Housing

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Medely

March 28, 2023

4908 Views

Rental or Hotel? 8 Ways To Find The Perfect Home For Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment

Posted on March 28, 2023January 3, 2024 by Medely

Medely provided this article.

Once you have a travel nurse assignment lined up, you can focus on the next big decision: figuring out where you’re going to live. As part of a compensation package, travel nurses may be able to stay in company housing or receive a housing stipend.

Many travel nurses and allied professionals prefer the flexibility, comfort, and savings of finding accommodations on their own. And luckily, the housing reimbursement means you have options! Should you look for a rental property, or is a hotel stay the best choice for you?

First, consider your high-level requirements. These might include:

Location. Maybe you need easy access to several facilities where you’ll be picking up per diem or travel nursing assignments, or you prefer to stay outside of the city.
Budget. Finding accommodations that are cheaper than your housing stipend—maybe with a roommate or two—enables you to cut your housing costs and reach your financial goals more quickly.
Features. Access to different amenities can help you make the most of your downtime.
Family. Traveling with a spouse or kids can greatly impact the amount of space you’ll be looking for.
Pet policy. If you travel with an animal, easy access to a yard or park may be essential for your new place.

With your particular preferences in mind, you can compare your priorities with the available housing options.

Housing options: furnished rentals vs. hotels

The pros and cons of furnished rentals vs. hotels

Undoubtedly, your experience with accommodations will vary—every property is different. However, we’ve broken down the usual expectations into potential pros and cons.

Staying in a furnished rental

Pros:

✅ More cost-effective

✅ More home-like feel

✅ More space

✅ Potential access to a yard

✅ Location in a residential area

✅ Full kitchen

✅ More likely to have in-suite laundry facilities

✅ Can be found in many different neighborhoods

Cons:

⚠️ Some rentals are only for short stays

⚠️ Some rentals are equipped for people on vacation, not professionals

⚠️ Fees can be unpredictable

⚠️ Quality of accommodations can be unpredictable

⚠️ Property management can be unpredictable

Staying in a hotel

Pros:

✅ Short term or long-term options available

✅ More amenities, like an on-site gym or pool

✅ Continental breakfast

✅ Housekeeping services

✅ More consistent quality standards

✅ On-site help in case of problems

✅ On-site parking

Cons:

⚠️ More expensive

⚠️ Less space

⚠️ Less comfortable

⚠️ Less privacy

⚠️ Not typically in residential areas

⚠️ May not be close to residential services (i.e., parks, grocery stores)

There is no right option for a travel nurse—some prefer hotels, others prefer furnished rentals and some plan for a combination of both. For example, you may be:

Looking for a place to live. Book a short-term vacation rental for a few weeks while you get to know the city, learn about different neighborhoods, and get recommendations from colleagues.
Waiting for a furnished rental. A hotel can be a stress-free option while you wait for long-term accommodations to be ready.
Focused on work. A long-stay hotel, with all of its amenities, may be a solid option for your whole assignment if you don’t want the responsibility of a rental property.

As you’ll see from the list below, furnished rentals and hotels are two distinct categories, but there are a lot of ways for you to customize your experience. Check out these eight ways to find a suitable property during your next travel assignment housing option.

1. Airbnb — Monthly Rentals

One of the most recognizable brands for vacation rentals, Airbnb has created a category for furnished housing options that are available for 30+ days.

While you can’t apply filters to the monthly rental search results, you can use Airbnb to find various types of rental properties, from condos to guest suites to detached houses. Airbnb acts as an intermediary, offering some degree of protection to both owners and renters—but it is important to look at previous feedback and ask questions that may come up.

Airbnb also makes it easy for you to:

Browse listing information and pricing without any commitment
Check out reviews and ratings to feel more confident about your expectations
Communicate directly with the property owner or manager about any questions you may have

Pricing on Airbnb can be more competitive than on other short-term rental sites, but the service fees can also add up. It’s also important to check cancellation policies; they vary by property and can be quite strict.

2. Furnished Finder

A popular site for travel nurses and other medical professionals, Furnished Finder is a niche site that helps travelers find a house, room, or apartment for 30+ days. It’s built with professionals like you in mind rather than catering to the vacation market.

