also partner with major credit card providers highlighted above, too.

**Starwood Hotels** is the flagship hotel choice for seasoned domestic and international business travelers. Starwood has over 1,200 hotels in over 100 countries. The Starwood Preferred Guest program allows members to generate “Star Points” from various sources and redeem points at any location or transfer points to miles for airfare.

**AccorHotels** is a mainstay choice for seasoned international business travelers. To compete with Starwood, AccorHotels offers their own rewards program _Le Club AccorHotels Platinum Program._

**Hilton Worldwide** is the international chain of Hilton hotels, and points earned at any Hilton-owned property can be redeemed within their massive network. HHonors is Hilton’s rewards program.

**The hidden costs and benefits of hotels.**

Though typically more expensive than the alternatives, hotels can be a goldmine for cost-saving resources. By staying in hotels, you’ll not only earn additional points, but you’ll also have the privilege of taking advantage of all their free amenities. Hotels provide plenty of toiletries, all for free. Seasoned business travelers will hoard small containers of shampoos, conditioners, shaving creams, and lotions for future use. You can even grab a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a razor from the front desk, so you don’t need to worry about packing toiletries in advance. Best of all, the bottles are all all TSA compliant and perfect for carry-ons.

However, hotels are not charities, and what they lose in free amenities, they gain in hidden fees and high markups. Avoid room service at all costs. The food quality is no cause for alarm, but the high markup will send a budget sensitive business traveler running for the hills.

**Cheaper Alternatives to Hotels.**

Although hotels are the classic approach to travel, the hotel industry is not the only option for business travelers. Below is a list of alternatives to hotels.

**Vacation rentals:**

Vacation rentals have exploded in popularity in the last few years thanks to peer-to-peer rental marketplaces like [Airbnb](https://www.airbnb.com/) and Homeaway. Business travelers are embracing the novel idea of unique and exciting places to stay away from hotels. Although vacation rentals themselves do not generate points - nor are they apart of a travel affiliate program - business travelers can still earn points by using just some of the credit cards listed above.

**Corporate housing:**

Often synonymous with hotels, corporate housing has an overlap with the hotel industry with “extended stay” hotels. Oftentimes, large companies will have partnerships with corporate housing providers like Execustay. Corporate housing is ideal for the business traveler working on a long contract with housing already provided by their employer. Businesses without direct partnerships reimburse employees for business travel expenses, so points can still be earned by booking with a rewards card. Booking corporate housing with the reimbursement method is a great option for business travelers on a strict budget.

**Co-working/Co-living spaces:**

A novel idea, co-living spaces are a professional approach to traditional “hostels.” This new age, adult-like dorm room service lets all types of working professionals book bunk beds or private dorm rooms within a shared living space. Thanks to co-living purveyors like Podshare and Sabbatical, business travelers can book rooms in unique locations across the country and globe while simultaneously networking with other working professionals. Unlike corporate housing, co-living spaces can be booked with rewards cards as these services count towards travel.

**Furnished rentals:**

Short term, [furnished rentals](/content/blog/furnished-rentals/index.html) fill the gap between one or two night stays and full-fledged apartment living. Furnished rentals allow business travelers to book flexible leases for longer durations when the costs of hotels scale insurmountably high. Unlike Airbnb, furnished rental purveyors like Homeaway and HomeSuite do not offer shared spaces, so business travelers have privacy within their own unit. Furnished rentals are optimal for a wide range of working professionals, from traveling nurses, to consultants, and even interns working in a new city away from home. Business travelers can book furnished rentals with a rewards card as well.

**Air Travel & Transportation.**

Airlines are the workhorses for business travelers across the globe. Using airlines is an inevitable cost riddled with hidden fees, contradictory advice, and - believe it or not - a secret threat to your health. Below, you’ll learn all the ins and outs for navigating airlines with minimal costs and maximum points.

**#1 Carry-on instead of checking a bag.**

On average, Americans spend 20 minutes waiting for baggage to appear on the carousel at domestic and international airports. Whenever possible, use carry-on luggage instead of checking. The real saver here is time, and although most airlines claim the first bag checked is free, Airfare Watchdog has [put together a comprehensive guide](http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/blog/3801089/airline-baggage-fees-chart/) on each airline’s rules and true fees for checking bags. Instead of checking in your bags and then waiting patiently for the bags to (hopefully) appear on the carousel, pack well beforehand and carry your bags with you onto the plane.

**#2 Own the right travel business wear.**

First impressions are everything, so what you wear matters just as much as who you are. Packing a proper bag for a business trip starts at home. Founder of the _Real Men Real Style_ blog Antonio Centeno has [broken down the steps for packing](http://www.realmenrealstyle.com/pack-light-business-trip/) the perfect bag for a business trip. But what are the best things to pack?

You can’t pack your entire wardrobe, nor does the sound of wearing a suit on a plane sound like a great idea. Fellow passengers could spill drinks on your lap, poor air circulation could leave you sweating through your shirt, and you could walk into a meeting full of wrinkles.

It’s best to pack wool over linen as linen is prone to wrinkling easily in your bag. To maximize space for longer trips, pack a full suit or two and add matching separates. An additional sport coat and pants effectively doubles or even triples your outfit choices.

If you’re stuck on a long domestic flight across the country or even an international flight, wearing fabrics like rayon, which is a blend of spandex and cotton, will keep you comfortable compared to traditional cotton and wool pants.

Remember: cheap clothes are uncomfortable and wear out fast. Replacing cheap clothes adds up over time, whereas high quality fabrics last for years. Investing in high-quality outfits - and shoes - is a smart move that will save you money down the road.

**#3 Enroll in PreCheck, Global Entry, and CLEAR.**

Security lines are growing, especially during peak travel season in summer. For instance, passengers at JFK and Newark [wait 20 minutes on average](http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/13/aviation/tsa-long-lines-us-airports/) standing in security lines with seasonal summer highs of 50 minutes.

Both TSA and Customs and Border Protection have opened up options for frequent business travelers to beat the lines and get to the gates faster. Although each program requires a one-time enrollment fee, $85 for [PreCheck](https://www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck) and $100 for [Global Entry](https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry), you’ll save time breezing through security with expedited clearance for both domestic and international flights.

In addition, private companies are also offering their own known traveler security programs. CLEAR works in a [handful of major domestic airports](https://www.clearme.com/how-to-get-clear/#steps-to-get-clear) and is partnering with major airlines like Delta. Unlike PreCheck and Global Entry, CLEAR is a subscription billed monthly.

**#4 Tips for booking discounted tickets.**

There are two critical components that affect the cost of your airfare. The first is the dates and timing of your actual flights, as some days see higher demand than others. The second is when you are actually going through the process of booking your flights online - different days and times will have more favorable pricing for consumers.

**The best days and times to fly:**

According to farecompare.com, the cheapest flights on are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Sundays. On the flip side, the most expensive days to fly are Fridays and Saturdays.

David Morris, [freelance contributor for Fortune Magazine](http://fortune.com/2016/04/16/the-cheapest-days-to-fly-this-summer/), also found that July 26th (Tuesday), August 31st (Wednesday), and September 20th (Tuesday) will be the cheapest days to fly each month this summer. David Morris also discovered that historically July is the most expensive month, whereas September is the least expensive of the extended summer season.

Weekdays are less expensive and less popular days to fly, so planes will be less crowded and security lines will be considerably shorter.

In addition, the cheapest airfares are always for red-eye flights and flights departing around dinner time (7pm).

**The best days and times to book a flight:**

According to farecompare.com, the best day to open your laptop and book a flight is on any given Tuesday at 3pm EST.

In addition, the optimal window for booking tickets is between one and three months in advance for domestic flights and six weeks to six months in advance for international flights. If your flight is during peak season (summer months and winter holidays), book around two months in advance.

**Best practices for booking a flight:**

When searching for deals online, remember to browse airline websites in incognito mode. Using incognito code will make sure cookies aren’t left behind, as airlines are known to manipulate prices for uses who frequently close and revisit their webpages.

**#5 Tips for getting an upgrade.**

Contrary to clever promotions on an airline’s booking portal, booking an economy ticket and then immediately buying a business class upgrade will cost more than simply booking a business class ticket. Instead, here are several tips to get a business class ticket without paying full price:

**Sign up for a rewards program** with a credit card associated with your preferred airline. The different types of rewards programs, as well as the best rewards cards you can use today, are discussed in a later section below.

**Compare prices** with online platforms like farecompare.comif you don’t mind flying outside of your preferred airline.

**Use those frequent flier miles** and redeem your points for miles and discounted (and sometimes free) upgrades.

**Check for special offers** hidden in promotional emails from the airlines. Generally, discounted business class tickets are not advertised on online travel booking websites. Instead, these deals are caught by spam filters or buried in your inbox.

**Dress to impress** and act professionally when approaching the ticket counter. You’ll still have to pay a fee for the upgrade, but how you dress has measurable impacts on how others treat you, so gate agents are more likely to offer upgrades to business travelers who fit the bill.

**Pick up the phone** and call your airline. Although the process of booking over the phone is archaic, the airline representatives on the other end have the opportunity to offer you a discounted business class ticket, whereas this is not an option online.

