Beginner’s Guide to Chicago Short-Term Lease

chicago short-term lease

Short-term leasing can be anxiety-inducing, especially when you’ll be gone several weeks (or even months) in a new and unfamiliar city.

If you’re looking at a short-term lease in Chicago, you’re in luck: Chicago is a bustling city with excellent restaurants and entertainment options, and Corporate Suites Network is here to help you find your dream rental in the Windy City.

Benefits of a Chicago short-term lease

Corporate Suites Network helps busy professionals with their short-term leasing needs. There are many benefits to short-term leasing in Chicago, such as expense transparency and comfort levels that feel much more homier than a hotel room.

Navigating a new city and trying to secure a short-term rental can be stressful when you find yourself there for–and need to focus on–work. Here are just a few examples of why a short-term lease in Chicago is an excellent option.

chicago short-term lease

  • A short-term lease is cheaper than a hotel

Hotels can be pricey, especially in a city in such great demand as Chicago. Popularity, tourism, and a high cost of living put Chicago hotels on the higher end of the spectrum. When you factor in a long stay, hotel prices can quickly become astronomical.

Fortunately, corporate housing stays longer than 30 days are a more cost-effective choice than hotels. Their rates are also much more straight-forward.

  • Corporate housing stays longer than 30 days in Chicago are not subject to the high hotel tax rate

Hotel rates may seem cheap, but always remember that the advertised rate doesn’t include hotel tax. Taxes alone can add an additional several hundred dollars a month on top of the exorbitant rate you are likely already paying.

Corporate housing stays of 30 days or more are not subject to the high hotel tax rate, which makes the pricing more predictable as well as more affordable.

  • Short-term leasing brings transparency to long-term travel expense forecasting

In addition to the wildcard of hotel taxes, hotel prices can also vary nightly, often with markedly higher rates on weekends or during certain times of year. This can make expense forecasting a challenging sport.

Corporate housing is more transparent. Many times, corporate housing can offer a fixed rate for guests. This makes it much easier to provide predictable price quotes that are friendly to the working professional that needs to predict and justify long-term travel expenses.

  • Short-term leasing offers more spacious living quarters

Hotel rooms typically offer minimal space, even suites, which can make you feel claustrophobic–especially during long-term stays. Corporate housing is more homey and spacious, providing a full kitchen rather than a tiny kitchenette, and the fully-furnished space is more like your own individual apartment than a generic hotel room. You can stretch your legs and put your feet up after a long day’s work!

  • Like a hotel, there’s a great housekeeping staff

Even though your corporate housing stay will feel private and homey, you still get to reap the benefits of housekeeping. This is excellent for a busy professional who may not have much time to devote to upkeep.

Bi-weekly housekeeping is a coveted perk of corporate housing. In addition, each new guest can expect a unit that has been fully shampooed, painted, and deep-cleaned using a 48-point checklist prior to their move-in date. All bed and bath linens, as well as all blankets and comforters, are professionally laundered at a temperature of 150 degrees.

  • You have flexibility and independence, just like home

Because housekeeping is bi-weekly, you don’t have to worry about being up and out of your unit at a certain time every day. Relaxing and sleeping in is encouraged! Because corporate housing is more like an apartment than a hotel room, you have privacy and independence. Gone are the days of listening to the footsteps and slammed doors of fellow hotel guests coming and going throughout the night.

  • Apartments come furnished with all the amenities you’ll need

Corporate housing amenities tend to be superior to hotel amenities, and all utilities and amenities are already included in your monthly rent. No unpredictable bills makes for a financially stress-free stay!

You can expect a fully-furnished apartment including a comfortable bed with brand new pillows. The unit comes stocked with plenty of extra blankets and pillows in the closet, to boot. You can also depend on a fully-equipped kitchen, wi-fi access at no additional charge, and a 42-inch plasma TV.

  • The comfort level is awesome

Corporate housing units feel like home. Hotel rooms can feel generic and sterile, and the walls can be paper thin. On the flip side, corporate housing is homey, private, and provides surroundings that feel familiar and comforting. When you’re on the road and miss your family and friends, or you’ve had a particularly stressful day at the office, it’s nice to retire to a relaxing oasis that feels like much more than just your temporary home.

  • You can choose a location with a great walkability score

There’s nothing worse than feeling stranded in an unfamiliar city. Fortunately, many of Chicago’s corporate housing options are located in neighborhoods with high walkability scores. Many Chicago neighborhoods have walkability scores in the 90s, which may mean that you don’t have to rent a car, deal with city parking, or rely on transit during your stay.

There is no better way to explore a city than on foot–and hitting the street for a leisurely stroll or a jog to blow off some steam couldn’t be easier than in these pedestrian-friendly areas.