While Airbnb serves as a bit of a mediator, Furnished Finder makes the connection, and there’s a lot less crowdsourced information from an established community. For example:

Information about properties isn’t verified
There’s a review and ratings feature, but it doesn’t seem to be widely used

With this more hands-off approach, it’s up to you to sort out the lease agreement and rental payments with the owner. In exchange, you’ll save on booking fees and markup—Furnished Finder charges the owner a fee for listing the property, but there are no fees for you as a renter.

3. ShortTermHousing.com

Website

ShortTermHousing.com specializes in providing flexible lease options to workers on the move. One branch, in particular, is focused on connecting healthcare professionals with furnished properties for travel assignments, and they say they tailor their offerings to meet your needs. This includes housing options that are close to medical facilities or in a safe and peaceful location that can help you recuperate.

While it’s free to browse the site, you need to submit a housing request to the company itself in order to confirm what’s available and book a rental. This means that the search and booking process may take extra time. And, while you can ask about specific needs or requests, there’s less up-front visibility into each property.

4. Preferred Corporate Housing

Website

For an even more hands-off approach than ShortTermHousing.com, there are no listings on the Preferred Corporate Housing (PCH) website. Instead, you contact them directly, complete their intake form, and they’ll get back to you with potential rental options.

PCH can be a great option if you just don’t have the extra bandwidth to research a new community and find a place to live. They offer professional management with ongoing support, compile all expenses into one bill, and meet set standards for accommodations wherever your rental is, so you’re left with a lot less guesswork.

5. Extended Stay America

If you’re working long hours and don’t want a home to maintain, Extended Stay America might be the perfect medium! Extended Stay America offers a hotel experience for long-term business travel—whether you’re there for a few nights, a few weeks, or longer.

Locations typically offer perks you’d expect with a hotel stay, such as:

Continental breakfast
Housekeeping
On-site gym
A loyalty program

Each suite includes a kitchenette, and they have pet-friendly rooms if needed.

There’s also something to be said about being in a “shared” environment where staff is always nearby if something comes up. Plus, with standardized facilities, there’s a lot less guesswork about what you can expect.

6. Zillow.com

The most popular real estate website in the U.S., Zillow.com, is known for buying and selling homes—but they also have a category for rentals that can be filtered based on location and amenities (i.e., furnished).

What makes Zillow.com a good option for travel nurses is that many of their listings are managed by corporations or property managers rather than individual owners, which can add an additional layer of reliability and professionalism to your experience.

Using the “Agent Finder” feature, you can also reach out directly to property managers in an area if you’d like help with your search.

7. Tripping.com

Website

Tripping.com is an aggregator that searches numerous accommodation and travel websites, including vacation rental marketplaces such as Vrbo and FlipKey (but not Airbnb). It’s an easy way to quickly get a sense of what types of properties are available in a particular area.

Tripping.com is generally not ideal if you’re looking for a rental to cover your whole travel assignment. It’s better used for stays of one or two weeks, maybe to cover a short assignment or to have somewhere to stay while you find something longer term. While the vacation rentals it features are typically furnished, they aren’t necessarily equipped or priced for stays of 30+ days.

When you click on a search result, Tripping.com directs you to the partner site that hosts the listing. This means not only that rental conditions will vary from one listing to another but also that the policies and protections are different for each site.

8. Facebook Groups

Facebook groups are the “Wild West” when it comes to quality and protection and may not be the top choice for travel nurses and allied pros. However, there are countless traveler—focused groups. Facebook can be a good source for information and direct feedback—just proceed with caution.

To find a group, search for:

The location you’re going to and travel nursing housing.
Your specialty and travel nursing (i.e., med surg travel nursing)
Travel nurse networking groups (i.e., Travel Nurse Housing from The Gypsy Nurse or Nurses Renting to Travel Nurses)

Your home away from home

Travel nursing assignments can push you out of your comfort zone—new facility, new city, new challenges. Whether you choose to stay in a furnished rental or a hotel can shape your day-to-day experience and ability to recharge when you’re not on shift. We hope the suggestions above help you explore your housing options.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. If housing is an issue, we have you covered with our housing page. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

By Advantage Medical Professionals

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By The Gypsy Nurse

March 21, 2023

16679 Views

Find Your Perfect Fit: Tips for Travel Nurse Housing in Short-Term Furnished Rentals

Posted on March 21, 2023December 18, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

Whether you’re an experienced travel nurse or planning your first travel experience, after you take that job, there’s one decision that can make or break your assignment; furnished travel nurse housing!

