Renting Affordable furnished housing to healthcare workers in 10 steps

Safety

According to the U.S. Bureau of labor statistics, nearly 90% of nurses are women. These women are coming into a strange area and need a sense of security. There are several actions a landlord can take to achieve this.

Put up lighting around the entryway to the residence. Put deadbolts on all doors and make sure the windows are secure. If it is practical, put in a peephole. Provide a designated lighted parking spot for the tenant. Many nurses work second and third shifts, and they would feel safer if they knew there was going to be a close and protected place to park. This would be a positive selling point for your property.

Install cameras at every entryway. Although this can be expensive, this is another layer of protection and safety for the renter.

Creature comforts

These suggestions are not necessary, but they would make your travel nurse feel more at home. Think about what you would want to come home after a 12-hour shift.

Make cable TV and internet connection accessible. Most people today couldn't entertain themselves without the help of technology. Also, if your travel nurse is alone, it can provide companionship.

Provide a kitchen for your nurse. It doesn't have to be something elaborate but something practical. Silverware and dishes are always a positive selling point.

Furnish your rental area. Once again, it doesn't have to be extravagant, but it does have to be comfortable. If you are able, make available a washer and dryer. Lugging dirty laundry from place to place is no way to spend your day off.

Many traveling healthcare workers may come with nothing. Offering a bed, sheets, blankets, and a pillow or two can be a welcome amenity after a long drive or a hard day at the hospital.

Provide a livable bathroom. Operational toilet and shower are always a plus. Ensure there is a wastebasket and let the travel nurse know when trash day is.

Get rid of any vermin. Cockroaches, bedbugs, mice, fleas, spiders, and houseflies are not welcome anywhere in a residential dwelling. Hiring an exterminator is an added expense, yes, but consider it from the tenant's view.

If they come from the north, they are not used to seeing palmetto bugs the size of a credit card or, heaven forbid, a tarantula, scorpion, or snake; seeing something like that is terrible for business.

Location

Although there isn't much a landlord can do about the physical location of the rental property.

You can put several items in an ad that may be pluses to traveling nurses.

Provide them with a local map with locations of groceries stores, banks, department stores, and parks. Let them know where good restaurants can be found along with a relaxing pub or bar.

Public transportation is always a positive. Even if your travel nurse has their own car, it's still nice to know there are other alternatives. Provide a bus schedule and a subway map. This will help reduce the confusion in the first few weeks of the nurse's visit.

Pricing of your property

This can be tricky depending on what part of the country you are in. There is a significant price difference between both coasts and the rest of the country. You want to make money, but you don't want to price yourself out of the market.

Keep in mind you're not catering to Wall Street executives with an unlimited expense budget. These are nurses who are given a stipend to offset the cost of housing. Just like you, they are trying to keep as much money as they can in their pockets.

There is no rationale why one nurse chooses to accept a job in San Francisco, California, the most expensive area, and another chooses Muncie, Indiana. Many traveling nurses may decide to take a position in an exciting city just for the experience, while others may select another not-so-exciting area to find affordable housing. For many, the prices of accommodation can be a determining factor.

There are all kinds of formulas for a price for your rental. Some professional landlords will tell you 1% of the cost of the house or apartment.

We have found that asking around to see what other landlords are charging is safe to price a rental. It is not worth your time if you are not making any money. Start at your break-even point and add what you feel comfortable charging.

Pets

As far as pets are concerned, it is up to you if you want to allow them. The best course of action is to either add a monthly cleaning cost or require a damage deposit upfront as insurance.

Advertising your property

As you advertise your rental, be sure to put all perks upfront. These perks include location, public transportation, distance to local hospitals and clinics, electricity, and water included with the rental. Then get your camera out.

Renters like to find out as much as possible about the property. If you have a good camera or a good phone, take a picture of every room and every angle. If you are upfront in your listing, your renter will feel better about choosing your property. Do not upload fuzzy, crooked, or dark pictures; it may appear that you are concealing something.

Let your prospective tenants know what your property includes. List everything that would be a plus for any renter. Furnished space, a kitchen, and what is in it there are, a lot of places that just come with a hot plate and a frying pan. Washing machine and dryer, refrigerator, and dishwasher are all coveted commodities. Paid electric, water, internet connection, and cable make it more inviting with every addition of an amenity. Start your renter off with a roll of toilet paper and paper towels. These are things traveling nurses appreciate.

There are some things you need to let renters know about. Some of these items may turn off a potential renter, but others don't seem to mind too much. Do they have to share a bathroom or shower? How much common space is there? Do they have to share a parking lot with pre-assigned parking spaces?

Talk up your area

Most of the time, your traveling nurse will do a straight 40 hours where they are employed. What will they do with their spare time?

As you advertise your property, advertise your city too. Many times, if there is information about your town or city, it could tip the renter's decision in your favor.

Traveling nurses aren't just looking for a job; they are looking for an experience. Most of the larger municipalities in the United States have gone to great lengths to put their city in the best light for tourism. Contact the chamber of commerce or if your city has a bureau of tourism, start there. Most of the information they have is not just appealing. It's free.

As a side note, the #1 state that attracts travel nurses is California. No surprise there.

Upkeep and maintenance

One significant advantage of renting to travel nurses is they usually stay at least 13 weeks. Depending on your area's landlord requirements, you may have to paint the walls and steam clean the carpets every time the space is re-rented.

The travel nurse occupation of your property significantly cuts down the amount of cleaning, repainting cost, and time commitment.

Those who own an Airbnb and VRVO, don't hesitate to advertise your dwelling to a travel nurse. You may have to accept a cheaper rate, but at least it won't sit empty for months at a time.

Hotels and Motels have unique challenges when renting to traveling nurses. It is best to rent rooms that have a kitchenette and a refrigerator. It is hard on the budget and the body to eat out all the time.

One of the positives of Hotels and Motels is there is usually plenty of parking right at the door.

As you rent, think about reviews

Too many poor reviews can make or break any business regardless of what they are selling. A landlord can do a few things to put a positive review in the 'GOOD' or five-star column.

Start by being proactive. Respond to phone calls and internet inquiries promptly. If you are out of town, let your callers know when you will be back.

Be polite and kind to everyone. You never know who will be writing the review.

Pick up trash around the property even though it isn't yours. Stray and wild animals may come to your rental to get their fill of leftover food. If your property is in an area where coyotes, stray dogs, cats, and even the occasional buzzard congregate, letting trash and garbage sit outside is a dinner bell.

Let the renters know you have an open-door policy or be receptive to questions and concerns. Don't get the reputation of being a deadbeat landlord. If there is a leaky faucet, fix it. If there is a broken window, get it repaired.

Be sure all appliances are in good working order before the renter comes in. If your property is in an area of extreme weather fluctuations, change the furnace filter before every travel nurse occupation.

Have a note of welcome when you have someone new coming in.

Item Last

We realize some of these suggestions are a little over the top, but until you get several good reviews about your property, be attentive and keep a smile on your face.

The best bit of advice our website can give is to put yourself in your travel nurse's shoes. What would you like to come home to after being on your feet for twelve hours?

What would you enjoy doing with your time off? If you are single, where would you like to meet someone? Where would you like to take someone for a date?

Are there any amenities you absolutely can't live without? Is there someplace close that would deliver a pizza?

These are just a few items landlords need to consider when trying to attract traveling nurses. Check back to this website for blogs with ideas on approaching the traveling nurse rental industry.