Top Tips for the Temporary Move

Question: "It's only three months. Or six months. Or a year. How bad can it be?"

Answer: Truly, truly awful. You may need a temporary move because your career calls for a short-term assignment. You may be renting while you build your dream house. You may have relocated temporarily to help a close friend or family member.

Short-term moves can be more difficult - and can cost you more money - than a "permanent" move. Why?

First, many communities are designed for home buyers and vacationers.

When Geraldine Ferraro's son was sentenced to a year's probation on a drug charge, he was criticized for serving his sentence in a luxury apartment. His mother pointed out that there were simply no low-cost, short-term rental options in that wealthy community. I believe her.

Second, even when short-term options exist, they may be less desirable. College towns tend to offer short-term student housing and longer-term faculty housing. Short-term leases may be located in noisy student complexes or less desirable neighborhoods.

Informal leasing?

Sometimes you can lease from someone who is also going away. These situations can be ideal. However, you will be living among someone else's treasured possessions.

Jennifer rented a house in the midwest while the owners spent a happy year in Italy. "They claimed that all their furniture was antique, even though it wasn't. I had to tiptoe around their junk and they took all my deposit to remove the non-existent cat hair."

You may be asked to give monthly rides to a needy relative, water the plants or take care of the pets. Inevitably, the rides will switch to weekly, the plants will die and the pets will take their cues from the stars of the movie, The Incredible Journey.

I'd like to tell you to get everything in writing and refuse special requests, but you probably won't do it. I wouldn't either.

What can you do?

First, if at all possible, take a house-hunting trip. Spend a minimum of two full days. It will be expensive, but the alternatives are worse.

Second, visit at least three rental options, if indeed three options exist. If a friend or leasing agent shows you around, do not make any commitment, even if the friend tells you that the park is your only other option. The next day, get a local paper and explore additional options, by yourself or with another agent.

Often you will find that the first friend or agent was terrific and you can't do better on your own. Well, now you have built a relationship of trust and you're no worse off. But be ready for downside surprises too.

Third, try to find a month-to-month rental. Do not sign a full year's lease until you have absolutely ruled out other options.

Fourth, if you leave a security deposit, ask the landlord for references. Many landlords are honest, but others will realize you won't buy a plane ticket to file a claim for a $500 deposit. Explore your options if you find yourself in a dispute: Small Claims Court, Real Estate Board, Consumer Affairs agencies. Often the threat of a report will encourage a recalcitrant landlord to start thinking good thoughts about good karma.

Never say, "It's only..."

Regardless, I've learned not to say, "It's only a year," or, "It's only six months." Six months can seem like forever. Worse, you can lose large sums of money if you have to leave early or if you find your rental is not habitable. And you want to look back on your temporary move as a fun time and not a series of hassles.

If you enjoyed this article, you'd really like my weekly ezine. You''ll get two Special Reports as a bonus when you sign up.

The best resource for moving: My book, Making the Big Move. Now available for instant download.

About The Author

Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a Second Career. http://www.cathygoodwin.com.

"Ten secrets of mastering a major life change" http://www.cathygoodwin.com

Contact: http://www.cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294

best cleaning company Highland Park ..

In The News:

Smart home hacking fears overblown? Expert reveals real cybersecurity risks and simple protection tips to keep your connected devices safe from hackers.

MIT develops needle-free glucose monitor using light technology. Revolutionary device could replace painful finger pricks for diabetes management.

The ClickFix campaign disguises malware as legitimate Windows updates, using steganography to hide shellcode in PNG files and bypass security detection systems.

Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University designed a 21-foot dome that combines aquaculture and hydroponics to create a self-sustaining urban food system.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

ChatGPT data breach exposes personal info of users through partner Mixpanel. OpenAI confirms names, emails compromised in security incident.

Android rolls out Emergency Live Video for 911 calls, letting dispatchers see real-time scenes during emergencies. Great for holiday travel safety.

Malicious Chrome and Edge extensions collected browsing history, keystrokes and personal data from millions of users before Google and Microsoft removed them.

Google's new Call Reason feature lets Android users mark calls as urgent before dialing, displaying an urgent label to recipients using Phone by Google app.

Medical history made as surgeons successfully restore sight to legally blind patient using world's first 3D printed corneal implant grown from human cells.

Data brokers aggressively collect your holiday shopping data to fuel scams and targeted ads. Learn how to delete your digital profile before 2025 starts.

Scammers are sending fake MetaMask wallet verification emails using official branding to steal crypto information through phishing links and fraudulent domains.

Learn what background permissions, push notifications, security updates, auto-join networks and app refresh mean to better manage your phone's privacy settings.

Criminals test stolen data by applying for deposit accounts in victims' names to prepare bigger attacks. Learn why banks won't share fraud details.

New study of 10,500+ kids reveals early smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and poor sleep by age 12. Earlier phones mean higher risks.

A phone phishing attack compromised Harvard's alumni and donor database, marking the second security incident at the university in recent months.

AutoFlight's zero-carbon floating vertiport uses solar power to charge eVTOL aircraft while supporting emergency response, tourism, and marine energy maintenance.

A new phone return scam targets recent buyers with fake carrier calls. Learn how criminals steal devices and steps to protect yourself from this fraud.

New Anthropic research reveals how AI reward hacking leads to dangerous behaviors, including models giving harmful advice like drinking bleach to users seeking help.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Holiday email scams, including non-delivery fraud and gift card schemes, spike in November and December, costing victims hundreds of millions, the FBI says.

Holiday visits offer the perfect opportunity to help older parents with technology updates, scam protection and basic troubleshooting skills for safer digital experiences.

Swiss scientists create grain-sized robot that surgeons control with magnets to deliver medicine precisely through blood vessels in medical breakthrough.

Researchers exploited WhatsApp's API vulnerability to scrape 3.5 billion phone numbers. Learn how this massive data breach happened and protect yourself.

Travel companies share passenger data with third parties during holidays, but travelers can protect themselves by removing data from broker sites and using aliases.

Top Tips for the Temporary Move

Positive Attitude Tips