**Search for “Y-Up” fares.** Y-Up fares are full-priced economy or coach seats with a guarantee for a free automatic upgrade to business or first class should a seat remain empty. Although onerous, it’s possible to manually sort and search for Y-Up fares when booking domestic flights. Y-Up’s aren’t common knowledge between gate agents, so use caution when asking for the lucrative upgrade.

**#6 Booking layovers, stopovers, or non-stops.**

**What are the differences?**

Layovers and stopovers are [connection pauses between two cities](http://www.afar.com/magazine/stopovers-vs-layovers-the-extra-mile), whereas non-stops are direct flights from one city to the next without an intermediary stop. International layovers range from 30 minutes to 23 hours, and international stopovers are anything longer than 24 hours. On domestic flights in the US, layovers are limited to only 4 hours.

**Why book a layover?**

On average, [you can save 50%](https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/278360) by avoiding a non-stop flight and instead booking a connecting flight. If you’re flying an international route, it’s ideal to book a layover if you have some extra time. Not only is the overall cost lower, but the flights are, on average, less crowded.

Layovers will also give you a chance to take a break from flying, stretch a little bit, and let you catch up on work. Although some airlines do offer onboard WiFi, the connection speeds are often slow and unsecure. In addition, layovers are the perfect chance to stop and [be a tourist](/content/blog/yourhomesuite-comblogbusiness-travel-leisure-guide/index.html) for a few hours.

**Why book a stopover?**

If the airline permits, stopovers are a good idea if you have extra time and want to spend an additional day in a new city [without any additional fees.](http://www.afar.com/magazine/stopovers-vs-layovers-the-extra-mile) Thanks to FAA guidelines, domestic stopovers are rare, and stopovers are only available on international flights.

**Why book a non-stop flight?**

Although the cost is higher, flying direct has its advantages: Flying direct is perfect if you are time-sensitive and want to fly out to a meeting and back home in a single day. Non-stops are popular for domestic flights. For example, you can fly from San Francisco to Los Angeles and back in the same day, or you can make a late meeting morning in San Francisco after taking an early morning flight from New York. Direct flights make business travel much more manageable for your schedule.

**#7 Ridesharing & Taxis.**

Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft are becoming the go-to option for business travelers of all ages. The costs are considerably lower than black cars and the quality of the service is considerably higher than traditional taxi cabs. Most [ridesharing options operate different “tiers” of services](http://www.ridesharingdriver.com/whats-the-difference-between-uberx-xl-uberplus-and-black-car/) available to meet the wide range of demands from customers.

**The different types of Uber options:**

**UberPool** is the latest ridesharing option where you share at least part of the same route with a stranger and split the fare. Pool is the cheapest option at the cost of a longer trip. **UberX** is the most used, non-commercial Uber service where an independent driver in a sedan will come and pick you up. It is the best and most popular option if you prefer to take a direct route or want to avoid riding with strangers. If you’re traveling with more than four, **UberXL** is similar to UberX save for the size of the vehicle. Lastly, use **UberSelect, UberBlack**, or **UberLUX** if you’re looking for something more upscale.

**When Uber is cheaper than a taxi:**

Business Insider has put together animated graphs showing when taking an Uber is the most cost-effective option, and as it turns out, it is [cheaper than a taxi.](http://www.businessinsider.com/uber-vs-taxi-pricing-by-city-2014-10) Except for New York, where fares between an Uber and a taxi are fairly similar, other major markets like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas show a considerable price difference.

Why? Well excluding Philadelphia, Uber charges riders per mile and per minute regardless if the vehicle is moving or idling. Taxis in all markets charge riders per mile when moving and per minute when idling. Both services charge a base rate, but Uber beats taxis by undercutting fares and not requiring tips.

Although ridesharing services like Uber may seem like the go-to choice, be aware of surge pricing. Services like Uber and Lyft charge extra fares during peak hours and at popular locations.

To plan your trips in advance, ridesharingdriver.com has put together [an online Uber fare calculator](http://www.ridesharingdriver.com/how-much-does-uber-cost-uber-fare-estimator/).

**#8 Extra money savers while flying.**

In addition to all the tips and tricks we’ve provided, we’ve also put together a quick checklist of things you can do to help make your business trip cheap and comfortable:

**Skip alcohol.** It’s an expensive and unnecessary cost unless you happen to be in certain business classes, first class, or if your frequent flyer program gives drink coupons. Alcohol is also dehydrating, so instead drink water to stay [hydrated and healthy.](/content/blog/business-travel-fitness-guide/index.html) According to First Officer Patrick Smith from Askthepilot.com, the air on airplanes is incredibly clean (99.97%) thanks to hospital grade filters, but at the cost of [incredibly low humidity](http://www.askthepilot.com/questionanswers/cabin-air-quality/) (just 12%!).

**Earplugs.** Instead of spending heavily on noise-canceling headphones, Invest in high-quality earplugs which will let you sleep better on those cheaper red-eye flights.

**Bring your own food.** Yes, you can bring your own food through security and onto the plane, saving you from the outrageous prices airports charge.

**Some credit card companies offer airport perks** like exclusive lounges and credit statements towards travel related expenses. Airport lounges include complimentary amenities like showers, spa packages, and bars for card holders. American Express’ Centurion Lounge, Delta’s SkyClub, United’s MileagePlus Club, and American Airlines’ Admirals Club are the biggest networks of exclusive domestic clubs.

**Join a loyalty rewards program.** Like lounges, credit card providers and airline partners offer great points and miles reward programs for frequent business travelers. For international travelers, airlines like Virgin Atlantic and Lufthansa offer joint loyalty partnership programs with other airlines.

**Generating and Redeeming Points.**

Building a cheap business trip revolves around making the most of the money spent on business related expenses. Signing up for a rewards program through a credit card provider or partnered airline carrier is the best cost-saving method for frequent flyers and finance-conscious business travelers. Although spending money may seem counterproductive to cheap business travel,

Credit cards are the easiest way to maximize returns on business related expenses. There are three main types of cards with varying degrees of overlap - rewards, travel, and airline cards.

- **Rewards cards** are “everyday” credit cards that generate points and miles from everyday purchases, which can be redeemed to cover travel and airline expenses.
- **Travel cards** are similar to rewards cards, but points generate when you make eligible travel-related purchases at hotels, restaurants, and airports. Points from travel cards are redeemable with airlines and hotels with varying degrees of transfer rates.
- **Airline cards** will let you generate points and miles with the affiliated carrier, giving you career-specific perks like multivariable flying status tiers, lounge access, and inflight perks.

Picking the right card or signing up for the right rewards program is ultimately up to your preferred airline carrier, shopping behaviors, and length and frequency of travel. Below, we have highlighted the most popular loyalty rewards programs and their partners, the most popular credit card for business travelers, and best practices for applying and using the different types of cards.

**#1 The most popular rewards, travel, and airline credit card for business travel.**

According to [NerdWallet.com](https://www.nerdwallet.com/rewards-credit-cards/?trk=nw_ru_2.0), one of **the best overall credit cards** for business travel is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. The Sapphire Preferred Card has 0% foreign transaction fees, 2x the points generated on dining and travel related purchases, and 1x points on everyday purchases. There is a 50,000 mile signup bonus after spending $4,000 in the first three months using the card for any purchases. It’s the [most popular card](https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/top-credit-cards/nerdwallets-best-travel-credit-cards/) for rewards spending, travel, and airfare.

According to NerdWallet’s [comprehensive study on rewards cards](https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/credit-card-data/travel-credit-cards-study/?trk=nw_hp4_bv_indexpg-6), the best time to apply is at least five months in advance of your first trip.

**#2 The most popular partner programs for business travel.**

Partner programs are a great way to maximize return on spending, but picking the right partnership program is ultimately up to you and your specific needs.

**For domestic carriers, the most popular programs are:**

**Southwest’s Rapid Rewards** is a joint partnership with Chase Bank and is powered by Visa. The [Rapid Rewards Card](https://www.southwest.com/rapidrewards) is perfect for business travelers who frequent the budget flagship carrier and who crave perks like priority boarding and A-list access.

**Delta’s SkyMiles** is a joint partnership with American Express. Unlike other programs, [SkyMiles](http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/skymiles.html) earned are based on ticket price rather than distance flown.

**United Airlines’ MileagePlus** is a joint partnership with Visa and was voted [the best frequent flyer program](http://www.globaltravelerusa.com/global-traveler-announces-12th-annual-gt-tested-reader-survey-awards/) by Global Traveler magazine in 2015. MileagePlus points have one of the widest breadths of ways to earn points, from energy saving credits to auto loans.

**For international carriers, the most popular programs are:**

**Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club** is a joint partnership with Bank of America and is powered by Mastercard. [Virgin Atlantic’s](http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/us/en/flying-club.html) airline affiliates include domestic airlines Delta, Hawaiian, and Virgin America, allowing points to generate while flying domestically and internationally.

**Emirates’ Skywards** program is a joint partnership with Starwood’s Preferred Guest program, so points earned can be spent at all SPG properties. Like Virgin Atlantic, Emirates’ Skywards miles can be generated through affiliate carriers, including Alaska and JetBlue.

**#3 Best practices for applying and spending**.

According to a [comprehensive study on rewards cards](https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/credit-card-data/travel-credit-cards-study/?trk=nw_hp4_bv_indexpg-6) by NerdWallet, over 80% of consumers apply at the wrong time and miss out on over 15,000 miles or points, costing on average $177 worth of savings per person.

