Are Cheaper Housing Solutions Worth The Risk?

In recent years more and more alternative housing and transportation startups have been popping up in the press. These companies offer cheaper transportation options such as Uber and less expensive hotel and extended stay alternatives like Airbnb.

In the current NYC furnished apartment market, more options have become available for people wanting to pay a bit less by using illegal and unregulated services. This leaves tenants constantly having to assess the risk to reward ratio. With reputable furnished apartment companies you will never have to worry about the risks that accompany illegal businesses like Airbnb.

116 John Street, Manhattan NY

Know What You’re Getting in a Furnished Apartment

Because of the undercurrent of possible risk when using Airbnb, you have to be knowledgeable and educate yourself about the service. Be wary of misleading ads, dwelling descriptions, and reviews that may be fabricated. Even if you believe the individual hosting the rental is trustworthy, research the environment around the property including neighbors and noise.
A credible furnished housing company should provide you with transparency in regard to the parties involved and the immediate surroundings of the rental. Their site should include multiple photos of the apartment, the name of the building and it’s amenities, local services, public transportation options as well as a map of the neighborhood.

…And Something Always Goes Wrong

When using services like Airbnb, you may become a part of an illegal transaction that may not seem like a huge deal but if a problem arises it can ruin your stay, or worse. Oftentimes the person you’re renting from is not even residing in the same city you are.

Some questions to keep in mind:

• Who is liable for any accidents within the rented apartment?
• What if a neighbor is excessively loud during late hours of the night or likes to cook very pungent exotic food?
• What if that same neighbor complains about you and the police come? (Remember they are there legally and you are not!)
• Can you be thrown out of an AIRBNB apartment at a moment’s notice?
• Was it cleaned properly and inspected for the infamous NYC pests like rodents, cockroaches, and bedbugs?
• Who do you call for plumbing emergencies?
• What if you absolutely just hate the place you are in?

Matt Damico, a temporary housing specialist at Alternative Business Accommodations and IDEAL Furnished Housing explains, “We go through great lengths to select the best buildings for our apartments and help our clients choose the best location depending on their needs. It’s rare that one of our clients requests a transfer of their location but we can usually move them to a new apartment or even a different building. We have our own quality and cleaning staff and not a contracted one. Our guests know they can call our main office in Midtown Manhattan and get a live person immediately to help them with their problem or dispatch a staff member to assist. People like knowing they are not completely alone on their own in a new city.”

It is New York City After All…

While NYC is known for being one of the most beautiful and exciting cites in the world, it is also accompanied by all of the problems that any large city has, including crime. New York City law states that only hotels may rent rooms for less than 30 days unless the owner is also occupying the unit. While renting in an unlicensed hotel or apartment building you’re dealing with a person or organization that may be knowingly breaking the housing laws of New York City. Also, a traveler can never be sure if others in the building are watching them and noticing that they are from out of town, making them an easy target for theft or other crimes.
Security is a top priority for credible furnished housing companies. Arrangements are private and professional and many facilities have a 24-hour doorman in addition to round-the-clock customer service.

Going through a professional extended stay housing company may be a little more expensive but there is peace of mind knowing that you are dealing with a team of business professionals held accountable for delighting residents. Professional accommodation companies tend to clients including business travelers and executives from some of the world’s best known companies and organizations. All transactions are above board, and the residences are designed with the safety and comfort of you and your family in mind.

The need for temporary housing naturally arises as a result of transition or travel, which is often accompanied by some level of stress. A professional furnished apartment company alleviates some of this stress by taking care of concerns about comfort, security, and overall experience satisfaction. When looking for furnished apartments in NYC remember: gray area organizations may have appeal at first, but choose wisely.