You can easily get overwhelmed online and dump a ton of time calling on fruitless ads, which leaves you frustrated…and no closer to finding a suitable property to stay in. This type of stress, sometimes called “housing fatigue”, increases daily until you secure properly furnished travel nurse housing for your upcoming job.

In the past, your travel nurse recruiter may have handled your travel nurse housing, but many travel nurses are now electing to take the travel nurse housing stipend to have more control over where they stay. If you’ve ever been stuck in subpar housing for 13 weeks, you know this! Also, since you can pocket the remaining tax-free stipend dollars, most travel RNs realize the importance of taking a more significant role in choosing their housing.

Is it really that hard to find your own furnished travel nurse housing? Not necessarily. It can just take a lot of time. Remember that you’re looking for short-term travel nurse housing, which can feel like looking for that “needle in a haystack”! On top of that, you need it furnished, with utilities included, in a safe and convenient area that’s pet friendly and within a reasonable budget compared to your stipend. Now, the pool of available travel nurse housing options in your area has suddenly shrunk to next to nothing. Be prepared to keep digging…but where do you start?

Here are 5 tips to help you find furnished travel nurse housing

1.) Beware of Craigslist.com and “too good to be true” offers – they usually are!

Do you just jump on Craigslist and start making calls? You can certainly find real housing options on Craigslist, but it comes at a cost. Frankly, you really can’t trust everything you read on Craigslist. If you’re a member of the Gypsy Nurse Travel Nurse Housing Group, you see it somewhat frequently; someone will post the too good to be true housing offer they found on Craigslist, asking if it’s real.

Thankfully, other members will step in and tell them to steer clear because it’s a scam. (If you’re not already a member of the popular Gypsy Nurse Travel Nurse Facebook Group and Housing Group, we encourage you to join. They’re a great way to learn from fellow travelers across the country).

2.) Be cautious in checking out potential landlords online

When fielding emails from potential landlords online, remember these three rules:

Use your intuition it’s usually right.
Make sure the images match the price If the images are incredible, but the rent is grossly underpriced, it’s most likely a scam.
Never send money Scammers are cyberbullies preying on desperate travelers. (You can get some other tips on recognizing a Craigslist scam Here and tips from The Gypsy Nurse Here).

3.) Vacation Rental Websites

Vacation rental websites are an excellent resource to consider. Some of the most popular are HomeAway, VRBO, and Airbnb. You can find some great housing options on these sites; for the most part, they keep scammers away. You punch in a city or a state, and you’ll be able to view tons of vacation rentals. Like any site, you’ll need to filter out the properties that don’t make sense for you…like that 6-bedroom mansion that sleeps 18 people.

Most likely, you’re looking for a reasonably priced studio or 1 bedroom near the hospital where you’ll be working. Once you narrow your search results down a bit, you’ll need to dive into the availability of each property. This is usually where the proverbial asterisk or caveat in your search rears its ugly head; since most of the vacation rentals can be booked online in advance, finding a place that can host you for your entire 13-week stay can be challenging…but not impossible.

When contacting property owners on these sites, operate with the 10% rule in mind; only 10% of the property owners you contact will actually respond. Knowing this, try sending out many availability requests to make VRBO/HomeAway/Airbnb work for you.

4.) Traveling Healthcare Rentals: Monthly Furnished Travel Nurse Housing Without Booking-fees.

By now, you’re probably pretty familiar with vacation rental sites like HomeAway, VRBO, and Airbnb, and many of you may already have used sites like these to secure travel nurse housing in the past. They can certainly work out in a pinch, but knowing that your contracts are typically 2-3 months at a time, booking vacation rentals for travel nurse housing can rack up the extra fees.