The best times to apply for all types of cards is at least five months in advance before your first trip. According to NerdWallet, the best time for airline offers is in November, and the best time for hotel-specific rewards cards is in August. If you are applying for a Chase card, apply in August or November. If you are applying for an American Express card, apply in August or September.

By following our guide, you’ll be able to maximize points earned without breaking the bank like a seasoned business traveler. For more information on credit cards and travel for new business travelers, check out Lucky’s guide on One Mile at a Time.

Thank you for checking our cheap business travel guide with tips and tricks. Be sure to check out our other two helpful guides on [A Business Travel Guide to Staying Fit While Traveling for Work](/content/blog/business-travel-fitness-guide/index.html) and [A Business and Leisure Travel Guide for the Perfect Work Trip](/content/blog/yourhomesuite-comblogbusiness-travel-leisure-guide/index.html).

A recent study performed by HomeSuite shows that realtors are losing $300M per year by not offering a rental solution to customers

Americans are known for being highly mobile, yet few people are comfortable transitioning between homes. Every homeowner dreams of a smooth moving process when leaving one house behind and moving into another.

Packing, staging, selling, escrow, searching, paying, and moving sounds simple enough, but the process is far from seamless. Unforeseen issues sprout up during the move, damaging client egos and harming client-realtor relations.

Deferred move-in dates, skeptical buyers, construction delays, time in escrow, and fluctuations in the real estate market are far from predictable. Home buyers count on realtors to help guide them through these murky waters.

Our recent study found that 23% of people who use Realtors to purchase a home have also turned to them for help in renting a temporary home. Unfortunately, this same study discovered that over 60% of realtors were completely unable to help their clients find a temporary home when the situation arose. The reason? Most often, the Realtors simply “didn’t do rentals”. This illustrates a significant missed opportunity as there are almost 700,000 rental bookings in the United States each year. At standard referral rates, this amounts to almost $300 million in lost revenue each year AND damage to your personal brand as a Realtor.

It’s important for Realtors to be proactive when guiding clients through the unpredictable ups and downs of real estate market - to be prepared for everything. A great way to be prepared for these unforeseen circumstances is to partner with companies who can provide temporary, furnished housing and keep your clients happy and safe from turmoil.

Timing

Selling one home while simultaneously buying the next is seldom a seamless process. Home buyers are up against multiple unpredictable variables, and the time until closing their new home is uncertain. Not all clients can afford a down payment on their next mortgage before the current sale closes, so transitioning is contingent on closing the sale.

Landlords favor year-long leases, and monthly rentals are often extremely difficult to find at reasonable prices. The Realtor’s aforementioned inability to help in these situations can be perceived as an unwillingness to help, which will of course damage the client’s perception of their realtor.

The recent study revealed a variety of issues that cause Realtors to fail to meet their client’s temporary rental needs (see accompanying pie chart for distribution). A temporary housing partner can solve issues around type of accommodation, location, and price range.

In an industry so focused on relationships and reputation, it’s absolutely critical to be willing - and able - to help your clients when they need you most.

Why not partner with a company that can make this typically daunting process easy?

Renovations & Insurance Relocation

Home renovations always present a difficult living situation, as they make the house virtually unlivable. There are also unforeseen circumstances, such as natural disasters, necessary repairs, termites, dry rot, mold, etc. that can either uproot unprepared families from their homes or prevent new homeowners from moving in on time.

Move-in ready turns into not-quite-there-yet when a few simple alterations dissolve into months of demolition and repair.

Should your clients overpay for extended stay hotels or sublet substandard rooms? An established relationship with a temporary furnished housing partner can strengthen client-realtor relations.

Be Prepared for Anything

Even with years of experience, realtors can’t predict the future for their clients. Switch from being reactive to proactive by establishing relevant partnerships in advance. You want to be a useful resource for your client, not just another dead end.

Benefits to Realtors

Put your clients first, and your success will follow. The more prepared you are for these difficult situations, the better you and your clients will be able to handle them. Be proactive. Let your clients know that you have established relationships with companies that can provide month to month housing in the inevitable event that something less than perfect happens.

Keep your clients mobile and ensure that the home selling and buying process is as seamless as possible. With these partnerships in place, you can focus more on selling homes and avoid the stress of difficult situations. Your client’s peace of mind is paramount to building a stronger client-realtor rapport at the outset of your relationship.

Those Realtors that can step up to the plate and provide these differentiated solutions at times when their clients need them most will see their reputations, referrals, and repeat customers skyrocket.

How HomeSuite Can Help

HomeSuite has the largest inventory of 30+ day furnished rentals available online. Browse our curated platform for high-quality properties to find and book a place you’ll love. HomeSuite can be your trusted partner when things get difficult for your clients - send them our way and we’ll find them a great place to live for as long as they need it. We guarantee peace of mind, as we take care of the entire process for you. Partner with HomeSuite to provide your clients with an even better experience. For more information, visit yourhomesuite.com/brokers.

Tech startups and online markets are the way of the future. As companies like Uber and Instacart transform the traditional markets of taxi cabs and grocery stores, HomeSuite is pushing to do the same for furnished apartment rentals. To better understand what makes HomeSuite the best furnished rental platform for landlords, I spoke with several of our landlords and employees. Here’s what they said.

**Why do landlords choose HomeSuite?**

_More money, less hassle, better tenants._

Before finding HomeSuite, Larry, a veteran Bay Area landlord, used traditional property management resources. Given his background in digital marketing, Larry “quickly connected with HomeSuite’s concept of an automated transaction.” HomeSuite, he says, “alleviates most necessary correspondences” between landlords and tenantsand “guarantees far more qualified tenants” given our background, credit, and social media checks. We are a full service, online rental platform that streamlines the leasing process.

Sandy, a LA landlord of four months, has enjoyed her time with HomeSuite thus far. “It’s really just a seamless process” with HomeSuite, she says. When asked why she chose HomeSuite, Sandy replied: “honestly, more money and less effort. HomeSuite is simply less work. The communication is really strong. I always get immediate responses from the team.” After just a few months, HomeSuite has provided Sandy with 75% of her new tenants.

Tanya, who is new to HomeSuite but has been a landlord for twenty years, awaits the arrival of her first tenants in two days. Though she has little experience with us, Tanya has already noticed that HomeSuite provides “unparalleled customer service.”

**Why do our team members suggest HomeSuite for landlords?**

_Vetted tenants, strong partnerships,_ _100% legal._

Erin, our SF Partnerships Manager, made a critical point: “HomeSuite is the only platform that is completely [legal](/content/blog/landlord-rent-guarantee/index.html), especially with current regulatory activity regarding short term rentals. We are also the only service that is entirely free for landlords. All other platforms charge a small landlord fee.”

Andrew, a supply strategist, noted how easy it is to use HomeSuite as a landlord because the transaction is automated. “There are websites that help landlords find tenants and manage pricing, but we are the only service that helps landlords combine all processes into one place, making the leasing process much easier.”

Perhaps more importantly, HomeSuite deeply cares about its landlords. “We have staff working hard on Saturdays and Sundays to help facilitate a smooth stay for both landlords and tenants,” Danny, our LA Partnerships Manager, says. “We are not here to micromanage our landlords, but to work together as a team, deliver as many leases as possible, and streamline the transaction.”

**So, why HomeSuite?**

Expanding from coast to coast, HomeSuite is not your average platform for furnished apartment rentals. Lease your properties with HomeSuite for more money, less hassle, and better tenants. Working to move the entire furnished rental marketplace online, HomeSuite is proud to connect landlords with high quality tenants in an affordable and automated way.

To hear more about why HomeSuite is the best rental platform for landlords, please feel free to call, email, or visit our [landlord page](/content/landlords/index.html)!

**A Brief Introduction to Short Term Housing:**

Short term and vacations rentals have seen a spike in popularity over the last few years. Widespread use of short term rentals is due in part to the explosive growth of popular peer to peer rental marketplaces like Airbnb, Homeaway, and Flipkey. The short term rental sharing economy is [growing rapidly.](http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4075581.html)

The growth of Airbnb and others has had a significant ripple effect on the broader real estate market, pushing it to transform into an on-demand vertical through increased efficiency and transparency.

Compared to the traditional hotel zeitgeist, the short term rental vertical is a novel idea. The original corporate housing model has laid the foundation for the short term rental industry: purpose-built “extended stay” hotels have allowed business travelers to book uniform and predictable places to live.

Although extended stay hotels continue to grow, business travelers - envious of the new on-demand vacation rental services popping up - are staying away from cookie-cutter, predictable hotel rooms, and are instead looking for unique furnished rental options in the short term rental marketplace.

Hotels are responding to the explosive growth of the short term rental industry, which is responsible for the current blight of business travelers and a sharp [decline in hotel room occupancy,](http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/25/travel/business-travel-alternative-lodging/) from 63% in 2005 to do 57.6% in 2010. Dr. Lalia Rach, who sits on the board of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International, says hotels are ramping up their efforts to secure business travelers with “premium services” like exclusive lounges and clubs. In fact, Sheraton Hotels spent upwards of $100M [revamping lounges](http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/17/travel/hotel-lounge-upgrades/index.html) and clubs across all properties in order to retain Starwood program members.

