By The Ready Stays Team · Published October 5, 2026
Ready Stays is a family-owned furnished housing company based in Tampa, Florida. We work with employers, HR teams, and relocation managers to house employees on assignment in Tampa Bay and in cities nationwide.
For an assignment of a few weeks or less, an extended-stay hotel is usually the simplest choice. For an assignment of 30 to 90 days, furnished corporate housing often fits better, especially when the employee is bringing family or a pet, will work from where they stay, or may need an extension. The right answer depends on six questions, covered below, and on comparing the total monthly cost rather than the nightly rate.
The quick rule of thumb
-
Under three weeks, with a fixed end date: an extended-stay hotel is usually easiest.
-
30 to 90 days, one employee traveling light: either can work. Compare total monthly cost and how extensions are handled.
-
30 to 90 days with family, pets, or remote work: furnished corporate housing usually fits daily life better.
-
Any length with an uncertain end date: choose the option with the simplest extension process.
Side-by-side comparison
Hotel features vary by brand and property, so treat the hotel column as typical, not guaranteed. Confirm details with any provider before booking.
Six questions that decide it
1. How firm is the end date?
Assignments slip. Projects run long, start dates move, and a 60-day stay becomes 90. If the end date is firm and short, a hotel is simple. If it could move, look closely at how each option handles extensions. Ready Stays stays continue month to month after the first 21 days, so a stay can keep going as the assignment changes.
2. Who is traveling?
A single employee can live comfortably in a hotel suite for weeks. A spouse, kids, or a pet changes the math. Separate bedrooms, a living area, and a full kitchen matter more the longer the stay runs. Every Ready Stays rental is pet-friendly, which removes one of the most common reasons employees resist a temporary move.
3. Will the employee work from where they stay?
If the assignment includes remote days, the employee needs a real workspace and reliable internet. Ask each provider what the workspace looks like, not just whether WiFi is included.
4. How will you pay and reconcile?
Nightly hotel folios can mean more line items to review and reconcile. With Ready Stays, the company holds the lease with the property and handles billing, so your employee doesn’t take on an apartment lease or set up utilities. Ask any provider for a sample invoice before you commit, so your finance team knows what they will be reconciling.
5. How many employees are you placing?
For one person, the difference is mostly comfort. For a team, coordination becomes the main job: move-in dates, unit sizes, parking, and a single contact for problems. Ready Stays coordinates housing for multiple employees with 1 to 3 bedroom units, so you work with one team instead of several front desks.
6. Where is the work?
Location drives the commute, and the commute drives how the employee feels about the whole assignment. In Tampa Bay, that might mean staying near Westshore for offices and Tampa International Airport, Downtown or Water Street for downtown employers, or South Tampa for MacDill Air Force Base. Tell your provider where the employee will work, not just which city.
Budgeting: compare the total, not the nightly rate
The nightly or monthly rate is only part of the cost. When you compare options, build a monthly total for each one that includes:
-
The base rate for the full expected stay
-
Taxes and any fees
-
Parking
-
Laundry
-
Meals, since a full kitchen and a kitchenette support very different eating habits
-
Any pet fees
On taxes, Florida’s rules apply to both options. The Florida Department of Revenue explains that state sales tax applies to rentals of six months or less, including hotel rooms, apartments, and single-family homes, and counties may add a local tourist development tax. Budget for taxes whichever option you choose, and ask each provider to show them as a separate line.
If your travel policy uses federal per diem rates as a benchmark, you can check the current lodging rate for the destination on the GSA per diem lookup.
Document the assignment length
How long an assignment is expected to last can matter for how your company treats housing and travel reimbursements. The IRS explains that a work location is generally treated as temporary when the assignment is realistically expected to last one year or less, and that the treatment can change if that expectation changes. A 30 to 90 day assignment is usually well within that line, but extensions add up. Record the expected duration in writing, update it when plans change, and check with your payroll or tax advisor on how your policy applies.
How Ready Stays works with HR and mobility teams
When you place an employee with Ready Stays, the process is simple:
-
Send the details. Share the start date, expected length, number of people, bedrooms needed, pets, and where the employee will work.
-
Review options. We send options that fit the assignment and the commute.
-
Approve and move in. Once you approve, the home is furnished and ready. The employee brings personal belongings.
-
Adjust as plans change. If the assignment runs long, tell us early and we’ll extend the stay month to month.
What’s included in a Ready Stays rental: furniture, utilities, WiFi, bath and hand towels, glassware, cutlery and kitchen tools, and an iron and board. Our emergency maintenance line is answered 24/7, so problems don’t land on your desk.
Tampa Bay is home, and we also place employees in furnished housing in cities nationwide. See how nationwide placements work.
What to do next
-
Write down the expected assignment length and how likely it is to change.
-
List who is traveling, including pets, and whether they will work from the unit.
-
Build a total monthly cost for each option, including taxes, parking, and meals.
-
Ask every provider how extensions and billing work, and request a sample invoice.
-
When you’re ready, share your assignment details and we’ll send options.
Frequently asked questions
Is corporate housing cheaper than an extended-stay hotel?
It depends on the market, the dates, and how long the stay lasts. The fair comparison is total monthly cost, including taxes, parking, laundry, and meals, not the nightly rate alone. Ask each provider for a full quote for the same dates.
What is the minimum stay for Ready Stays corporate housing?
Ready Stays stays start at 21 days and then continue month to month, so a stay can be extended as an assignment changes.
Can employees bring pets to corporate housing?
Every Ready Stays rental is pet-friendly. Some apartment communities have their own pet rules, such as breed or size limits, so share pet details when you request housing.
Can Ready Stays house several employees at once?
Yes. Ready Stays coordinates housing for multiple employees in 1 to 3 bedroom apartments and homes, with one team handling billing, extensions, and maintenance.
Placing an employee on assignment? Share your assignment details and we’ll send options that fit the dates, the team, and the commute. Questions? Call 813-551-1500.
This article is general information, not insurance, tax, or legal advice. Coverage, allowances, and terms vary. Your adjuster, employer, or installation housing office can confirm what applies to you.