Travel Nurse Housing - Furnished Housing

Furnished Finder, the official housing partner of The Gypsy Nurse, has over 40,000 listings on their map and is typically the most affordable monthly furnished housing platform since there are no markups to rent or booking fees to inflate the cost. Furnished Finder property owners are specifically looking for traveling nurse tenants, so you’re usually speaking to a landlord who knows how to set up their property to meet the unique needs of the traveling healthcare worker.

Safety is top on the list for every traveler, which is why Furnished Finder verifies the ownership and background checks of every landlord that lists on their platform. Travelers also want to ensure that they make their stipend stretch as far as possible, which is why Furnished Finder has a Stipend Calculator that helps travelers plan out their housing. You can search for housing on The Gypsy Nurse or through Furnished Finder directly. Safe travels and happy renting.

5.) Extended Stay Hotels

Extended-stay types of hotels are also heavily utilized by travel nurses either as a bridge between traditional housing or as the housing solution itself. Some travelers like the amenities hotels provide, like breakfast, housekeeping, and fitness centers, and most hotels will take animals up to 60 lbs. Also, most of these hotels have kitchens, which can save money on food when you travel and provides an extra touch of home while you’re away from work. In addition, hotels provide you flexibility on the backend compared to an apartment should your assignment be canceled unexpectedly.

Travel nurses can receive large prenegotiated rates for extended stay type hotels. TGN recommends Furnished Finder’s Hotel discounts for short stays in between contracts. Hotels are an important part of the housing equation for the travel healthcare industry, so make sure you’re getting the best rates possible!

You have a lot of choices to make after you accept your assignment, many of which can determine your travel experience over the next 13 weeks. Use all the resources available to you and be smart about how you spend your time and money when it comes to travel nurse housing.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

Search Travel Nurse Housing

March 2, 2023

4686 Views

Home Sweet Home: Securing the Best Housing Option for Your Next Travel Nursing Assignment

Posted on March 2, 2023March 2, 2023 by Advantage Medical Professionals

Advantage Medical Professionals provided this article.

Travel nurses can hold widely varying opinions about most aspects of travel nursing, and they usually jump at the chance to share those opinions or offer advice. Whether it’s about the interview process or the best brand of scrubs, almost any topic is seen as an opportunity for friendly debate amongst new and seasoned travelers alike. However, it seems virtually all travel nurses agree on one thing – finding short-term housing during their travel assignment can be one of the most stressful parts of the process. There are usually several factors to consider that can vary wildly depending on your own unique sets of circumstances, like finances, timing, and the rental housing market in the area you plan to work (just to name a few). Securing the perfect place isn’t an exact science, but the nuggets of wisdom provided below will help you assess your unique situation and find the best possible “home away from home” during each travel assignment.

1. Consider booking an extended-stay hotel or short-term VRBO rental for the first week or two of your assignment.

This will help you get a lay of the land and better familiarize yourself with the area first, rather than putting a considerable deposit down on an apartment sight unseen. It will also give you a chance to get settled into the routine at your assigned facility and make 100% sure the assignment is a good fit for you without the three-month rental contract you just signed looming over your head.

2. Divide & Conquer.

Finding a colleague or roommate to travel with will allow both of you to save some serious cash since you’ll be splitting rent and other housing expenses. If you don’t personally know of anyone, try reaching out to travel nursing groups on social media or asking your recruiter if they can connect you with other nurses who are starting their next travel assignment around the same time and place as yours.

3. If you have travel companions, pick a place that fits everyone’s needs.

Whether you’re planning to travel with a roommate, spouse, pet, or child, make sure you focus your housing search to only include places that welcome and have the proper accommodations for your travel companion(s). There are a number of websites that allow you to filter for pet-friendly stays, such as BringFido or Homeaway.

4. Be brutally honest with yourself when booking your long-term housing for your travel assignment.

Ask yourself what makes the most sense given the commute to the facility, your shift schedule, amenities offered, and your normal living habits. For example, staying in an apartment in the middle of the city because it’s close to the hospital might be great – however, street noise or ongoing construction projects during the day may prevent your much-needed sleep if you’re working nights if you tend to be a light sleeper. You may not always find the “perfect” place that checks all your boxes with every assignment, but weighing these pros and cons carefully will go a long way in securing a place you’re comfortable and happy to put your feet up at the end of a long shift.