**Oh the Places You’ll Stay:**

There are many different [types](/content/blog/types-of-rentals/index.html) of short term housing options, and it might be difficult to determine when one choice is more appropriate than others. We’ve put together a quick guide to help you understand when it’s best to use a hotel, a vacation rental, or a furnished rental.

**Hotels** are the traditional go-to for travelers of all walks of life. Hotels are the flagship of short term stays, and the options range from small mom-and-pop style bed-and-breakfasts to opulent luxury accommodations created by internationally renowned purveyors. The perks of hotels range equally as widely as their styles: Las Vegas hotels offer gambling, sports betting, and exclusive resident DJs, whereas other hotels offer entire buildings and [rooms made of ice](http://www.icehotel.com/)!

Hotels are ideal for vacationers and business travelers who prefer a traditional approach with the ability to generate or redeem points and miles. Unfortunately, hotels are too expensive to be a viable option for more than a few nights. Originally, hotels offered weekly and monthly boarding rates, but in more recent years, hotels have structured pricing to optimize turnover.

**Home sharing** encompasses the entire disruptive travel economy and is the most popular alternative to hotels. Travelers can book a wide range of living options, from shared rooms with bunkbeds to entire houses by the night. Some available rentals include a [Dog-shaped “Dog House” in Idaho](http://www.refinery29.com/crazy-airbnb-rentals#slide-22) to rural Yurts in Germany. Travelers can also monetize their own property by becoming a landlord on the same platform they book from. Room sharing is also blending with another popular on-demand service. In recent months, [hybrid](https://skift.com/2016/06/06/heres-why-co-living-could-be-the-next-big-hospitality-trend/) co-working and -living spaces are popping up, meeting the demand of a new generation of traveling entrepreneurs.

Airbnb and Hotel Tonight are just a few of the many different platforms popular with younger working professionals, travelers looking to beat hotel taxes and fees, and those who love to stay off the beaten path. Like hotels, platforms like Airbnb are subject to surcharges and miscellaneous local and state taxes. Unlike hotels, room sharing platforms do not allow users to generate or redeem points or miles.

**Furnished rentals** are the short- to long-term booking option for travelers who need travel accommodations for one month up to a year. Whereas hotels are perfect for one or two nights and room sharing can stretch as far as a month, furnished rentals fill the gap between vacation stays and permanent living solutions. Furnished rental platforms like Homeaway allow users to book nightly, whereas HomeSuite allows users to book monthly, but the common theme for furnished rentals is the ability to book the entire property without having to share with other travelers.

Furnished rentals are perfect for working professionals who need flexible living solutions. Corporate housing tenants, travel nurses, consultants, interns, and people renovating their homes are typical furnished rental occupants. Like room sharing platforms, booking furnished rentals does not allow travelers to use points. Points and miles can be generated by booking through a credit card.

**Dispelling the Myths of Furnished Rentals:**

**Myth #1: Furnished rentals are more expensive than hotels.**

On the contrary. Although great for one or two night stays, hotels fleece users with hidden fees, surcharges, and taxes. Traditionally, hotels are great for one or two night stays but become exponentially expensive scaled up over weeks and even months.

According to Hotels.com, the average nightly rate of a hotel room (without taxes or fees) in the US was $137 in 2015, up 5% from 2014. Hotel rates in San Francisco topped $319 a night with a yearly average of $302.

For two nights, an average hotel in San Francisco would cost $688.56 including taxes. A weekly stay would cost $1,721.40 to $2409.96, and a monthly stay would cost upwards of $9,639.84 to $10,672.68!

The average monthly rate for a HomeSuite property is $5590, which scales down to $199.64 to $180.32 for a hypothetical daily rate. That’s 26% cheaper in New York and 33% cheaper in San Francisco for a monthly stay.

Compounding on local, state, and miscellaneous taxes and fees is the hotel industry’s deceptive practice of _variable advertised room rates_, which [change unannounced](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-travel-rip-off-hidden-hotel-fees/) through the booking process. A room listed for $100 a night may inflate as much as 85% percent by checkout! In fact, new [legislation](/content/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-114s2599is/pdf/BILLS-114s2599is.pdf) is in the works to pass a bill prohibiting the deceptive practice.

Different furnished rental platforms have different practices. Some rental platforms like Homeaway and VRBO hide fees until checkout, whereas booking on HomeSuite shows the entire price upfront.

**Myth #2: Furnished rentals have fewer amenities.**

Furnished rentals come with all the amenities found in any home. By default, all furnished rentals have a full kitchen, unlike hotels which may have a kitchenette in extended stay options or a shared kitchen available in room sharing options. Other amenities like ensuite laundry machines, backyards, and even pools are available.

Although users book the entire unit, furnished rentals are not necessarily for shut-ins. Some furnished rental syndicates are [building fully-furnished community-style living options](http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-30-east-apartments-0510-biz-20160509-story.html), similar to the hybrid co-living and -working spaces but with more luxury and privacy.

Furnished rentals are furnished apartments, homes, and condos that come with all the features found back home but with added benefits like a bi-monthly cleaning service. In fact, the furnished rental industry is fueling a new trend in real estate, where real estate agents are selling furniture packages to clients.

**Myth #3: Furnished rentals are all shared spaces with little privacy.**

Some vacation rental platforms allow users to book a wide range of accommodations, from shared rooms to the entire property. Furnished rental platforms allow users to only book the entire unit, guaranteeing that travelers have maximum privacy.

At HomeSuite, we let tenants book entire properties online with a simple booking process! Read more about our online booking announcement [here](/content/blog/online-booking/index.html).

**Myth #4: Furnished rentals don’t provide the comforts of home.**

Furnished rentals are a home away from home. Not only do furnished rentals provide all the amenities of homeownership, but they also provide all the experiences of being at home. In fact, extra comfort is found in furnished rentals as tenants need not worry about purchasing, moving, and assembling furniture. The comforts of home simply cannot be found in a 325 sq ft hotel room. When leasing a furnished rental, tenants are living in a roomy property that is considerably larger than the average hotel room.

**Myth #5: Furnished rentals are not within city limits or right downtown.**

Quite the opposite! In fact, the main purpose of corporate housing is to maximize efficiency for the out-of-town commuter by being as close to (or within) major metropolitan areas. Most corporate housing units are actually in the heart of financial districts across the globe. Furnished rentals are found wherever homes, apartments, and condos are.

**The Benefits of Furnished Rentals:**

**More space.** Furnished rentals have considerably larger floorplans than hotels. According to [Fixr.com](http://www.fixr.com/costs/build-hotel), the average size of a hotel room is 325 square feet, including a bathroom. Comparatively, the median size of a HomeSuite furnished rental is over 1,000 square feet!

In addition, furnished rentals vary by size and types of amenities. Standard features include kitchens and privacy, but some furnished rentals come with pools, hot tubs, backyards, and even in-home theater entertainment systems!

**More freedom.** Furnished rentals are just like homes. Tenants have their own place and abide by their own rules. Airbnb has it’s fair share of “eccentric” hosts known for crazy and downright [unenforceable](https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/how-to-spot-a-crazy-airbnb-host) rules, so if you aren’t fond of taking orders and walking on eggshells, furnished rental platforms that guarantee the entire place like Homeaway and HomeSuite are your best options.

**More perks.** Having your own place with your own rules also comes with extra perks not found in hotels or other vacation rental platforms. Furnished rentals can include your own private pool, BBQs, and sometimes additional amenities like discounted golf, gyms, and secured parking if the property in question resides inside a private community.

**The Drawbacks of Furnished Rentals:**

Hotels do have benefits over vacation and furnished rentals. Most hotels offer around-the-clock room service, daily maid service, valet, onsite restaurants and bars, a concierge, workout facilities, and even onsite dry cleaning services.

In addition, hotels that are a part of a larger network offer unique rewards system not available when booking vacation or furnished rentals. Although corporate housing specific providers have contracts with large Fortune 500 companies, hotels allow travelers to both generate and redeem points.

**Different Uses of Furnished Rentals:**

**Corporate housing.** Instead of sticking to corporate housing networks provided by the company, try [furnished rentals](/content/blog/yourhomesuite-comblogbusiness-travel-leisure-guide/index.html),w [h](/content/blog/yourhomesuite-comblogbusiness-travel-leisure-guide/index.html) i [c](/content/blog/yourhomesuite-comblogbusiness-travel-leisure-guide/index.html) h provide much more flexibility and variety. A short term furnished rental can act as a home away from home while traveling for work for extended periods of time. If you crave a nomadic lifestyle but want something familiar and comfortable to come back to, a furnished rental is right for you.

**Consultants.** Hotel magistrates like Starwood hotels are the preferred business travel partner for consulting firms across the globe. However, with longer consulting contracts, scaling up the costs of hotel rooms over weeks becomes too expensive, and bouncing between hotels is too impractical. Instead choosing a [furnished rental](/content/blog/consultant-relocation/index.html) allows you the freedom of movement without having to pack up and check out. Fly home for the weekend and leave all work-related clothes and items back inside your rental if you want to.

