CORT News Center

Project Managers Utilize Alternative Housing Solutions to Maximize Team Efficiency

CORT's Rental Relocation Services Prepare Employees to Work Productively

FAIRFAX, VA (Oct. 16, 2006) - Project managers, challenged to maximize the efficiency of their project teams, are utilizing rental relocation services to manage costs, ease transition for their employees and prepare them to focus on their tasks from day one.

As economic turmoil continues to strain businesses in all industries, project managers must balance factors from rising fuel costs and shrinking budgets to the well-being and comfort of their teams in order to meet project objectives.

CORT, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is providing project managers a cost effective solution for housing employees on long-term assignments with the nation's most comprehensive suite of touring and destination services tailored for the unique needs of relocating renters.

The construction industry was one of the first to be affected by the downturn in the housing market, and continues to face significant challenges. In August, housing starts fell to their lowest rate since 1991 while building permits and construction of single-family and multifamily units also contracted, according to the National Association of Home Builders. In this environment, construction companies are forced to improve all of their processes in order to stay profitable, beginning with their process for housing employees during temporary assignments.

Composite Construction Systems, based in Columbus, GA, had traditionally housed employees in extended stay hotels during assignments, which typically last from three to six months and involve around 20 employees. In response to rising fuel prices, Chris Icenhour, Equipment and Operations Manager, began researching alternatives to control project costs. After extensive research, Icenhour chose to use CORT's rental relocation services. In addition to saving on housing expenses, working with CORT allowed his company to streamline the process of arranging short-term apartment leases, utility hookups, and providing furniture and other household items as needed for the duration of a project.

"Over the past year, working with CORT has given us tremendous flexibility in providing temporary housing nationwide," said Icenhour. "The rental relocation services have enabled our company to halve our housing costs while providing a welcoming home environment, preparing our employees to work productively during their stay."

Icenhour works directly with a CORT national representative to arrange housing. First, he provides his representative with the location and general budget guidelines for the project. The relocation team then offers housing recommendations to meet the needs of the company and employees. Icenhour visits the potential locations to make a final decision, at which point the team works to finalize all of the arrangements for the project.

The success or failure of a project team is largely predicated on extensive early planning, proper team chemistry and the ability to respond quickly to changes, all factors that are heavily influenced by the strength of interpersonal behavior within the team. Budget concerns, cultural differences, and the stress of being away from home and family can all hamper a team's effectiveness. Providing comfortable living arrangements gives the team a solid foundation to work from when faced with the inevitable challenges of a project.

Market conditions vary widely across the country and CORT representatives' local expertise helps guide project managers to maximize their budget in an unfamiliar area. CORT's rental relocation services include hotels, apartments, corporate housing, single family home rentals, destination touring services, utility services, renter's insurance, car rental, job search assistance for spouses and much more. CORT relocation consultants can assist with virtually any service needed to help employees and their families begin living in new communities.

Recently established as the nation's largest touring provider, CORT's offers area tours, apartment locating assistance, and "settling in" neighborhood orientation services such as school and church information, assistance obtaining a driver's license and other documentation for international transferees, among other services.

CORT has access to more than 70,000 hotel and extended stay units and more than 15,000 corporate housing units. Their offering also includes access to more than 3.8 million apartments across the nation through its ApartmentSearch.com service, the nation's most comprehensive online apartment search Web site.

For more than 35 years, CORT has been a leading provider in rental furniture and has provided services to more than 80 percent of the Fortune 500 companies. CORT has more than 2,500 employees with offices in every major U.S. market. For more information about CORT, visit www.cort.com.

Amanda Denton
Largemouth Communications
amanda@largemouthpr.com
919-459-6456