5. Educate yourself about the advantages and disadvantages of agency-provided housing.

Some travel nursing agencies and healthcare facilities provide their own housing or have partnerships/referral programs with housing rental companies. This may sound like an easy, convenient solution to securing a place to stay during your travel assignment, but there are several important factors you should consider before taking an agency up on their housing offer.

Disadvantages of agency or facility-provided housing:

In most cases, the agency gets a commission from the housing company for every rental they book or refer – to maintain profit margins. The housing company usually charges an increased rate to the referred tenants to offset this extra cost. Simply put, it usually ends up in higher rental costs for nurses like you.

The housing conditions, layout, and/or location may not be acceptable for your needs or comfort level.

Advantages of agency or facility-provided housing:

Saved time because you don’t have to spend hours finding housing on your own
No credit checks since the lease will not be in your name

6. Consider alternative housing options.

Staying in an RV or cabin is an economical option that has become an increasingly popular choice for career travelers. Websites like Campspace are a great resource for finding RV parks, cabins, and campsites with varying levels of amenities for campers or glampers alike to live comfortably. If you don’t have access to an RV, no worries! Sharing platforms like RVShare allows you to find and rent RVs or campers directly from locals in the area you’re traveling to for your nursing assignment. Another way to save money on housing costs AND help a fellow traveler is by looking to websites like Trusted Housesitters, which connects travelers with locals in a given area who are looking for house sitters or pet sitters.

7. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

It’s an unfortunate truth but a very real one –there are scammers in almost every industry who figure out how to scam hardworking, intelligent people out of their hard-earned money. Some of these grifts are obvious, but some scammers still manage to find increasingly clever ways to mimic legitimate business practices so closely that it’s nearly impossible to detect before it’s too late.

Some red flags to look out for:

The price doesn’t match up with the images or amenities listed. If the property is noticeably underpriced compared to other properties in the area and/or the images or amenities included in the rental listing seem abundant for the price, it’s possible the property is uninhabitable or doesn’t exist at all.
- The landlord/leasing agent pressures you to send money. Avoid sending money or providing banking information until you can tour the residence in person. Even reputable rental properties ask for a credit card to put on file ahead of your check-in date, so make sure they’re able to point you to documentation that outlines their payment terms, fee schedule, etc., before doing so. Also, use a credit card that includes fraud/travel purchase protection if at all possible.
- Trust your gut feeling. Like most situations, you’re better off listening to your gut or intuition when something just doesn’t feel right, even if you can’t quite put your finger on the reason why. Don’t be afraid to say no, and keep looking for a place that feels right.

8. A picture can be worth a thousand dollars.

Do a thorough walkthrough of the entire residence the very first day you move in. Also, make sure you capture time-stamped photos of any existing damage to the residence along the way, even if the damage is minimal. Doing this will go a long way in protecting yourself from being unjustly charged for the damages later.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

February 24, 2023

2654 Views

Avoid Housing Surprises When Traveling!

Posted on February 24, 2023February 24, 2023 by Furnished Finder

Some surprises are great – like a surprise birthday party, a surprise visit from a friend, or even a surprise day off! But when you’re a travel nurse, the type of surprise you don’t want involves housing! You have so many changes when you’re going from place to place and facility to facility that a housing surprise can often bring unwelcome stress to your situation. We’re here to help by offering a few ways to avoid housing surprises when finding your next monthly furnished rental.

Check Furnished Finder for your housing needs.

First things first, make sure you check out Furnished Finder for your housing needs. The site offers nothing but monthly furnished rentals and discounted hotels perfect for your needs. This way, you won’t have to sift through housing that doesn’t fit your monthly furnished needs. You won’t fall in love with a property only to find that it’s available on weekends only!

Be upfront with the property owners.

Next, be upfront about what you are looking for when you begin communicating with property owners. If you have non-negotiables or must-haves, let those be known right away. This way, you won’t get all the way to the point where you are ready to sign a lease only to find that your requirements aren’t met, and you’re sent back to square one.