  • Corporate housing providers handle all the complexities of leasing and maintenance

When choosing corporate housing, working directly with a corporate housing provider can help you avoid the nightmare of leasing and maintenance of your unit. Corporate housing providers handle the details for you while you live, work, and play. The staff is entirely comprised of fully-trained hospitality professionals that are on staff to make your stay a worry-free experience.

chicago short-term lease

10 things to watch out for

There are a few hard and fast rules when choosing a rental. Before you sign your short-term lease in Chicago, make sure you’ve thoroughly read the terms, and remember these tips:

  • If it’s too good to be true, it probably is
  • Beware of individuals that will not disclose a phone number as a point of contact
  • Avoid companies that refuse to give you a tour of the unit
  • Avoid corporate housing providers that are not accredited
  • Avoid providers insisting on cash payments; credit card payments are secure
  • Make sure all of your amenities and utilities are included in the monthly rent price
  • Make sure the walkability score is high for the unit you’re renting
  • Make sure there’s on-call maintenance 24/7, and also guarantee regular housekeeping of your unit
  • Make sure the unit is secure
  • And finally, prepare questions:

    Must-ask questions before signing

  • What is the exact address? You can then use this information to do a little sleuthing through Google Earth.
  • Are you accredited?
  • Are the housekeeping fees included in the rent?
  • What is the frequency of housekeeping visits?
  • Are washer and dryer in-unit?
  • Is there a dishwasher?
  • Is there a minimum stay?
  • Are longer stays discounted?
  • Does the bathroom have both a tub and a shower?
  • Are there security cameras in common areas/parking garage/etc.?
  • Are linens, towels, kitchen utensils provided?
  • How far is the nearest grocery store/pharmacy/bank?

chicago short-term lease

Why choose Corporate Suites Network?

More Locations

Corporate Suites Network rents hundreds of corporate apartments at various locations throughout downtown Chicago and the Chicago suburbs. Finding a convenient location for your stay is easy when you contact Corporate Suites Network.

Better Value

Corporate Suites Network delivers more value to our residents than our competitors. Our combination of exceptional service and affordable prices has made us the leader in the corporate housing industry in Chicago.

Thorough Housekeeping

Unlike other corporate suite companies, bi-weekly housekeeping is included with our Chicago short term housing. This ensures the exceptional quality of our corporate suites. Each apartment goes through a thorough 48-point inspection checklist before the resident arrives, to ensure a clean and comfortable stay.

Consistently Exceptional Service

Our entire management staff is composed of hospitality professionals. It is our philosophy that by maintaining core management staff, a certain consistency exists that ultimately leads to higher standards of customer service.

Great Amenities

Our apartments come fully-furnished for maximum convenience to our residents.

Best Local Recommendations

Not only is Corporate Suites Network a tight-knit team of hospitality professionals, we’re also experts on the best ways to enjoy Chicago and the Chicago suburbs. We confidently steer our guests away from the tourist traps to Best Local spots near our corporate apartment locations.

Human Resources Love

We appreciate all the work human resource professionals do, and want to help you make smart choices for your company and make your job easier—we love HR people. We’re the people who take the time to understand and accommodate your corporate housing needs, and show you HR love.  

chicago short-term lease

Best value for Chicago short-term leasing

Extended stay housing provided by Corporate Suites Network will give you many advantages:

  • The convenience of utilities and amenities included in your monthly rent.
  • Our suites are more spacious than hotel rooms.
  • Each suite comes with a fully-equipped kitchen.
  • Enjoy more privacy and more comfortable living accommodations.
  • For extended stays longer than 30 days, a corporate suite is more affordable than a hotel.

Corporate Suites Network simply offers the best value for extended stay housing in Chicago.  Our Chicago furnished apartments are significantly more spacious than hotel rooms and feature fully-equipped kitchens and the privacy and comfort you deserve.

Unlike other corporate suite companies, bi-weekly housekeeping is included in most corporate apartments. This ensures the exceptional quality of our furnished apartments.

Our on-site housekeeping staff is hired, trained, and supervised within the organization.

Team development is aimed at employee commitment to achieving standards of the highest quality.

The initial impression guests experience upon entering their Corporate Suite Network apartment should be an awareness of the cleanliness and comfort of their surroundings. Corporate Suites Network ensures the continuing quality of corporate suites and prepares for each new arrival by:

  • Shampooing the carpeting and painting corporate units.
  • Deep-cleaning every room of the apartment, using a 48-point inspection checklist.
  • Bed and bath linens are professionally laundered at a temperature of 150 degrees or laundered with the in-unit washer and dryer where applicable.
  • Blankets, bedspreads, and comforters are professionally cleaned for each new arrival.
  • New pillows replace the pillows used by previous guests, so each arriving corporate housing guest has brand new pillows.