**Travel Nurses.** Travel nurses secure contracts through their own networks and are often left unsatisfied with the selection of housing options. Instead of becoming complacent with a place to stay, travel nurses can benefit from our easily modifiable leases and wide range of [housing options](/content/blog/furnished-apartments-for-traveling-nurses/index.html) in every major market. With our platform, we find the perfect place for you to live, saving you time and frustration.

**Extended Medical Stay.** Furnished rentals near hospitals aren’t only for travel nurses. Short term rentals are the perfect solution for family members who want to stay close to their loved ones without having to limit themselves to brief and expensive stays in nearby hotels.

**Remodeling & Relocation.** Remodeling alters homeowners’ relationships with their homes. Contractors need easy access, and with a crowd of workers moving in and out, noise, dirt, and dust piles up. [Furnished rentals](/content/blog/remodeling-relocation/index.html) are an excellent relocation solution for homeowners who want to live life interrupted with all the conveniences of living back at home.

**Divorces.** Furnished rentals are also the perfect place to seek asylum during a divorce proceeding. Our leases are extendable to match court delays, and leases can be signed by a 3rd party (like a lawyer) to protect tenant privacy. In addition, furnished rentals provide all the comforts and conveniences back at home without the [need to forfeit or relocate](/content/blog/temporary-housing-during-a-divorce/index.html) any furniture.

**Moving Forward:**

Furnished rentals have variable uses. Flexible booking options, cheaper rates, and wider availability make furnished rentals a smart short term housing solution. In addition to costs, furnished rentals let tenants live in the entire property alone and free from unorthodox traditions. When booking directly with HomeSuite, tenants are protected by our [Tenant Guarantee](/content/site-root.html), which let’s you book with confidence knowing the place you saw online matches the place you see in person.

Get started today!

Dive deep and read more about _The History of Online Booking_ here:

[http://www.yourhomesuite.com/blog/online-booking/](/content/blog/online-booking/index.html)

HomeSuite has partnered with [MaidThis!](https://maidthis.com/) to help landlords discover the top five things tenants look for when renting a short term rental property.

Thanks to the power of technology, it’s perhaps fair to say that renting vacation and short-term homes is a very 21st-century behavior. Indeed, the short-term rental property market is expected to remain strong in 2016 and beyond.

As summer is getting into full swing, millions of travelers are planning for the perfect getaways or looking for an apartment switch to take advantage of a booming housing market. However, it’s inevitable that with an increased renter pool, the competition will be more intense. Successful vacation rental hosts are able to put themselves in their guests’ shoes and deliberately think about ways to make their places more attractive to renters.

Besides offering a reasonable price, there are many other things tenants consider when renting a temporary residence. Below are 5 questions guests ask when choosing their holiday spot. Consider how your rental property measures up to help you further improve your customer service and make sure your next guests will fall in love with your “home away from home.”

**1\. What does the place offer?**

There’s no need to turn your place into a 5-star hotel (though you could if you can afford the bill!). The key is to make your tenants’ stay as easy and pleasant as possible. Happy guests will leave good reviews and offer repeat business. Walk through your property and make a list of everything you think a tenant would or wouldn’t like.

For example, most people would expect to have access to the internet, so it’s a good idea to equip your property with wifi. If you can’t, make sure your guests are aware of it before they rent your place. Other necessities include:

- Standard linens such as clean towels, bed sheets, and extra pillows and blankets.
- Appliances like a working washer and dryer, a dishwasher, and a microwave. These are typically not required, but will be viewed as major benefits to your tenants.
- Kitchen supplies including sufficient dishes, silverware, and a coffee maker.
- Basic cleaning supplies.
- Forgotten toiletries (think outside the box here and provide everything a guest might need in a pinch).
- A first-aid kit.
- Trash cans.
- A fan and/or air conditioning.
- A fire extinguisher.
- All remotes necessary to operate the TV or other electronic devices, including fresh batteries.

**2\. How attentive is the host?**

There are different ways to show your hospitality and attentiveness to your guests, even if you haven’t met them face-to-face. Leave as many detailed instructions as you can. This minimizes the number of times they will have to call on you with questions, such as, “How can I turn on the hot water?”, “Where’s the trash can?”, or “What’s the wifi password?” Include instructions on how to operate tricky systems or machines. Likewise, provide a list of local grocery stores, shops, recommended restaurants, and attractions.

Last but not least, leave your contact information as well as a list of local emergency numbers. If possible, ask a trusted neighbor or friend to keep an eye on your guests and property if you’re out of town or can’t be reached immediately.

**3\. How safe is the vacation rental?**

It’s tempting to assume that what’s good enough for homeowners is good enough for renters. However, it’s essential to ensure that your property is fully compliant with all local health and safety regulations. Contact your utility suppliers for regular safety inspections to address any potential issues and consider what kind of additional safety or alarm systems you might include with your rental property to make your guests feel totally safe.

Complying with health and safety laws will not only prevent you from insurance issues and unwelcome investigation from local authorities, but it also serves as a “green light” on your guests’ checklist. Remember that your renters are in a home away from home – they want to feel safe and secure. Thus, it’s worthwhile to invest in the services of a certified safety professional to review your property.

**4\. How clean is the homestay going to be?**

One of the main responsibilities as a business owner in the hospitality industry is to provide a clean home. How would you feel if you had to spend your hard-earned vacation days to clean a place you paid to stay in just so you could enjoy your time away from home? Your tenants won’t be any more excited about cleaning the rental home than you would be. Making your guests clean your place is certainly not good for business.

We understand that you may not have time to clean your home well enough to meet the industry’s standards after every guest leaves. Why not consider a third-party cleaning service? Companies like [MaidThis!](https://maidthis.com/) offer trusted and convenient vacation rental cleaning services in the LA and San Francisco areas that will fill your needs without blowing your rental profits. Their flexible system will enable you to schedule regular cleaning appointments between each guest’s stay and ensure newcomers are happy with a spotless vacation home.

**5\. How will the contract be handled?**

Good tenants and landlords respect contracts which lay out the rules and expectations for any rental agreement. The contract governs how much rent will be paid; the rental start date and end date; how much notice is to be given before moving out; how guests are supposed to act when they “live” in your home; and any additional agreed upon expenses in the event of necessary repairs or the repurchase of potentially damaged items.

Contracts can be long and boring. However, transparency is essential before both parties sign on the dotted line. At HomeSuite, you can gain [peace of mind](/content/blog/landlord-rent-guarantee/index.html) with every rental. HomeSuite services include a comprehensive background and credit check of every tenant to make sure they are a good fit for you, the host. At the same time, the [HomeSuite](/content/site-root.html) team will take care of all the tedious leasing paperwork and the billing process for you so you can focus on providing the best experiences for your guests.

In the short-term rental market, you can’t simply hand your guests the keys and expect everything will fall into place. It’s crucial to do your research and carefully prepare your property in advance.

However, renting your home doesn’t have to be stressful. You don’t have to break the bank with expensive appliances and fancy designs. We hope these tips help you better understand your future guests’ needs as well as help you make essential changes to stand out in a market where supply often outnumbers demand. Thanks for reading our blog on the top five things tenants look for when renting a short term rental property - courtesy of MaidThis!

We’re excited to announce our newest feature - online booking for furnished rentals!

**Why This Matters.**

Traditionally, the furnished rental industry has been old fashioned and entirely offline. Even when inventory is available online, searching for an apartment requires more effort than necessary, due to a fragmented listing ecosystem, a proliferation of scams, and a lack of responsiveness in areas of high demand: landlords publish listings to several platforms while juggling multiple inquiries. Prospective tenants spend hours, if not entire days, dedicated to the endless cycle of searching and applying to listings, only to never hear back.

The furnished rental market is yet to be transformed into an on-demand hotel-style booking experience. Other verticals such as transportation, food delivery, general e-commerce, vacations, airfare, and even content-delivery verticals are now all on-demand and consumer-facing, optimized for quality, speed, efficiency, and ease of use.

We started HomeSuite in order to revolutionize the apartment rental process - for both tenants and landlords - by bringing the industry into the on-demand economy. It’s our mission to bring the apartment rental vertical online, and we are proud to announce our latest achievement - online booking, bringing a hotel-style booking experience to the furnished rental market.

**The History of Online Travel Booking**

In 1952, American Airlines unveiled their _Magnetronic Reservisor_ \- a vacuum tube and electromechanical proto-computer utilized for flight booking and seat availability tracking. The process was so slow and tedious, most algorithms took 90 minutes to find a solution for one seat!

Later in that decade, the University of Toronto and Trans Canada Airlines partnered to develop the first computerized reservation system known as the _Reservec_ system. Spurred on by their rivals, American Airlines partnered with IBM to develop _SABRE_ in 1959. The technological arms race for booking superiority was born.

Increased efficiency was a double-edged sword: although airlines became masters at juggling bookings, customers were overwhelmed with the explosion in booking options, and in conjunction with the birth of new destinations, the end user could not decipher nor balance multiple unique booking systems and options. Customers were quickly swamped researching fares, times, and layover destinations.

Enter travel agents: the demand for people who could juggle booking travel accommodations on behalf of customers quickly grew into an entire industry of experts. Still, the newfound industry of agents could not keep up with demand and championed for direct access to the systems airlines had in place.