Let the property owner know your reason for travel and who you will be traveling with. This may seem like unnecessary information to share, but if you are traveling with a spouse, partner, or friend, and the property owner knows about this, they can make sure that there are enough supplies, bedding, etc., for multiple people. This is also a great time to ask specific questions about things that will make your stay easier. If you work nights, a coffee maker is probably a must! Ask the owner if there is one, so you don’t have a surprise caffeine-free stay!

FaceTime!

More often than not, stays are reserved without visiting the property prior to the move-in date. This can be for multiple reasons. You may not actually be in the new city until your contract starts, or there may be a tenant in the property that can make seeing the property tough. In this case, to ensure you aren’t met with any unwelcome housing surprises, ask the property owner if you can FaceTime with them to see the property! Even if it’s just from the outside, if the unit or home is occupied, it will give you a better feel of the neighborhood, the vibe, and the landlord!

Speaking of landlords…call them!

We live in such a digital world that it’s easy to do everything over text and messaging. If you want extra certainty, though, pick up the phone and call the property owner to really get a feel for them and their property. You can get to know them and ask questions that come up in conversation that you might not have thought of before.

Use Google Street View!

You may be going to an area of the country you have never been to. While this can be exciting and bring lots of new adventures, you may also know nothing about the different areas of town! We know you will want to be close to your place of work, but you also don’t want any surprises when it comes to the neighborhood or your surroundings. Because, after all, safety is the priority! Visit Google maps, type in the address, and click on street view. This will allow you to “walk” around the neighborhood and get a good feel for the area.

Our final word of advice to avoid any unwelcome housing surprises when it comes to your housing situation – ask questions, questions, and more questions! Our site is great because you get to connect directly to the property owner – take advantage of this! Ask them if there is a secured entrance, the neighborhood vibe, the facilities, their policies, etc.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

January 20, 2023

4400 Views

How to Get the Best Rental Experience Possible

Posted on January 20, 2023January 20, 2023 by Furnished Finder

It’s a challenge that all travel nurses face: housing. While Furnished Finder gives travelers more than 100,000 options for monthly furnished rentals across the country, how do you ensure that your rental experience is the best it can be? Well, let’s break it down into a few key tips.

Communication is key

This may seem obvious, but in too many cases, it isn’t. Communication is key to ensuring that your rental and your rental experience are exactly what you’re looking for. From the moment you send a housing request or when you send out a message or booking inquiry on Furnished Finder, take a few extra minutes to be detailed. Introduce yourself, explain exactly what you are looking for, how long you are looking to stay, any deal breakers or must-haves, as well as if you have any pets. A personal introduction and getting all of your needs clear from the beginning will go a long way in ensuring that property owners who reach out are already aware of your needs.

This also applies when you are at the property. Is it missing any furnishing that you need? Is something broken? Remember that a property owner can only fix or improve what they know about!

Avoid scams

There’s no worse rental experience than a scam. There are multiple ways to avoid being taken as a part of a scam, but some of the most impactful tips are to talk to a landlord on the phone or on facetime, always pay securely, and do a verification check. Talking on the phone will ensure that the relationship passes your “gut check” and that you have no uneasy feelings. Facetime to see the property (and if the property is occupied, at least the exterior of the property) will ensure that you are renting exactly what you think you are renting. Paying securely with a credit card will offer you protection in case of a dispute or other conflict. (This is one of the many reasons to avoid paying via Venmo or Zelle). Finally, make sure that the property belongs to the property owner by requesting a verification check on Furnished Finder.

Know the area

If you’re traveling to a new area, reach out to local Facebook groups or talk to new co-workers to discover the best and safest area of town to stay in. Even if it is a tad further from the hospital, keeping your safety as a top priority will be more than worth a slightly further commute. You can also do a Google street view and research crime rates in the area to help you get a feel for the area before you arrive.

Be honest with pet expectations and rules.

Pets! We love them, and they can help keep you company while on the road! Many property owners welcome Fido with open arms but have set in place different policies to protect everyone. Make sure that you ask about any regulations or policies and that you are comfortable with them before signing a lease.

Get everything in writing.

