Temporary apartment living (Huntsville, Madison, Waverly: relocation, realty, housing)

[Big Ken]

Well, I've accepted my job offer and my wife and I will be moving soon. We'll be coming down the 17th to start our house-hunting trip and plan on finalizing a decision on a few homes we've looked at.

My question is, I doubt if our house there will be closed and ready to go prior to us actually getting there. If not, can anyone recommend an efficiency apartment that we could stay in temporarily on a month to month basis? Something that is furnished as our stuff will be in storage and is pet friendly. I found a place called Waverly Place in Madison on-line and was going to check with them to see if they would fit the bill - any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[Keeper]

Not sure if you checked here, but there is some info about temp housing.

Helpful links if you are moving to the Huntsville area

[Charles]

What about Oakwood Apartments?

Does your company limit your expenses for the temporary housing?

Where are the homes you are looking at? Same general place or many different places?

[Keeper]

[java85]

Hey Big Ken, I live out that way! They are doing a lot of remodeling and revitalizing the community to make it upscale to compete with the 3-story townhome neighborhood off of Slaughter Road across from the Madison Christian Academy. Good luck in finding your temporary stay and welcome to Huntsville!

[Southeastern]

http://www.sealyrealty.com/highlandpointe.html

Check out Highland Pointe apartments.

On Jeff Road, a 1/4 mile north of University Blvd and Jeff Rd intersection.

You can get a furnished "corporate" apt month by month.

[zenjenn]

Yes, there are a few "corporate apartments", month to month and furnished. Wouldn't be a bad way to go, really. If you are on a budget signing a short term lease and renting furniture (if necessary) is more economical. There are regular apt. complexes that will let you sign a 3 month lease and then pay month-to-month after the lease. That's what we did. It was an extra $100 a month to have the short-term lease but, in the end, the cost, even with renting furniture, was cheaper than a furnished corporate apt. 3 month lease is reasonable, IMO. Between time to hunt for a house, and whatever the escrow is, 3 months is about right. It took us 2 1/2 months and the extra two weeks was nice to have in terms of moving/getting settled into our new house at our leisure.

[Big Ken]

I think I'll end up going with ZennJenn's suggestion since we would probably only need a place for a relatively short term - get a regular apartment and then rent some basic furniture. The issue will probably be our 2 indoor cats and 1 medium sized dog and finding a place that will allow them. We're going to be in town the 17th thru the 25th on a house hunting trip so we'll look at that during the same time frame. Unfortunately I'm going to eat up most of our relocation benefits before my wife gets there. I report to the new job June 6th while she'll stay here at home wrapping stuff up and finishing out the school year (elementary school health clerk) so I'll be living in a hotel until I go home and get her in late July.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

[Southeastern]

http://www.valueplace.com

If you're going to be in a hotel that long, you may want to check out Value Place hotel on Madison Blvd.