Posted on Monday, October 20 2025
We’ve talked before about how corporate housing can be a fantastic accommodation solution when you need a home away from home for a few weeks or months, but what do you do when you need to choose that accommodation without being able to see the actual property – or even spend much time in your new city – before you get there?Here are our 7 tips for choosing the right corporate housing for you:
1. Choose a reputable provider. This may be the most crucial factor in determining the quality of your stay. You want to choose a corporate housing provider which has an established track record, a good variety of properties to choose from, is accredited by an industry organization, and which has a good reputation for customer service.
2. Make a list of the things that are important to you in a home. This could include living space, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, whether you can bring your pets, a walkable neighbourhood, amenities like a swimming pool or fitness room, a dedicated office space – the more you know about what’s best for your lifestyle, the easier it will be to select a suite, home or townhome that meets your needs.
3. Get referrals. Google and TripAdvisor reviews are one thing, but nothing beats a detailed referral from a friend or family member about their experience. Not just with specific corporate housing providers, but about neighbourhoods and locations. You might be surprised at what you can learn from someone who’s been there and done that.
4. Look at all the photos – and a floor plan, if possible. Just about any living space can look appealing in one or two photos that have been artfully posed. Before selecting a place to make your temporary home base, make sure you’ve been able to look at photos of every room, including bathrooms, bedrooms and kitchen. And feel free to request a floor plan. The last thing you want is to be stuck in a condo where the bathroom door hits the bed when you open it, or the ‘couch’ turns out to be a tiny loveseat.
5. Use Google Maps to walk the neighbourhood. If you can’t visit your new temporary home in person, using Google Maps street view is a good substitute. You can see what it would be like to walk around the block or get to the local grocery store. (Some people say that using Google Maps to tour the neighbourhood before they arrive also gives them a sense of familiarity that helps to lessen the discombobulation that can happen after a big move.)
6. Make a list of what you like to do in your leisure time. Do you like to go jogging or hiking or do you like to spend weekends window shopping? Then location may be the most important factor for your temporary home, near parks or downtown areas. Do you like to curl up on the couch and binge-watch streaming services? Then a cozy living room with a fireplace might be at the top of your list. Being able to enjoy your down time is more important than you think when it comes to feeling at home.
7. Make a phone call. We’ve all become accustomed to making purchasing decisions via the internet, which is fine when you’re buying a toaster or even a couple of nights at a hotel. But when you’re choosing a home away from home for what may be a few months, it’s often worth making a phone call and talking to a live person about your options. A customer service person at a corporate housing provider will know about the city, neighbourhood and properties you’re thinking about, so they can answer your specific questions.
How Premiere Suites can help As the largest provider of corporate housing in Canada, we’ve worked with thousands of organizations around the world, providing accommodation for employees who are traveling for work or relocating for a few weeks or months. With more than 1500 furnished suites, homes and townhomes across Canada, plus a network of more than 10,000 more furnished residences, we’ve got accommodations to suit just about everyone!