It may seem tedious, but when you’re talking lease terms, rules, and policies, get everything in writing as a part of your lease. What is your deposit? What is the rent? What happens if your contract gets canceled? What would cause a property owner to keep your deposit? How quickly will you get your deposit back? Make sure that you get all of these items and any other questions you may have put into writing!

At the end of the day, nothing ensures a great rental experience like trusting your gut. Be sure that you’re comfortable with where you are, and go have a great time exploring the new area!

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

By TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

December 19, 2022

2529 Views

Questions to Ask Your Agency’s Housing Department (If They Have One)

Posted on December 19, 2022February 7, 2023 by TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

TNAA Healthcare provided this article.

There are a few things that can make or break a travel nurse assignment, and housing is at the top of the list. Not having safe, comfortable, affordable housing is an assignment dealbreaker.

Travel nurse housing is an industry pain point for travelers and agencies, but some of these can be fixed by squashing a myth around travel nurse housing and explaining how it works.

Often, when a traveler hears an agency offers housing assistance, they think the agency will not pay a per diem. Because of that, travelers won’t reach out to an agency’s housing department at all. What should be understood is that there are multiple types of housing assistance, and some agencies do it better than others.

Housing Assistance With a Per Diem

Say you pay a mortgage in your home state and qualify for a per diem when you take a travel nurse assignment. When a traveler takes the per diem, sometimes their agency’s housing assistance ends there. However, other agencies will still help you find safe accommodations within your budget, whether you want to stay in an apartment, private rental, long-term hotel, or elsewhere.

Even if you take a per diem, talk with your agency to see what housing resources they offer. After all, your agency is supposed to be your support system on the road.

Housing Paid For by the Travel Nurse Agency

The next statement is a big point to understand: When you take housing that’s paid for by your agency, you won’t receive a housing per diem. This is because you’re not duplicating expenses by paying for your own accommodations. Instead, the agency is handling the bill.

In the industry, it’s becoming less frequent to take agency housing. Many travelers feel they can find accommodations at a better rate and pocket the rest of the per diem, or they aren’t happy with the ‘paid for’ options they’re provided.

Regardless of whether or not you take the per diem, you’ll want to work with an agency that can assist you in finding the right place to stay, especially in a tight housing market. To help you, here are the travel nurse housing questions you should ask when researching agencies.

Questions to Ask About Travel Nurse Housing

Do you have a housing department, and will I get a dedicated housing specialist?
If the agency pays for housing…
1. Will I be working with the housing department or an outsourced vendor to secure a place to stay?
2. Will I have multiple housing options presented to me?
3. How much input do I have in the option picked?
4. Are utilities put in the agency’s name or my name?
If taking the per diem…
1. Will the housing department assist me if I take the per diem?
2. Does the agency have a leads list I can use to find reliable private owners renting to travelers?
3. Will the agency help me find an extended-stay hotel and get the best rate?
4. Can the agency assist with some of the upfront costs of moving, like having to pay deposits or the first and last month’s rent?
5. Does the agency have discount codes I can use to get the best rate?
If traveling with others…
1. Will the agency assist me if I want to travel with my friends, family, or pets?
2. Does the agency consider whether the housing option is in a family-friendly location?
3. Does the agency consider whether the housing option is in a pet-friendly location?
Will the agency help me find another place to stay if I don’t feel comfortable or safe when I arrive?
Will the agency help me if I want to see the area before I make a final housing decision?

As a travel nurse, you have plenty of to-do’s with each assignment, and finding housing is one of them. With the current housing market, it can be easier to work with an agency with a housing department and specialists dedicated to finding a safe, affordable, and comfortable place for you to stay that accommodates you and any others you bring along for the ride.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

July 22, 2022

7989 Views

Private Housing vs. Shared Housing – What’s Best for You?

Posted on July 22, 2022July 21, 2022 by Furnished Finder

All travel nurses must face the same daunting question when it comes to planning their housing for an assignment; Should you rent private housing or a shared home? It’s a question that comes with many pros and cons, so let’s break it down.

Private Room, Shared Spaces

When the idea of shared housing is brought up, we know that many people immediately think of college dorms or rentals. But this is a different situation and a completely different lifestyle than college days! Many homes are available for rent (check out Furnished Finder!) with individual private rooms and shared living and kitchen spaces.

