Are you trying to find travel nurse housing but are worried about falling into a scam or signing a lease for something that should be condemned?
To help you avoid this, we have compiled a list of the best travel nurse housing tips obtained from career travel nurses.
From requesting a video walkthrough to having a list of must-have amenities, we have you covered.
Follow these travel nurse housing tips not only to make sure you get the place you want but stay safe in the process.
The Top Travel Nurse Housing Tips
1. Request A Facetime Walkthrough
Requesting a Facetime walkthrough and knowing that the property exists will help put your mind at ease.
I request this for every place that I am seriously considering and have yet to be told “no”.
Not only does this allow you to see the property as is and make sure that it matches the photos in the listing, but also lets you get a feel for the property owner.
Speaking with them face-to-face can eliminate any doubts you may have about whether the place and its owner are legit.
It also lets the landlord meet their potential new tenant and put their mind at ease about you.
It’s a win-win situation.
But, if the property owner refuses to do this, the listing is likely a scam and you should immediately walk away and cross that property off your list.
2. Have A Maximum Rent Amount Already Decided
The general rule for how much a travel nurse should pay for rent is one week’s paycheck.
Stipends plus hourly pay rates. Everything you net (take-home).
Going a little bit under or over is fine — this is meant to give you a guide on what your maximum rent limit should be.
Having a number in mind will not only help narrow down your housing search but will also give you a rough idea of your financial budget for this travel nurse assignment.
3. Have A List Of Deal-Breaking Amenities
It’s a good idea to know exactly what you can and cannot live without in your short-term rental.
Think about what you have at your permanent home that makes you happy and would want in your new place.
Some common must-have amenities are:
- A dishwasher
- In-unit laundry
- A designated parking spot
- Wifi
- A television
- A comfy couch
- A full kitchen
- Utilities included
- Access to the entire home
- Complete privacy
Along with knowing how much you can spend on rent, having this list of amenities will help narrow down your choices even more.
Be careful, though. If the housing market is tight, you might have to compromise on some of your amenities to avoid living in a motel.
4. Only Use Reputable Travel Nurse Housing Sites
Using Craigslist to find housing is a bad idea — just don’t do it.
When it comes to finding the right travel nurse housing, there are plenty of options.
The best travel nurse housing sites are ones like Furnished Finder, Zillow, AirBnB, and Corporate Housing By Owner.
Also, if a listing seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
Trusting your gut and your intuition is something that nurses do every day at work. I urge you to exercise that muscle in your personal life if you don’t already.
5. Trust Your Gut
Watch out for red flags and listen to your gut.
If you have a bad feeling about a property or the owner, first ask yourself why and then decide if it’s credible or not.
If the landlord seems off or is pushing you to sign a lease or send the deposit money, walk away.
Finding housing for a travel assignment isn’t just about finding a place to live. It’s also about your safety and feeling comfortable going home.
Besides being scammed out of thousands of dollars, one of the worst things that could happen is that you dread going home after a long shift.
Stay safe, stay smart, and don’t worry about hurting the landlord’s feelings if you don’t want to sign their lease.
Do what you have to do to protect yourself.
Conclusion
The key to securing great travel nurse housing is to trust your gut and go in knowing what you want.
By requesting a video walkthrough, having a rent amount already decided, knowing your deal-breakers, using reputable housing sites, and trusting your gut, you should be able to land the perfect spot.
To help you get started in your search, click here to use Gypsy Nurse’s Housing Finder.
We hope you found this article on travel nurse housing tips helpful. Do you have any travel nurse housing tips to share with your fellow travel nurses? Comment them below.
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