Delta was the first to crack in 1976, having installed direct-access booking terminals in licensed travel agencies. Around the same time, United Airlines gave travel agents direct access to their _Apollo_ reservation system, a first for the airline industry.

1989: British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee drafts up what we know today as the World Wide Web, effectively bringing the entire human population online. No longer are customers limited to licensed travel agencies, and no longer are travel agents restricted to fixed terminals. The Internet, no longer reserved to a few institutions, is now commercially available.

1992: _Travicom_, later rebranded as Galileo, merges with United’s newly refined _Apollo_ system, which allows consumers to book travel accommodations on the web.

1994: _Travelweb.com_, built by a team led by John Davis from The Hotel Industry Switch Company _,_ goes live. The site was one of the first full online directories of hotels with room booking capabilities.

1996: Microsoft’s _Expedia_ division launches with airfare, hotel, and car bookings.

1996: American Airlines creates the Sabre subsidiary, which used the eponymously named algorithm _SABRE_. To compete with Microsoft, Sabre launches _Travelocity_ in the same year. _Travelocity_ brands itself as a “DIY” travel accommodation booking platform - the first documented open blow to the travel agent industry.

1996: Larry Page and Sergey Brin discover the most effective way to index and deliver content from the web. Google is born, and online travel platforms flock to advertise on Google’s earliest monetization strategy. Billions are spent.

2004: _HomeAway_ is born. One of the first “peer-to-peer” vacation rental marketplaces.

2005: _Priceline_ surges ahead with two major purchases: _Active Hotels_ and _Booking.com_.

2007: The first iPhone is revealed, and alongside, Apple releases their software development kit to the general public. Online travel booking companies scramble to create mobile responsive and app versions of their existing platforms. The mobile developement arms race begins as mobile bookings accelerate total travel bookings.

2008: Airbnb launches as a peer-to-peer marketplace for sharing rooms. Airbnb begins to out-nudge niche marketplaces like Couchsurfing.com from the web.

**Differences from the Hotel Industry.**

Online travel booking exploded between 1990 and 2010. In those two decades, hundreds of trillions of dollars flooded the international marketplace, were processed by credit card companies, fueled competition, and led to some of the world’s largest mergers, buyouts, hostile takeovers, and bankruptcies.

The hotel industry flourished as well thanks to hyper-connectivity and the massive boom in travel efficiency. Booking.com’s launch in 1996 paved the way for consumers that wanted to compare and book hotels. Customers were able to compare multiple hotel rooms at the same time without having to pull results from separate meta-search engines.

Fast forward 20 years: consumers can now book all travel accommodations from the comfort of their homes with a few clicks.

Despite hotels, airlines, cars, and auxiliary travel services like peer-to-peer room sharing which boomed in those two decades, one industry was left behind: Real estate.

Short term stays in hotels are incredibly efficient. Unfortunately, longer term housing solutions in houses and apartments remain archaic. Despite a few CRM programs built off the backs of hotel and commercial property management software, real estate remains offline, unconnected, and inefficient.

HomeSuite is already bringing the process online through our simple, all-inclusive apartment discovery and booking platform. But we’re taking it a step further with instantaneous online booking - a first for the apartment and real estate industry.

**How the HomeSuite Process Changes with Online Booking.**

Our new, even lower-touch online booking effort will benefit potential tenants through our live availability listings. Pre-qualified tenants can book without submitting an inquiry and without needing to speak to a sale representative. Landlords still benefit from our landlord rent guarantee, and tenants are still covered by our tenant booking guarantee.

Internally, the new process will improve inter-departmental cohesion, requiring fewer handoffs and less communication. Externally, the tenant can instantly book a property with just one click and not have to worry about going back and forth with the HomeSuite team.

**Customer Advantage.**

HomeSuite is unique. Our process sets us apart from our competitors and gives our tenants and landlords an edge that no other platform offers.

Some platforms reveal hidden fees at checkout disguised as local taxes, measures, or ‘convenience’ fees. For our tenants, what you see is what you get (and pay). Our listing prices are guaranteed through checkout.

Some platforms do not guarantee properties, leaving tenants a nasty surprise when clicking through from a property listing to a booked property message. For our tenants, unit availability is confirmed in advance, and the tenant is guaranteed that the property reserved for them.

**Why This Matters.**

As a licensed brokerage, we want to revolutionize real estate and travel by helping tenants discover and book furnished and unfurnished apartments.

Too many housing platforms are focused on discovery. The product is shallow and leaves tenants in limbo after search results are returned. We built our online booking feature to help the 43 million people who are renting in the US each year book a rental place as easily as they can book a hotel

At HomeSuite, we are committed through the entire process, from first search to move-in day. We want to streamline the apartment rental process, from corporate travel to finding the next place for you to call home.

The real estate vertical has stumbled into place in the staggered wakes of online travel booking and the latter vacation rental boom. We want to help the real estate industry catch up by providing high-quality, one-click bookable apartments and properties.

**What Happens Next?**

Our goal is to become the _online rental agency_ \- functionally similar to travel industries’ online travel agencies. We will create the world’s first ORA to work alongside existing OTAs.

Starting with online booking tools specific to short term rentals and apartments, we will propel the real estate industry forward one step at a time.

We will become the one-stop shop for seamless apartment rentals in the future, and building out our _Online Booking_ capability is a major step in the right direction.

Sources:

1. [https://skift.com/history-of-online-travel/](https://skift.com/history-of-online-travel/)
2. https://www.tnooz.com/article/a-brief-history-of-travel-technology-from-its-evolution-to-looking-at-the-future/
3. https://www.thomascook.com/about-us/#intcmp=Footer\_AboutUs
4. http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2014/mar/12/how-25-years-of-the-web-inspired-travel-revolution
5. [http://mashable.com/2012/02/21/online-travel-infographic/](http://mashable.com/2012/02/21/online-travel-infographic/)
6. https://www.nahb.org/en/research/housing-economics/housings-economic-impact/housings-contribution-to-gross-domestic-product-gdp.aspx
7. http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/jchs.harvard.edu/files/jchs\_americas\_rental\_housing\_2013\_1\_0.pdf

Business travel may seem like _all work and no play_, but plenty of clever traveling professionals are figuring out how to incorporate leisure into their business trips. In fact, combining business and leisure travel together is becoming the new norm. It’s a great way to make a work trip away from home more enjoyable and less stressful, feeling like a mini vacation.

Focusing on leisure activities during a business trip has [physiological](http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/03/for-a-more-creative-brain-travel/388135/) benefits, too. In short, creativity has a strong correlation to neuroplasticity, known as the ability for the brain to slowly rewire itself in response to new environments and stimuli. Columbia Business School professor Adam Galinsky is the author behind several studies which back his claims on the benefits of travel on creativity.

Even without the leisurely aspects, business travel has other benefits as well. According to the [Harvard Business Review](https://hbr.org/2016/06/the-hidden-benefits-of-short-term-business-travel), business travel is a great way to build confidence and self-esteem, and in addition, expose you to new cultures, customs, and business styles.

Adding leisure elements to any business trip is easy. In this guide, you’ll learn the benefits of taking an extra day or two around your actual business trip to be a tourist, learn about new and exciting restaurants, and discover the benefits of using furnished rentals that feel like home over hotels while working on the road.

**Be a tourist for a day.**

Seasoned business travelers will tell you that vacations start paying for themselves once frequent flyer miles really start piling up. Why wait to take a vacation when you can sneak one in before or after business meetings? The easiest way to grab some extra time is to fly in a day early and/or leave a day late. Not only will this tactic give you some breathing room without feeling rushed, but it will also give you a few hours to explore and act like a tourist for a day. Take advantage of a few of our travel hacks to maximize your time:

If you fly into [New York City](/content/furnished-rentals-new-york/index.html) for business a day early, skip the Empire State Building and instead go to 30 Rock: the view is better, the lines are shorter, tickets are cheaper, and the observation deck is much larger. Skip Liberty Island: the Statue of Liberty is prone to chronic and unexpected maintenance, leaving little to do on the island if you find yourself trapped on an unlucky day. Instead, take the Staten Island Ferry out to Staten Island from Battery Park City. The ride is free and the ferry is a 30 minute trip each way, giving you ample time to take in views of Lady Liberty and Ellis Island.

If you’re traveling for business in [Los Angeles](/content/furnished-rentals-los-angeles/index.html) or Orange County, it’s easy to sneak in a Disneyland day trip. The best time to go to Disneyland is during the off-season, especially during Fall right after Labor Day and in the middle of the week. Kids will be back in school and their parents will be back at work, so the crowds will be thin and composed of young families, empty-nesters, and a handful of other working professionals playing hooky.

Lastly, if you’re in the [San Francisco](/content/furnished-rentals-san-francisco/index.html) Bay Area, save Muir Woods for another trip as traffic going over the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin County reaches Los Angeles-level congestion. Muir Woods’ popularity has spiked out of control in the past few years, even though there is essentially zero parking. Instead, go hike among the trees at Henry Cowell State park. It’s in Santa Cruz and the drive is just as lovely as the hike. Just remember to pack well! San Francisco has an affinity for fog, and temperatures drop drastically.

**Learn to Eat Like a Local.**

Skipping the touristy areas not only saves you time on your business trip, but it also helps you discover places to eat off the beaten path and eliminate eating at predictable or nation-wide chains. For example, anything near Times Square in New York is going to be a killzone for food quality and wallet safety.