Pros of a private room- shared spaces:

The cost savings is the first and arguably largest advantage of renting a room within a shared home. Prices for private rooms are typically much lower than renting the entire home as the expenses are shared and split up between tenants. We know travelers and travel nurses have budgets to keep in mind, which is a great way to save some money on rent!

Another great perk about renting a private room within a shared home is the chance to meet other travelers or perhaps residents of the local area. Some homes are rented to all travelers, and other homes may have long-term tenants or even the owner residing in other parts of the home. What better way to meet new friends and get the scoop on the local areas than to live with someone?!

Cons of a private room- shared spaces:

Sometimes there can be a conflict with roommates or those sharing a living space. However, this is much less common with professional roommates. Be sure to set clear expectations and have an open and respectful line of communication; many conflicts can be avoided before they even happen.

Entire Homes- private housing

Just like it sounds, renting an entire home means that it’s you, you, and only you (or perhaps you and a spouse or family member!) in the home. No sharing of common spaces – everything is yours!

Pros of entire homes:

Total privacy! Although it may seem obvious, this perk is a big perk for those who may have varying hours, work nights, or just tend to be more private travelers. You won’t need to worry about potentially waking someone else up if you’re headed in to work late (or early!), and vice versa if you are trying to sleep.

Additionally, with an entire home rental, you can live according to your own habits without worrying about others who you live with. Keep the thermostat how you like, clean it on your own accord, etc. As long as you are within your lease limits, you get to determine how you keep things!

Cons of an entire home

When you’re the only tenant, you’re also the only one to assume all housekeeping responsibilities. Any terms agreed to in your lease are on your shoulders. This may not be a big deal for some, but for others, it may be difficult with schedules and workloads. Remember that different types of homes require different types of maintenance (and per your lease). An apartment may have minimal outdoor upkeep, for example, but an entire single-family home may require you to do yard upkeep if agreed upon.

Whichever you prefer – a private room within a shared space or an entire unit (private housing) – find a home that excites you! On Furnished Finder, you’ll find everything from apartments and townhouses to single-family homes, cottages, back houses, and guest suites! You may even find an RV or a tiny home!

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

June 23, 2022

8767 Views

50 Best Places to Travel Nurse

Posted on June 23, 2022April 29, 2024 by Furnished Finder

According to Furnished Finder, here are the top 50 cities where travel nurses work.

First, we’ll start with the top 10 cities where travel nurses need housing:

San Diego
Seattle
Denver
Phoenix
Boston
Los Angeles
Nashville
Atlanta
San Francisco
Portland

Here are the other most popular travel nurse cities to round out the top 50.

Albuquerque
Austin
Las Vegas
Saint Louis
New Orleans
Tucson
Tacoma
San Jose
Reno
Portland
San Antonio
Miami
Charleston
Houston
Washington
Sacramento
Orlando
Honolulu
Tampa
Baltimore
Charlotte
Asheville
Chicago
Burlington
Dallas
Oakland
Palo Alto
Saint Petersburg
Colorado Springs
Anchorage
Fort Myers
Santa Rosa
Charlottesville
New York, NY
Scottsdale
Fresno
Savannah
Boise
New Haven
Jacksonville

There are so many great cities that travel nurses can visit, and just because a city isn’t on this list doesn’t mean that travelers don’t go there. One of the things you’ll notice is that Furnished Finder doesn’t just have listings in the big cities, as about 50% of the cities in the top 200 have populations of less than 100,000 people.

Whether you’re going to the big city or a quaint rural town, chances are that Furnished Finder will have a monthly furnished rental to choose from. Start your travel nurse housing search today by filling out a Housing Request or Search the Map.

The way it works is that you can search and contact landlords directly or through the App. Every landlord on Furnished Finder is verified so you can book housing in confidence, knowing that the person you’re speaking to really is who they say they are.

Next, there are no booking fees on Furnished Finder. This can literally save travelers hundreds every month! Plus, you can now book hotels on Furnished Finder and save up to 25% off.

Want to learn more about a city before you go there? Check out the free travel nurse housing Stipend Calculator.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. If housing is an issue, we have you covered with our housing page. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse: