After selling my home, I was in a weird in-between world. I didn't know if I'd be staying in the Greater Phoenix area. I had an upcoming contract job that would take me out of state for months and I certainly didn't want to be paying rent for an empty apartment or mortgage on an empty house. Not knowing how long it would be until my contract work, I opted to stay in an extended stay hotel. (Extended Stay America)
I compared facilities. Some were quite fancy with hot breakfast bars and happy hours, free laundry, and a pool. But, the real economy of staying in an extended stay facility is not having to set up accounts for water/trash, internet, cable, electric, gas, gym. I don't eat breakfast, but there is a cold breakfast bar at Extended Stay America. It offers coffee, tea, oatmeal, tangerines, granola bars, boiled eggs, yogurt. Simple stuff, but a great grab-and-go for those who are in town for work reasons.
Some things to know before you think of actually living long-term in an extended stay -
Yes, you have housekeeping once a week.
Yes, you can receive packages at the front desk, but no mail service, so you need a p.o. box or (as banks like a street address) consider a p.o. box that has a street address (over $100 a month) or use a nearby friend's address if they let you.
Get a storage unit. You'd be surprised how little you actually need in your room long-term. It is a fantastic transition for anyone considering tiny living - a sort of prep space to try it out. I honestly forgot what's in my storage unit.
Consider paper plates/cups/bowls. Honestly, you have a sink to wash dishes and the front desk can give you flatware and dishes, but life is so much easier when you don't have to wash dishes and if you leave them in the sink, your bed is 4 feet away.
Prices change month to month. If you stay more than a month, they give you discounts, so be sure to sign up online at their website. Here in Phoenix, wintertime is tourist season and summertime is a ghost town. The prices can vary 500-1000 a month.
You don't have utilities to deal with. With wifi, cable, electric, water, trash, insurance all in the pricing, you are reducing your monthly rental vs apartment rental by about 500 bucks, but I've found this extended stay living is equivalent to the base rate of a 2-bedroom apartment (before utilities). This actually works out well. My rent can be anywhere from 2100 to 2800.
Let them know you plan to stay another month ahead of time. They actually will plan to book your room if you don't let them know you plan to stay another month. I let the desk know about 10 days before my month is up. You can rent by night or week too if you have an odd amount of time you're staying.
Gym. They have a gym. The one I'm at has no fan in the small gym so it gets muggy. I'd advise you consider having a fan to take in when your workout.
Patio. There is a patio and grill out back and it's nice with lots of seating but smokers use it.
It's Uber/Door Dash/Grub Hub/Instacart/Amazon Fresh friendly. These services have no trouble coming right to your hotel room door.
Kitchen situation. The front desk can give you a toaster, a coffeemaker, pots, pans, dishes, flatware. There is a flattop stove with vent van, microwave, and a full-sized fridge. You get inventive with eating when you don't have an oven, but it actually helped me to be pretty healthy. I had soups, omelets, salads, cooked chicken to put on salads or in sandwiches, microwave meals, etc. If you crave something that is baked, Uber it.
Trash. They have a trash can under the sink and provide bags. You can take it down the hallway to the trash room and put it in those cans.
Security. The place has cameras, diligence, and extended stays watch out for trafficking, so they check IDs and won't let anyone stay who doesn't have proper ID. No cash. Only cards. I have felt extremely safe in my hotel, more than in an apartment.
They give you a parking tag to hang from rearview mirror. The front doors at the lobby close around 10:30 but the side doors can still be used but only for those with a room key card.
They have vending machines.
The rooms are silent tombs. I have never one time heard anyone in the rooms beside me, not even a tiny hint that they are there, and yet the rooms have been rented. The only noise is the automatic closing heavy fire doors to your room. They close automatically so keep your card with you.
Sleep options. I have a king-sized bed and the sofa unfolds. I'm princess and the pea. I can feel a miniature crumb, everything hurts no matter what the mattress. With many people of various weights on the mattress, it can sometimes have sink holes or crunchy texture. I just sleep diagonally at times.
Working from your room. I love this aspect. I have an HDMI to HDMI cable from my laptop to the wall-mounted pivoting big screen TV and a desk that has wheels. I can work in any situation I want and use the TV screen as my computer screen.
All in all, a fairly expensive living arrangement - but, no utilities, insurance, gym membership, or even cleaning necessary. In one year's stay I spent $27,000, but like I said above - no extra expenses of living in an apartment.
Surprising benefits -
I have more incentive to leave and go do things rather than gestate in a single room. The staff is super nice and everyone staying there has a different story, but all super nice. Less bills and responsibilities kept me focused on my writing/work. I can leave for a few days and not worry about a break-in. Like staying at a spa, you begin to focus on your health, your well-being, your happiness because you don't have a ton of distractions and you are out of your usual routine.
Some losses -
Not having a real address. Four walls every day. Loneliness. Not hosting get togethers.
I hope this helped y'all to figure out if this is an option for you and what it's like to live in "limbo" for a prolonged period. Once I'm back from my contract job, I will be buying a house here. I decided I have a work commitment for 3 years in the Phoenix area, so I will remain and enjoy a home I can make my own and create some equity in resale.
CAUTION: Really look at the prices and locations of the extended stay. I thought to save money staying at one in Ahwatukee at I-10 on Chandler Blvd and I still have PTSD from the experience - bed bugs, no elevator for carrying suitcases, everything in the room broken, zero hot water, disgusting - found pubic hairs in the tub when I arrived, sketchy illegal types hiding out, key card never worked and in 118 degree weather had to walk to the office three buildings away to get it reset.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the location at 2055 W. Chandler Blvd, Chandler, AZ 85224. It is extremely clean, safe, beautiful, kind folks, amazing location near everything, rooms are meticulous and functioning, never saw one bug for one year's time.
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