Instead of relying on pocket guides and cheerful concierges, read travel blogs from local contributors. Bryan Richards, the author of The Wandering Gourmand and contributing author at TripIt \- as well as a craft beer aficionado - recommends talking to locals to get insider [knowledge](http://thewanderinggourmand.com/) on the best places to eat. Your client or fellow employees at the new office are locals, but don’t be afraid to ask a barista, construction worker on break, or a tired-eyed commuter - these people hold the eyes to some secret spots guidebooks oftentimes overlook.

By talking to some of our own employees and travelers from around the world, we’ve put together our own list of places to check out:

New York City: The world’s cheapest Michelin starred restaurant [_Tim Ho Wan_](http://www.timhowan.com/) \- a popular chain of fast, high-quality dim sum - is right in the heart of Greenwich VIllage.

Los Angeles: [The Nighthawk Breakfast Bar](http://www.nighthawkbb.com/) might not be the most client-friendly meeting location, but this Los Angeles late-night hotspot is perfect for those avoiding anything business related while looking for a greasy fix after last call.

San Francisco: B44, a Spanish-inspired, tapas restaurant in the heart of Downtown San Francisco is a personal favorite of many of the Golden State Warriors.

Seattle: True to tradition, our Seattle recommendation isn’t brick-and-mortar. [The Seattle Barkery](http://www.theseattlebarkery.com/) is a speciality food truck for people and animals alike. Although this pet-friendly mobile bakery offers pet treats, the food truck also doubles as a human cafe, too.

Chicago: With two sit-down locations available, and many more retail stores in the city, [Pastoral](http://www.pastoralartisan.com/barpastoral) is an artisan cured meats and cheeses purveyor from international and local butchers.

Boston: Galleria Umberto’s is easily a local favorite, but unfortunately the cat is out of the bag. Lines for this cash-only pizzeria can creep into an hour long wait, but Bostonians will rave about it if asked. Umberto’s is tucked away in the North End.

Washington D.C.: Thunder Burger is at the intersection of gourmet and burgers, and can actually be found in Georgetown. Thunder Burger boasts an avante garde, rock-and-roll atmosphere, so be careful what clients you choose to invite!

**Hotels are Dead. Long Live Furnished Rentals.**

Some business trips last just one night, but others require you to float around a city for days (or weeks) on end. A furnished rental can act as a home away from home while traveling for work for extended periods of time. From vacation rentals, to sublets, and even entire homes, more and more business travelers are turning away from hotel networks and staying in short term rentals. Going with a short term rental is the best way to see the world while still [working](/content/blog/working-from-home-in-a-furnished-rental/index.html) with all the luxuries of living at home. It’s also the perfect option for people who crave the nomadic lifestyle without being confined to ~400 sq/ft hotel rooms.

Traveling graphic designers Daniel and Jihee of Future Minimalists fit the nomadic bill and champion the work-travel-leisure lifestyle. After bouncing between different rental platforms and numerous hotels, Daniel discovered HomeSuite, and then found a place in Nob Hill for his family to call home. He was able to continue his nomadic quest as a roving designer while staying in a furnished rental.

Why not travel the country and skip extended stay hotels whenever you can avoid them? The short term- and vacation-rental industry is the best way to experience new place while still having all the comforts of home.

Adding leisure to any business trip is easier than it seems. Taking an extra day or two around your actual business trip to be a tourist will help you not only clear your mind, but also discover new cultures in different parts of the country / world. Another benefit is that you can try out unique restaurants and add some much deserved time off without dipping into your miles. Make sure to check out our other business travel guide to [staying fit on the road](/content/blog/business-travel-fitness-guide/index.html) before heading out on your next assignment.

The Career Spotlight Series was created to help interested applicants get a better understanding of internal operations here at HomeSuite, and each installment focuses on a specific role in the company. In the first [installment](/content/blog/working-at-homesuite/index.html), I talked to Ross, an in-house recruiter, to create an overview of our company culture and hiring expectations. For the second installment of our Career Spotlight Series, I sat down with Anthony Perez, a sales development representative, to give prospective applicants a view into a day in the life of an SDR here at [HomeSuite](/content/site-root.html).

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Anthony graduated from UCSB in 2015. Thanks to a previous internship program, _College Works_, coupled with a passion for real estate and architecture, Anthony was no stranger to real estate and B2C sales.

“HomeSuite fit my criteria,” explained Anthony, “I like leadership roles, and HomeSuite was looking for that.”

**Life on the Front Lines.**

_Take me through a day in the life of an SDR. What can a new hire expect?_

“As a sales development representative, we are on the front lines. We are near the top of the sales funnel smiling and dialing. We are responsible for qualifying all inbound leads. Our leads are tenants who are looking to book a place. It’s our responsibility to qualify each and every lead. We’re responsible for determining every prospective tenant’s budget, preferred property size, location, dates, and party size, and then we have to make sure we can match the specific needs of the tenant. When a lead is qualified, it’s passed off as a warm lead to a territory manager, who then moves the lead deeper into the funnel.”

“Since we are working on the top of the sales funnel, we get to educate leads. Surprisingly, I’ve also had the opportunity to talk to a number of famous athletes and not even realized it until the sale closed later!”

“One of the most important things about doing well in this position is taking initiative and control of your learning. This is not a hand-holding environment but an environment where it’s important to be accountable for your own development. This job is perfect for someone who can thrive in a fast-paced environment, wants to learn, asks a lot of questions, and wants to be apart of something we are all creating.”

**‘A lot of dialing and smiling.’**

_Anthony, what’s it like working at HomeSuite from your perspective?_

“Everyday is a lot of fun. Honestly, I never get bored because there is always so much going on. Every week is something new and every day is different.”

“What I really like about working here is that it’s a very comfortable, friendly, and social environment. They take care of you here, too. For example, I’ve had a lot of car trouble recently so I needed to work remotely while waiting for my car to be fixed. Having the team be willing to accommodate my needs shows that HomeSuite really takes care of its employees.”

“Since we are on the front lines and the first point of contact with our leads, we’re always looking for ways to innovate and to make our sales funnel more efficient. Being a sales development representative at HomeSuite means you have a lot of opportunity to be creative, suggest solutions, and see your input shape the company. Josh, my manager, is very open to collaboration and values my opinions.”

**‘This isn’t a typical 9-5’**

_Getting gritty, who isn’t fit for this position?_

“To someone who needs formal training, I’m sorry to say this isn’t a training ground. In fact, I took initiative and responsibility for our in-house SDR toolbox and built it myself.”

“To someone who wants predictability, again you should look elsewhere. If you aren’t comfortable grinding, speaking on the phone, and committing to being an SDR, this isn’t the place for you.”

“HomeSuite is fast-paced. Very fast-paced. It’s also a lot of responsibility - we expect you to take initiative with your objectives and you need to take responsibility for your mistakes. We need someone who is open and clear with good communication skills. You need to have a positive mindset and thick skin. Sales is very difficult and it isn’t for the faint of heart.”

**Our Mission & Who We Are.**

Our mission is to bring the entire rental marketplace online. Too many companies build platforms focusing on discovery. Unfortunately, so few address anything beyond the first search. While working at HomeSuite, you’ll be apart of the solution helping people find fully-furnished, short term rentals while guiding tenants through the entire rental process, from the first inquiry to move-out day. In the process, we will simultaneously remove the pain points within the rental vertical and help tenants and landlords enjoy navigating the real estate industry.

Originally founded in Palo Alto in 2015, CEO and co-founder David Adams built HomeSuite to combat the principles plaguing the rental process: it was too difficult to find high-quality, vetted listings without worrying which listing might be a scam and which listing might actually work out. All of our property listings are authentic and all of our tenants are qualified lessees. We work with both tenants and landlords,and we focus our efforts evenly. From discovery through booking, a HomeSuite employee is there with you every step of the way. We currently operate in multiple markets, including the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, Los Angeles, Orange County, Washington D.C., Chicago, Seattle, and Boston.

Business travel is an inauspicious break from your routine. It can be an additional source of work-related stress and another hurdle for your fitness goals. Staying in shape with a busy schedule is hard enough, and required travel for work makes staying fit a real challenge. We’ve put together a guide for business travelers to beat the odds while avoiding time-consuming routines.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to pack for business and fitness, avoid the pitfalls of air travel, learn unconventional ways to stay in shape while traveling, and discover social hacks to cut down on calorie-rich food and drinks despite social convention.

**Packing for Business and Fitness.**

Business travel starts with packing, and staying fit shouldn’t warrant bringing another bag if done right. The volume of clothes will depend on the length and destination of the trip, and as founder of _Real Men Real Style_ Antonio Centeno says, traveling to colder climates presents “contradictory goals.” [Packing](http://www.realmenrealstyle.com/pack-light-business-trip/) for business travel is about going as light as possible while packing the bulkiest clothes available.

It’s best to pack wool over linen. Linen is prone to wrinkling, and wool is known for it’s simple, yet elegant, appearance in a professional setting. You can double your wardrobe with a full suit, using it as a matched set or two separate pieces matched with additional pants and jackets for a casual outfit.