Furnished apartments in Chicago

One reason for our success is the fact that our entire management staff is composed of hospitality professionals. Beginning with the President of Corporate Suites Network, and the six Managers of our operation, combined, have accumulated more than one hundred years of experience in the hotel, restaurant, and travel related industries. The intense training and experience of their professional background has helped us to achieve our goal of consistency in Quality Customer Service. In addition, the core management staff of ten has an average length of employment of ten years with Corporate Suites Network. It is our philosophy that by maintaining core management staff, a certain consistency exists that ultimately leads to higher standards of customer service.

A suite attendant’s job description is accompanied by a written statement of our Standards of Professionalism and Code of Conduct. This covers professional appearance, professional behavior, and housekeeping guidelines. Newly hired housekeepers work with a seasoned suite attendant for three days of training before they become responsible for the cleaning of any guest apartments. Every apartment is inspected by a supervisor, using a Quality of Cleaning Inspection Form, before the guest arrives. Out of a possible score of 100, each suite attendant must maintain an average minimum score of 97.5 in order to retain her position.

Professional Service, Experienced Hands

At every level, our employees are selected primarily for their attitude and their experience. The majority of our total staff has extensive hospitality experience as a part of their professional background, so they are steeped in the tradition of service, service, service. With this degree of service tradition in common, our staff has been able to maintain a valuable consistency in its approach to Quality Customer Service.

Corporate Suites Network amenities

Our client focus is to offer corporate housing in furnished apartments that provide not only the necessities, but offer many additional services and luxuries, as well. Our most important objective is to provide our guests with all the warmth and comforts of home and to respond to their needs, quickly and earnestly. Some of the comforts of home include:

  • Our furnished apartments are equipped with a 42″ plasma TV with basic cable and DVD player.
  • Wireless internet is included at no additional charge to you.
  • An arrival welcome basket for guests that stay with us seven days or longer will receive a welcome basket filled with water and snacks.
  • Triple-sheeted beds with fitted bottom sheets plus brand new pillows on each bed are a luxury unique to our properties, adding comfort and special consideration for our guests. In addition, there are extra pillows and blankets in the bedroom closet.

chicago short-term lease

We solve complex Corporate Housing challenges for Corporate clients.

Do you need furnished apartments for a group of associates who will be flying in and out of Chicago for an extended period of time? Do you have special needs such as handicap access or allergies? Do you need special reporting or billing arrangements? No worries. We can help.

Our Key Accounts Team is here to help.

Since opening our doors in 1980, we’ve been fortunate to work with hundreds of corporations.We’ve worked through language barriers, culture issues, and last minute bookings. We’ve tailored our reporting systems to meet the unique needs of our clients. We’ve developed and managed large-scale, multi-city corporate housing programs. So if you’re looking for a relationship with a corporate housing provider who offers more than furnished suites, talk to us. You’ll find our team to be experienced, proactive, flexible, and detail oriented. We think you’ll be very pleased with the service you get and the solutions we provide. Click here to have someone from our Key Accounts Team contact you.

Don’t take our word for it. Ask for references.

We’re proud of our work and the client relationships we’ve built. If you’re unsure about our furnished apartments, please ask for references to speak with a client of Corporate Suites Network. We’ll be happy to put you in touch with one of our repeat clients. Their testimonial says more than we ever could.

Chicago neighborhoods Corporate Suites Network leases in

Gold Coast

Luxurious corporate housing along Chicago’s Historic Gold Coast. The area is one of the country’s most affluent neighborhoods.

Lincoln Park

These corporate apartments are near beautiful parks and beaches along the north shore of Chicago. Close to Northwestern University and Evanston Hospital.

Loop • West Loop

Furnished apartments near Chicago’s business district.

River North

Our River North corporate apartments offer convenient access to restaurants, galleries, transportation, and much more.

South Loop • Printer’s Row

Chicago’s South Loop is home to Columbia College and the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum.

Streeterville

Our Streeterville apartments offer easy access to Navy Pier and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Suburbs, too

Corporate Suites Network also offers expansive short-term lease options in the following suburbs of Chicago:

Arlington Heights • Schaumburg

Deerfield • Glenview • Northbrook

Close to major corporations.

Des Plaines • O’Hare

Conveniently located near the airport for quick access to travel.

Elmhurst • Lombard • Oak Brook

Upscale furnished Apartments in Chicago’s Western suburbs. Conveniently located close to shopping malls, dining, and more.

Evanston

Furnished apartments in Evanston near Northwestern University and Evanston Hospital.

Naperville

St. Charles • Wheaton

Vernon Hills

Wheeling