No doubt, everyone in one form or another has experienced the dilemmas of travel. Even for vacation, handling travel plans and destination points has become a cottage industry of its own, mainly because attempting to do it yourself usually costs more and has less favorable results – you paid too much and did not get to see all the things you wanted.

Well, the same holds true for business travel, which is particularly stressful for a variety of reasons. If it is important enough to travel and stay several nights, it must be a big meeting or presentation – a face to face is critical. Stressful. Executives are out of there natural habitat, and although they may have done it a million times, little things invariably pop up. Stressful.

And, if an executive is relocating because of a transfer or a new job, that certainly qualifies as a stressful period. Now, exacerbate that with all the traditional nuances of a new town and attempting to figure out where you’re going, what to do, and where to stay, you have the anatomy of a less than optimal experience.

After all, this experience will be the first impression the relocating or temporary executive has on the business or city to which they will be locating or working. Human resources executives play a critical role here in making sure this first and lasting impression is a positive one, because it is the HR professionals who typically handle the executive housing and relocation decisions.

In my years of executive housing, I have found that there are five critical components and questions to ask in finding suitable executive housing that will make not only the executive and their family happy, but also the human resources executive look good. Those are: locations, details, quality, customer and cobranding.

Locations: Do you have choices of areas?

It is not as simple as asking, “where do you want to be?” Determining the best available location for a customer requires a wealth of expertise, including such things as knowledge of local school districts, location relative to the individuals workplace, availability of daycare, restaurants and shopping in the area.

An executive housing account representative is often the first person a relocating professional will speak to before they arrive. As you can imagine, new residents have many questions about the area into which they are moving. Look for the ability to listen and to be placed in the best possible locations relative to needs. This will ensure that transition into the community will be a pleasant one.

The alternative to working with trusted and conscientious professionals is to put your immediate fate into the hands of those who simply want to fill a vacancy. They attempt to close the deal by saying what the customer wants to hear about the location. Make sure any commitments made are kept and that there are many choices of locations all under the umbrella of a premium site.

Details: Did the firm pay attention to the little things?

All furniture and house wares are not created equal. Lets face it, the quality of the furnishings can make all the difference, from the style and comfort of the living room sofa, to the use of a quality fitted sheet. Just about everything found in your home you should also expect to find in a premier executive apartment – including some style. Some companies will try to save a dollar at the customer’s expense, but these same customers understand and appreciate quality when they see it. Sacrificing the customer experience is no place to reach for cost savings and again, failing to pay attention to details is a reflection on the HR person who chose to work with a given housing firm. Do your homework here.

What we have come to understand is that in the world of temporary housing the little things mean a lot. The separation between company A and company B is very evident in the details. Ask questions and seek an executive housing firm that cares enough about its residents to add a sense of style to your living environment. However, it is easy for a temporary housing provider to choose cost saving over customer comfort, and finding this out after you have walked through the door is too late.

Quality: Are the available complexes considered superior or premium?

This is another area where a company will try to pare down its costs. Yet once again, high quality is irreplaceable. Although the price may be a tad more, the peace of mind and that first impression more than makes up for a couple extra dollars.There has been an evolution of sorts in the rental housing market. Property developers are making every effort to add perks to attract and retain tenants. Large clubhouses are replete with business centers, large exercise rooms, and even small movie theaters that residents can reserve for private screenings. Interior design features have come a long way from the era of the square box cookie cutter apartment. Many communities are now gated and include attached garages and bi-level townhouses. All of this is little consolation if your executive housing company does not make these communities available to you.

One good method you can use to find temporary housing in the finest apartment communities is to directly ask the leasing professionals at these very same communities. If you already know where you want to stay, this is an excellent way to locate companies who place their customers in high value property. And remember, a company that will spend more to provide you with the best is also more likely to place a premium on your entire temporary housing experience and in making the HR professional’s job much easier.

Customer: Is the firm proactive in meeting your changing needs?

Nothing ever stays the same, and a company has to be ready to change with its customers needs. For example, when we noticed a majority of residents requesting DSL high speed internet in their apartments, we decided to retain the service for the subsequent residents whether the new resident requested it or not. It was noticed and went a long way.

Costs associated with installing and uninstalling the service can now be minimized, and a valuable service can now be added as a standardized item. Progressive minded companies will always be a step ahead of the curve in anticipating current and future needs. This fact is of particular interest to repeat customers.

Co Branding: Does the organizaiton strive to add value via co-branding?

An individual relocating into a new town wants access to information and services in the area, from entertainment, food and basic services. Not only is the new resident in search of just about every type of service from car repair to drycleaning to daycare, but smart companies know that repeat customers are a result of having them try their product or service for the first time.

By co-branding premium brand with premium brand, an executive housing firm can jump start the transition into a new community. The housing firm will have taken the time to carefully choose only high quality products and services, and make them available to you via a cooperative relationship with that supplier.

Residents appreciate the added touch. For example, does your executive apartment come with local goodies like Graeter’s? Or, does the temporary housing provider offer them $20 in free dry cleaning, which includes pick up and return service, and can do it at no cost to the resident. Look for these value added services.

In general, the five critical questions are key to an excellent short term housing experience, both for the resident and the company or organization which brought them in. The answers to these questions illustrates the difference between a cost focused versus a customer focused approach to temporary housing and short term business travel.

Some companies simply do not take the time to go that extra mile, and may believe that compromising the customer experience in favor of a greater margin is the key to success. A good executive housing firm will concentrate on enhancing the value of that same customer experience at every level, believing that repeat customers and higher volumes will drive their economic machine. Either way, the differences can be very apparent, and asking a few questions can, and will, make all the difference in making sure the experience is the best it can be.Tara Krapes is the president of VESTA Executive Housing. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Miami University. Krapes is the former market sales manager for Marriott and served as an account executive with Oakwood Corporate Housing.

VESTA Executive Housing has dual headquarters in Cincinnati and Lexington and a nationwide network of premier temporary housing properties. The organization works with human resources, property managers, project managers, and professional athletes and entertainers who need relocation or temporary housing. VESTA Executive Housing is a Women's Business Enterprise, and can be accessed at www.vesta1.com or by calling 866.471.0350.