Summer is in full swing, and late-summer relocations, temporary assignments, and college move-ins are peaking. Before you know it, autumn will be here, and someone will inevitably ask who has the truck. In this edition of The Rental Report, we break down three things worth knowing about furnishing a temporary transition, from college apartments to corporate housing, and how renting can make the whole process easier.

Additional Living Expenses (ALE) coverage, also called Loss of Use, is the part of your homeowners or renters insurance policy that pays for temporary housing if a covered loss makes your home unlivable. Whether you are displaced by a fire, a severe storm, or major water damage, this coverage typically reimburses hotel stays, temporary furnished housing, restaurant meals above your normal budget, and similar costs up to your policy’s limit. 

For a stay of three to six months, renting furniture typically costs less than buying once you factor in the full picture: purchase price, delivery, assembly, a security deposit, and the time it takes to resell everything when you leave. Buying looks cheaper at first glance, especially if you're eyeing secondhand pieces, but the math rarely holds up once moving day arrives.