If you’re selling your house now or during the holiday’s but aren’t quite sure where you’ll be moving to yet, you are probably considering what your temporary housing options are. The good news is that there are a variety of solutions and places to stay while you either build a new home or move forward with buying a home. The option that works best for you will depend on how long you need temporary housing, what type of amenities you need and how much can you afford to pay while working out the details on purchasing a new home.
One of these temporary housing solutions is sure to be a good fit for you, but first consider these three factors that will determine what type of housing you’ll need:
Your Family Size
A single person or small family has a little more flexibility when searching for temporary housing than a family with a lot of kids. Likewise camping out for a month could be an adventure when you’re young, but if you’re older the idea of sleeping on the ground while you search for a new home could be less than appealing. So first, determine what your families needs and priorities are in your search for a temporary home.
Your Pets
Even if the family pet is a simple hamster or parakeet, the family pet goes with the family and not all places will allow pets of any kind in a rental or temporary situation. A dog or a cat complicates matters further so if you have family nearby that can temporarily watch your pet while you are in transition then that will help free up your options.
Your Belongings
Most types of temporary housing would mean storing your stuff off-site in a storage unit or family members garage. Keep in mind any costs associated with storing your stuff, including the cost of moving it into and out of the storage facility. Plan ahead for what belongings you need to have access to and what belongings you’ll need in your short-term housing.
Now that you’ve thought through some of the particulars regarding your move, here are some temporary housing options you’ll find in Utah:
Stay in Your Home
Perhaps the option most often overlooked is to work with an investor to purchase your home AND allow you to stay in your home for a time after purchase. Gary at Gary Buys Houses can purchase your house and let you remain there for up to 60 days after the sale at no cost to you. This gives you much needed time to move or to free up the funds from the sale of your home to roll into a new purchase without the stress of moving in with family or locating temporary housing. Contact Gary about getting a quote on your home today.
Rent Back Your Home
You can work with the purchaser of your home to institute a Post Occupancy Closing Agreement — basically the option to rent back your house and live there for a set amount of time, paying rent to the new home owners. There are pros and cons to these types of agreements, you can read all about them HERE.
Gary also offers the option of renting back your home. If he purchases your house you can work out a rent back agreement for up to one year after closing at below market rent payments. If you have pets or kids then a rent back could be your simplest solution for temporary housing. Read about having an investor purchase your home with a rent back agreement HERE.
Rent an RV
Depending on how long you’ll need temporary housing and how big your family is, an RV could be a good temporary home. If you think the idea of traveling around, paying for gas and driving the huge vehicle doesn’t sound appealing then keep in mind that just because your house is on wheels doesn’t mean you have to take it on the road.
There are RV campgrounds all throughout Utah and you could choose one close to work or your old neighborhood and park the RV for the time you need temporary housing. If you find yourself in need of a home during warmer weather months than an RV rental in a pretty campsite can be a fun and adventurous way to live for the short-term.
Cheap Hotel
If money is an issue then finding a cheap hotel is an option. While the amenities won’t be ideal — you’ll probably only have a mini fridge and microwave — this might not be a big issue if you’re gone at work all day and just need to save money while searching for your new home. The cost of a cheap hotel can add up quickly if you find yourself eating out, paying for a storage unit or staying longer than you had anticipated. If you think you might be living in temporary housing for a month or more then the next hotel solution below might be a better fit.
Stay in an Extended Stay Hotel
Hotels that offer extended stay rooms and rates are a simple solution for temporary housing. These types of hotels are easier to locate than an apartment with a monthly lease and it will be fully furnished with a mini kitchen so you don’t have to incur expensive dining bills while you search for your new home. While these are a great solution for the short-term, if you think you’ll be in the hotel for longer than a month then the price can add up quickly.
Book an AirBnB
If finding a fully furnished place is at the top of your temporary housing wish list then an Airbnb could be a good option for you. There are plenty of options depending on your family size, anything from a shared room, private room or an entire house. If you’re moving during the off-season for travel then you could get good discounted rates on an Airbnb and potentially negotiate a rate for a longer term stay.