How to Be a Short-Term Summer Housing Pro

African American woman searching for short-term apartment lease on computer in trendy coffee shopYou’ve just landed the coveted internship you were gunning for, or maybe you are relocating temporarily for work. Either way, one thing is certain: you need to find short-term housing. This is no easy task.

With more and more millennials opting to rent rather than buy, the development of new rental housing hasn’t been able to keep up with demand in 10 out of 11 of America’s largest cities. In fact, according to the United States Census Bureau, the nation’s stock of available rental housing is lower than it’s been in more than two decades. Luckily the real estate gurus at Apartmentsearch.com have a host of useful tools that’ll make finding that rental a snap. Here’s what you need to know to make the most of your short-term housing situation, including how to furnish it easily and economically.

Get a feel for your new city. At the very least, find out where the best food is and where you can get access to public transit. Next, figure out where the entertainment hot spots are and where amenities like parks, museums, and shopping can be found. If you can swing it, take a trip to your new temporary home and explore. Most cities have different neighborhoods with unique vibes all their own. Walk through a few neighborhoods and check out local blogs or moving guides to see which area fits your vibe!

Now that you know where you want to live, head to ApartmentSearch.com and use our expertly designed search engine to find your perfect pad. You can search by specific neighborhoods or amenities (hot tub anyone?), as well as by price and type of housing, like “short-term.” Gotta find a place that will love Fido and Felix as much as you do? Limit your search to locations that are pet friendly!

What about furniture? We know what you’re thinking: the only thing harder than finding a short-term apartment rental in today’s economy is furnishing one. Luckily CORT.com has you covered! Provide your zip code and your lease length (anywhere from 1 to 12 months) and check out the furniture rental options in your area. With thousands of options to choose from to fit any budget (whether you want to furnish one room or a whole house) you’ll find what you need to make your temporary abode the home you never want to leave.

To really speed things up…skip packing, unpacking, and furniture shopping altogether. Limit your search to only furnished apartments to really save some time every step of the way. And if you’re worried that the couch or curtains won’t reflect your style–don’t. You’re in a new city to accomplish something great, remember? You’re going to save the world at that once-in-a-lifetime internship, rock that seminar you’re leading, or get an A+ in that summer calculus class! When you’re searching for short-term housing on ApartmentSearch.com, simply click “I’m interested in fully furnished rental options,” and the system will do the searching for you. Just sit back, enjoy your summer, and start prepping for your adventure, however “short-term” it may be!