The standard carry-on dimensions for domestic airlines is a humble 22″ x 13″ x 9″, which grants little room. However, plan your outfits [ahead](https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/275163) by choosing a pair of shoes that will match all available outfit combinations. Shorter business trips don’t require multiple sets of workout gear, so to stay in shape while traveling for work, you only need to bring one pair of shoes.

**Air Travel Tips.**

Airport security can be aggravatingly slow, especially when traveling during major holidays or around the weekends. Tourists and infrequent flyers are unaware of the unwritten and unspoken rules secretly facilitating security line efficiency. Thanks to The Points Guy, an authority on all things points, miles and air travel, there are ways to beat the lines.

If you are new to business travel, or just haven’t figured it out yet, major airlines and the TSA offer “short cut” programs to skip the standard security screening lines. TSA offers a program called “PreCheck,” a pre-screening program available to all frequent flyers looking to minimize travel time and maximize efficiency. TSA Pre-Check is a no brainer for any regular business travelers.

In addition to signing up for programs like _PreCheck_ and [_CLEAR_](http://thepointsguy.com/2015/03/clear-expedited-airport-security-program-is-it-worthwhile/), booking ‘Premium,’ ‘Priority,’ or ‘A-list’ class tickets from major airlines will allow you to sprint through security in designated lines, making business travel a breeze. And of course, remember to dress smart and act professional. To speed things up, remember that laptops always go in a separate bin and have your shoes off and ready to go before approaching the body scanner. Saving time going through security frees you up to focus on the things you actually care about.

Air travel is the bane of business travelers, and airplanes are a secret threat to maintaining fitness. Contrary to popular belief, the air on airplanes is incredibly clean (99.97% clean on Boeing models). According to First Officer Patrick Smith from [Askthepilot.com](http://www.askthepilot.com/questionanswers/cabin-air-quality/), the air you breathe isn’t from smelly passengers - it’s actually a blend of fresh and recycled air thanks to on-board hospital-grade air filters.

Clean airplane air comes at a cost: the air is incredibly dry at an alarming 12% average humidity! Business travel and alcohol often go hand in hand, and booze coupled with high-calorie meals offered by airlines in a low-humidity, bacteria-rich environment, make air travel the perfect storm for a compromised immune system. Remember to drink plenty of water and to wash your hands frequently. Staying hydrated is a critical part of staying fit, so it’s important to drink plenty of water while flying.

**Fitness on the Road.**

Fitness while traveling for business doesn’t require an expensive membership to a national gym chain. There are several ways to stay fit without setting foot in a gym. The best way to stay fit while on the road…is to hit the road. Running is the best exercise for the cost, and some even forgo buying shoes and run barefoot! If you are traveling for business and happen to stay in one of our short term rentals in Boston, we have already put together a [guide](/content/blog/top-five-running-routes-in-boston/index.html) of our top five running routes in Boston.

Bodyweight exercises are another free and easy way to stay in shape while traveling. While out on a run, incorporate bodyweight routines using playgrounds. Steve at _Nerd Fitness_ has put together a comprehensive program built around playgrounds. Check out Nerd Fitness’ entire “Playground Workout” \- an authoritative guide incredibly useful for staying fit while traveling for work.

Sometimes business travel throws you into inclement weather, reserving running and outdoor bodyweight routines for the fearless. There are many bodyweight [routines](http://www.active.com/fitness/articles/staying-fit-on-the-road-876856) readily available online and are all easy to do inside a hotel room with little to no equipment. From rubber [resistance bands](https://www.rubberbanditz.com/shop/) to subscription-based programs like [Daily Burn](http://dailyburn.com/), there are endless bodyweight exercises and fitness routines to do inside a hotel room (with minimal packing!).

If you’re in the mood to hit the gym while on a business trip, you can take advantage of free and introductory trials from local gyms. Infrequent business travel comes with a silver lining: a free gym pass under the guise of a free trial is a great way to keep up with your training. A vast majority of rock climbing gyms offer cheap day pass packages, and rock climbing is a bodyweight routine, too. If you travel more frequently for business, check out this [list](http://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/11-biggest-fitness-chains-in-america-362130/) from Insider Monkey on the largest national gym chains in the country.

**Eating Well.**

A solid diet is the foundation to any routine and is a vital aspect of staying fit while traveling for work. Unfortunately, high-calorie foods and alcohol are mainstays for business travel. In order to stay on target, make sure to stick to water as much as possible - staying hydrated is not only healthy, but water is also a great substitute for sugary drinks.

As Matt from [Nomadic Matt](http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/stay-in-shape-travel/) puts it in his guide on fitness and travel, “you can’t outrun a bad diet, and you can’t out-train one either.” Having traveled and eaten around the world without compromising his health, Matt can attest to eating well in unfamiliar places. Focus on keeping yourself satiated with vegetables and some proteins, knowing that there’s always room for a drink or two.

Besides avoiding grease, oils, and skillet-cooked meals (which are heavy in butter), be mindful when snacking on nuts and fruits. Also, make sure to drink water in between drinks, especially considering how many calories can creep up on you during a business trip. Lastly, don’t skip breakfast! Natasha Withers, a contributor for Entrepreneur.com, says “skipping breakfast will leave you low on [energy](https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/246402) and starving for junk food later.” The dangers of skipping breakfast are backed by numerous cohort studies, which show a strong correlation between skipping breakfast and weight gain.

Business travel isn’t the time to let loose and pack on pounds. There are many ways to workout without a gym. The secrets to staying fit on a business trip are minimizing stress, staying hydrated, being mindful of what food and drinks you are putting into your body, and staying as active as possible. Staying fit while traveling for work doesn’t require a gym, but free and discounted gym passes are easy to come by. Remember to pack light and pack smart for all types of business travel, and if you are a frequent business traveler in need of month to month rentals, check out our listings of [short term rentals](/content/site-root.html)!

Moving in with your partner is a significant step in any relationship. Many couples decide to rent an apartment together for any number of reasons. Some see it as a way to save money. Some rent together out of sheer convenience. Others see it as the next stage towards marriage, whereas some see it as a marriage “test” to iron out any unforeseen kinks. All reasons are important, and regardless of why you’ve chosen to move in together in a new place, here are five tips for renting a furnished apartment with your partner.

#1 Where are we going to live?

When looking at renting a new apartment with your partner, it all begins with the [search](/content/blog/how-to-rent-your-first-apartment/index.html). Searching for an apartment with your partner has a few more unique twists than renting alone or with a roommate. While searching for your first apartment, you might decide a [furnished](/content/blog/types-of-rentals/index.html) apartment is an excellent option as little needs to be moved in. If you’re looking outside our network of landlords, creating a renter’s [resume](/content/blog/how-to-create-a-renters-resume/index.html) with both parties’ histories is a smart way to make a great first impression.

#2 What are we bringing?

Renting a furnished apartment with your partner is an easy way to eliminate moving and decorating headaches. There’s little you need to bring with you and the concept of “moving in” is virtually non-existent. Furnished apartments are a great stepping stone to something much larger, like home ownership, or are a great way to travel while still being able to [work from home](/content/blog/working-from-home-in-a-furnished-rental/index.html).

The best way to plan for a move with your partner is to take inventory of all the items you have now. When the duplicate items are discovered, you can make a decision to what needs to be sold, put in storage, or donated. Items like TVs and chairs can be duplicated, whereas multiple toasters and mattresses are overkill.

#3 Who is going to pay for what?

When renting a furnished apartment with your partner, finances like utilities and rents are all bundled together in one monthly fee. When renting unfurnished, some fees and utilities come from different providers, and keeping track of finances is one of the biggest challenges couples face.

There are different ways to determine how much each person will contribute. One school of thought is to have the person with the higher income cover a greater percentage of all costs. This is determined by figuring out the difference in compensation (by percentage), and then applying that ratio to all costs. The other way is to “go Dutch” and settle on a 50/50 split regardless of income.

Once it’s decided who will pay how much for what, there are different ways to allocate and manage a budget. Both methods work when renting unfurnished and furnished apartments with your partner.

The “pay and reimburse” method. Financial apps like [Splitwise](https://www.splitwise.com/) can keep track of who has paid and who owes cash. Finance apps allow one person to give the other partner their share of rent so one check can be sent to the landlord on behalf of both parties.

The “joint account” method. Setting up a joint account just to pay for bills is another more permanent way to keep track of credits and debts. Both parties contribute their set amount into the joint account, and the funds from the joint account are only used to pay utilities, rents, and other bills that come with apartment living.

#4 Who is doing what chores?

Before moving in together, talk about what chores need to be done around the apartment and who is responsible for each task. Make a chore chart to determine a time table for chore responsibilities. Working varying schedules will give rise to conflicts, especially if one person gets home before the other and doesn’t address a mess. It’s also best to balance apartment chores with finances. For example, if one person is responsible for buying groceries, the other person might be responsible for cooking or cleaning.

#5 Are we going to be glued at the hip?

When renting together, whether it’s a furnished apartment or an unfurnished home, having personal time is something seldom discussed but often a source of conflict. Establish personal time and space. Make sure you honor alone time so each person has personal time for their own hobbies and friends. A couple is made of two unique people, each with their own passions and personalities. This is one of the biggest points to tackle renting a furnished apartment with your partner and a key to a healthy relationship!