Quick summary
If you'll be out of your home for more than a couple of weeks, a furnished home usually works better than a hotel — especially with children or pets. It has bedrooms, a kitchen, and space. Your adjuster decides what your policy covers; this explains what each option is actually like to live in.
Being told you can't go home is disorienting. The housing question usually arrives before you've had time to think. This page is not advice about your policy — your adjuster is the right person for that. It is a plain description of what each option is like, so the choice in front of you is a little clearer.
What is a hotel stay like?
A hotel is immediate, and that matters if you need somewhere tonight. You can often be checked in within hours.
The trade-off is the space. A hotel is one or two rooms. There is no kitchen, so meals come from restaurants or takeaway. For a few nights this is manageable. Over weeks it gets hard, particularly for a family. Children need room to play and somewhere quiet to sleep. Meals out three times a day wear thin, for patience and for budget. Laundry becomes a chore with no machine. And many hotels limit pets by size or breed, which can rule them out entirely if you have animals.
None of this makes a hotel the wrong choice. For a short stay, it is often the simplest one. It is worth knowing what the weeks feel like before they arrive.
What is a furnished home like?
A furnished home is a whole house or apartment that is already set up. The furniture is there. The beds are made. The kitchen has what you need to cook. The utilities are on before you arrive. You unpack once, and then you stay.
It feels closer to normal life. Children get their own rooms. You can cook dinner and sit at a table. There is a door between you and the world.
Many properties accept pets. The details matter when the request is submitted — how many pets, what type, the breed and weight — because that is what determines which homes will take them. Share those details early and the search goes straight to the homes that fit.
Can you ask for specific things?
Yes, and it is worth doing. You can ask for a number of bedrooms. You can ask for a single-level home if someone in your household has mobility needs. You can ask for a particular area if keeping your children in the same school matters.
Tell whoever is submitting the request — your adjuster, or the Nova Havens team directly. These things are much easier to account for upfront than to change after a home has been found, and no request is too small to mention.
Who decides which one you get?
Your coverage and your carrier's authorisation determine what is available to you. That conversation is with your adjuster. They can tell you what your policy provides.
Once housing is authorised, Nova Havens handles finding and arranging the home itself. You do not have to search listings or call landlords. The options are brought to you.
If you need to speak to someone, call (629) 401-0054. Someone is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to move into a furnished home?
Most families move in within days of the request being submitted. Your coordinator will tell you what the timeline looks like for your situation.
What do we need to bring with us?
Bring clothes, medications, documents, and the personal things your household needs day to day. The furniture, kitchen equipment and linens are already in the home.
What if the home offered doesn't work for us?
Say so. Tell the team what doesn't fit — the area, the layout, the stairs — and the search continues. It is easier to find the right home than to spend weeks in the wrong one.
Can our pets come with us?
In many homes, yes. A large share of the properties Nova Havens works with accept pets. What matters is sharing the details at the start — how many, what type, breed and weight — so the search only includes homes that will welcome them.