Relocation Serviced Apartment Checklist: 12 Things to Verify

The essential relocation serviced apartment checklist has twelve items: laundry, workspace, kitchen, cancellation terms, location, storage, internet, housekeeping, check-in, deposits, local registration and paperwork. Verify each for the specific apartment type you are booking, not the building in general, and get any gap in the listing answered in writing.

Why a checklist beats a photo gallery

Listing photos show the best angle of the best unit. A relocation stay of weeks punishes anything photos hide: the washing machine that is shared across three floors, the “workspace” that is a breakfast bar, the cancellation deadline that falls before your visa decision.

The Aparthotel.com relocation guide organises the decision around the same practical themes, and the list below expands them into questions you can put to a property.

The 12-point checklist

#	Check	What good looks like
1	Laundry	In-apartment washing machine, or an on-site laundry room you can reach daily
2	Workspace	A listed desk or table, a real chair, a nearby socket
3	Kitchen	Hob, oven, fridge, cookware for the meals you actually cook
4	Cancellation	A free-cancellation deadline you can live with
5	Location	Daily needs and commute covered, not sightseeing
6	Storage	Wardrobe space and room for empty suitcases
7	Internet	Private or shared connection, with a backup plan
8	Housekeeping	Schedule and linen changes confirmed
9	Check-in	Window, late arrival and key access in writing
10	Deposit	Amount, release date and card type confirmed
11	Registration	Local rules and any documents the provider can supply
12	Paperwork	Confirmation saved for your employer

Laundry, kitchen and workspace

These three decide whether the flat feels like a home or a long hotel stay.

Laundry. Aparthotel.com’s guide ranks an in-apartment machine as ideal, an on-site laundry room as workable and a paid service as expensive over a month. Our guide to serviced apartments with a washing machine explains how to confirm which you will get.

Kitchen. A kitchenette suits a long weekend. For several weeks, check for an oven, a proper hob and perhaps a dishwasher. Property pages list appliances per apartment type, so compare those, not the brochure line. More in full kitchen vs kitchenette.

Workspace. Look for a listed workspace rather than a dining table. The facts box on each property page shows how many room types include one.

Flexibility, location and space

Cancellation. Filter for free cancellation when searching, and read the deadline beside the rate before paying. Bookings can be managed in My trip, and any cancellation fee is shown before you confirm, per the site’s booking explainer. Our article on flexible cancellation for relocation covers how to read those deadlines.

Location. For a month, prioritise supermarket, pharmacy, transport to your workplace and a quiet street over the nearest landmark. Spend ten minutes on a map checking the commute at the times you will travel.

Space and storage. A separate bedroom helps when one person works while another sleeps. A studio can feel cramped after a week. Check floor areas where published, wardrobe and drawer space and whether the windows open.

Key takeaway: verify against the exact apartment type. Building-level amenities and best-suite photos are the most common source of disappointment on long stays.

Before you arrive

1. Get arrival arrangements in writing. Ask about the check-in window, reception hours and what happens if your flight is late. See late-arrival check-in.
2. Ask about the deposit or card hold. Confirm the amount, when it is released and which cards are accepted, since a hold can look like a charge on some debit cards.
3. Save contact details offline. Phone number, address and an after-hours contact.
4. Check local registration rules. Some countries require residents to register with authorities, depending on nationality, length and purpose of stay. Use official government guidance and ask the provider which documents it can supply.

In the first 48 hours

• Walk through the apartment and photograph any damage with the date.
• Test hot water, heating or air conditioning, the oven and the washing machine early, while you can still ask for a fix.
• Map the nearest shops, pharmacy and launderette if you need one.
• Ask in writing how housekeeping and linen changes work at your rate.

Keep the paperwork

The booking confirmation includes the reference, dates and total price. Keep it with any written answers from the property. Employers often want it for reimbursement, as explained in receipts and employer reimbursement for relocation stays.

If you want to compare properties against this checklist, Aparthotel.com’s search lets you set dates and guests, filter for free cancellation and open property pages with apartment types and appliances. It will not do the verification for you. Use the table above as the script for your questions to the property.

A printable question list for the property

Copy these into an email and keep the reply with your booking.

1. Which appliances are in my exact apartment type: hob, oven, dishwasher, washer, dryer?
2. Is the desk a proper desk or table, and is a chair provided?
3. Is the internet private to the unit, and what speed is typical?
4. How often are cleaning and linen changes at my rate?
5. What is the check-in window, and how do I enter after reception closes?
6. Is a deposit or card hold taken, how much, and when is it released?
7. What is the cancellation deadline, and can I extend the stay?
8. Which taxes or fees are paid at the property?

Scoring options against the list

If two or three apartments tie on price, a simple scorecard separates them. Give each item a score from zero to two, multiply the items that matter most to you by two and add up. A family might double the weight on bedrooms and laundry; a remote worker might double workspace and internet. Do not skip the cancellation row, since a perfect flat on a rigid rate is a risk in a move. Our comparison with hotels shows how the weights shift if you reconsider a hotel for part of the stay.

What the checklist cannot do

It cannot tell you what a building feels like, whether the neighbours are noisy or whether a manager is helpful. Reviews help, and so does a short first booking. It also cannot cover local legal rules, such as registration or tenancy law, which depend on your destination, so use official sources for those.