Maybe you’ve spent years juggling the pros and cons of remote work, enjoying home-cooked lunch breaks, Zoom calls in pajamas, and trying to stay focused while having to walk by the dishes piled up.
Or maybe, you’ve moved–or your office has. Either way, now you’re facing the high-traffic, long commute that you’ve long dreaded.
If you’re looking to shorten your travel time now that the office beckons, a pied-à-terre may be the perfect option. Read on to learn more about what this entails, space and financial considerations to make, and how you can make setting up your own pied-à-terre as painless as possible.
Speaking literally, “pied-à-terre” is a French term meaning “foot on the ground.” In the context of real estate, the pied-à-terre definition is a secondary residence in a different town or city from the full-time residence. Typically an apartment or condo, a pied-à-terre can be used for both business or pleasure, giving renters the opportunity to work, play, or vacation with the ease of having a local “home base.”
For our purposes, it is:
Pied-à-Terre (n.): A secondary apartment, usually in a city, used part-time for work or travel.
While common in big cities like New York, pied-à-terres are increasingly popular for:
Whether you’re driving two hours into L.A. traffic or flying cross-country on the regular for meetings, a second apartment might just be your key to balance.
For former remote workers now facing a hybrid or in-office schedule, or those who have moved out to the suburbs for more space, commuting several hours a day can quickly become overwhelming. A pied-à-terre offers a flexible, lifestyle-friendly solution–and can, sometimes, make more financial sense, too.
If you’re frequently traveling to another city for work, chances are you’ll quickly rack up costs for hotel rooms or short-term rentals. If you’re constantly bouncing between home and work, expenses like gas or train and bus fares can start to add up.
Once you crunch the numbers, you may find that having an apartment near your work is actually the cheaper option. A second apartment for work can lower long-term lodging costs and even qualify as a deductible expense for some professionals.
Wake up before the sun. Sit in hours of morning rush hour traffic. Work all day. Hit rush hour traffic on your way back home. Arrive just in time to scarf down dinner and hit the hay. If this sounds familiar, a pied-à-terre can change your week. You’ll regain personal time, sleep, and energy—all while avoiding the stress of a marathon commute.
If your commute eats up more than two hours a day, costs hundreds in monthly transportation, or impacts your mental and physical health, it may be time to rethink your routine. For many, the solution isn’t as easy as getting a new job—it can be easier (and smarter) to get a second apartment for work. With a pied-à-terre, you’ll be able to reclaim time, flexibility, and focus.
Dual-city living often means staying in hotels and lugging around all of your essentials… which gets old (and exhausting) after a while.
Investing in a pied-à-terre gives you the opportunity to stock a pantry, a bathroom cabinet, and even a closet with everything you’ll need for work–no more checking in and out of hotels…or checking luggage.
You can furnish and decorate to your preferences and create a space that truly feels like home.
If you’re seriously considering a second apartment for work, here are some key things to evaluate before you sign a lease or make an offer.
If you’re renting a second home specifically for work, proximity and convenience to your office is key. Look for an apartment that is only a quick walk or public transit ride away, so you can maximize your leisure and rest time before and after your workday. Ideally, your chosen spot will also be near amenities you’ll need during the week, like grocery stores, gyms, or dry cleaners.
Can you have a mortgage and an apartment? Can you rent two apartments at once? Yes—as long as you can afford them.
Lay out your budget and determine how much you can spend on a pied-à-terre. Don’t forget to factor in potential savings, like reduced travel costs and fewer hotel stays.
Be sure to calculate what it will cost “all in” (including utilities, electricity, renters’ insurance, and internet), and ensure you meet any income requirements your landlord may have.
Tip: Not sure how to furnish two places on a single budget? Don’t want to buy and haul new furniture? That’s where CORT can help.
Think about how much space you really need and the purpose it needs to serve. A simple studio near the office may be totally sufficient for workweek purposes. But if this pied-à-terre will double as a spot for family getaways, a larger layout may be better.
If you’re hoping to cook at home instead of relying on takeout, prioritize an apartment with a fully equipped kitchen, too.
As a busy professional, you likely don’t have a ton of extra time to spend shopping for furniture, waiting for delivery crews, and assembling everything. We totally get it.
That’s why furniture rental makes sense. You can choose a Move-In Ready package or create one of your own to create a temporary apartment setup that fits your style, timeline, and needs. Whether your new pied-à-terre is a short-term solution or part of your long-term lifestyle, CORT makes it feel like home—without the stress or upfront cost of buying everything.
CORT’s flexible rental terms and White Glove services mean you don’t have to pause your career just to set up a second apartment. And if your job situation changes? You can scale back, return furniture, or relocate your rental setup with ease.
With CORT, you can:
Whether you’re planning for dual-city living, tackling a remote to hybrid transition, or simply need a second apartment for work, we’re here to help you take the stress out of setup so you can focus on what matters.
Start now online, or work in-store with a professional at your local CORT Furniture Rental showroom.
