14 Tips for Finding Furnished Short Term Rentals for Travel Nurses

Do Your Research.

Obviously, your foremost step is to research using the best tool you have- the internet! Being a healthcare traveler, the struggle is real when it comes to finding accommodation. Most of the rentals come along with a typical lease of one year or so. However, the field of travel nursing is becoming a preferred profession at a tremendously fast rate. Thus, many landlords offer rooms and apartments which are selectively suited to the requirements of travel nurses. So go through a detailed google search about the rentals and their pricing in the desired location. There are many such websites created essentially for travel nurses and other health care travel workers which help them find a decent short-term rental.

Think Before You Commit!

yes, we agree that it is really tempting to work and live in gorgeous locations like Hawaii, New York, California, and Florida. However, before committing to any package presented to you, make sure to weigh the pros and cons. Even if the package seems to be pretty charming, you could end up spending a big sum of your stipends on accommodation charges. It is typically hard to find affordable accommodation in big cities. Before signing the contract, take your time to investigate the average living costs in that area because you would not want to spend all your stipends on these expenses, especially if you plan to save money for your future kids, house, or paying debts.

Do Your Homework Before Traveling.

The best time to search for your short-term furnished housing rentals is before traveling or even before committing to a travel contract. So, take your time researching before agreeing to a package. After you have agreed, utilize your time well researching different options. Go for authentic travel workers' rental websites and list down the contact information of any rental that seems okay. Do contact the owner before traveling to know about all the little details and lease demands. In some cases, the owners would hold the place for you; however, not for long. So make sure to have a bunch of different options because these rentals move forward as fast as the travel nurses' jobs do.

Be Organized.

If you are a travel nurse, then you must be well aware of this fast paced world of travel nursing. The vacancies as well as the accommodations whirlwind forward so you have got to speed up to keep up. Do not wait for a perfect package and then a perfect residency to prepare for your journey. Keep all your documents, original as well as photocopies aside. Prepare a set of your certifications, licensing info, health conditions records and vaccination certificates. The same goes for your furry friend if you plan on bringing one along. Keep tight on their routine checkup, immunizations and grooming. Also it is wise to look up some pet sitters and veterinary doctors in the area where you are going to be taken your next travel assignment.

Use Salary Paycheck Calculator.

There are many salary paycheck calculator tools out there. These powerful tools can be used by travel nurses and healthcare travelers in all 50 states to calculate gross-to-net and estimate take-home pay. These calculators are the perfect way to have a know-how of your approximate expenses before you commit to a given package. Certain calculators help you understand your paycheck better, especially that pay stubs vary based on individual circumstances and the state. When you review your pay stubs, if you are new to Travel nursing or work force you may wonder why your take home pay is less than your gross pay. The reason is because of taxes, withholdings and deductions. Finally, use paycheck calculator to decide wither a travel contract is worth your time or not. Especially, that short term rental cost in certain geographic areas can be more than the housing stipends paid by a contract.

Keep Your Priorities Straight.

Being a travel nurse and a travel healthcare worker is all about figuring out the easiest way to have a minimal lifestyle. It is possible if you keep your priorities straight and constantly in check. Before you start looking for your abode, make a list of the desired features that you want to have in it, such as;

• A dishwasher
• Washing machine and dryer
• Size of the accommodation
• How far is it from your workplace
• Designated parking or street parking availability
• Windows or sunlight inlets
• Whether a pet is allowed or not, Pet policies and related deposits, etc
• If driving, are you going to be driving against traffic or with traffic in big cities

Having such a list can help you separate the extreme necessities from extra luxuries. For example, accommodation in the center of the city near the hospital is comparatively expensive than the ones located at a distance. It is a good option to opt for the latter, as the bus and train charges are very negligible in most cities. This way, you can definitely save a handsome amount of money from your stipend and use it to shop and spend. By living at a distance, you will also be exposed to exploring a wider area of the city.

Renting a small cozy studio apartment or finding a roommate are the best option since you only have to live temporarily for a short period of time. Also, if it is an option, it is best to leave your furry friend back at home because most owners do not allow pets or charge extra money for keeping pets. On top of that, most landlords prefer buying cheap furniture in case your pet decides to ruin it.

Contact Other Tenants.

Opinion from a person who has gone through the same experience often proves to be golden advice. So do not hesitate to contact other travel health care workers living in the area or those who used to. They can guide you in-depth about the different housing communities and localities in the city and the pros and cons of each. In most cases, they can tell you about good and cheap accommodations that are up for rent. Even if they do not live there anymore, they would willingly contact other people they know living in the area.

Have A Talk With Your Recruiter.

Many nursing travel agencies offer to find accommodations for their travel nurses. Although, in this case you will not be given the luxury of your tax free housing stipend, so most travelers prefer finding their own short term furnished rental a lot cheaper than their housing stipends and avail the stipend given to them. If you are able to find a furnished short-term rental by a trusted owner or a trusted rental site at a pocket friendly price then you definitely have some extra cash in your pocket to spend. So Have a productive conversation with your recruiter agent about it. Ask him/her to provide you the package breakdown with and without housing stipends.

Also nursing travel agencies have liaison with hotels and motels nationwide and can find you a place near the facility where you are going to be taken your upcoming assignment. Your recruiter may also connect you with other travel nurses leaving for travel to the same city. This proves to be very helpful at times.

Go For Sublets.

Sublets are a great option if you want to go light in your pocket. People who are frequent travelers themselves usually prefer to have someone pay their rent when they are out of town. Sublets come with many features, which the common rentals lack. They tend to have good quality cozy furniture and properly functioning appliances like refrigerator, ovens, washing machines, heaters, and even high quality coffee makers.

Sublet owners are actually easier to negotiate with. You can ask for any additional features, and in most cases, they would agree to know that they can use it when they return home. Some very generous families also put up their guest rooms for renting to travel nurses and essential healthcare workers. This can be an excellent choice, especially if you are young and inexperienced. Plus, the owners are available all the time, ready to help you out in case of any repair needs or other difficulties that may rise later. Even if you feel hesitant to interact with new people, you can still keep your distance because some of these guest rooms may have a separate entrance.

Roommates to The Rescue.

In big cities like New York City, it is a workout itself to find a short-term furnished housing rental that is affordable and budget-friendly, and most probably, you would not have the time to do so. That is where sharing, actually benefits all. You could easily go for a luxury residence if you have roommates to split the bills. Having roommates is a life-saving option when it is safe, especially in a non-native area. Even if they are new to the place just like you, you would already have a group of friends to explore the city and have new experiences. By having roommates, you are very less likely to have homesickness and depression too! Plus, anything that saves money is a green flag!

Beware Of Scammers.

The most common issue, and definitely the one you wish to stay as far apart as possible from, is the scams done in regards to property rentals. First time travel nurses and healthcare workers are the prime victims of these scams, especially when looking for rentals. The majority of scammers roam travel nurse housing Facebook groups, ready to make a fool out of innocent and naive nurses, especially first time healthcare travelers. In the most common occurrences, scammers upload pictures and details of someone else's property or simply steal it from google maps. They insist on the security deposit and one month's rent to be paid in advance through cash or wire transfer. As this money can not be traced or, worse, returned, this makes it very accessible for them to grab the money and disappear. So never agree to pay advance money before visiting the place.

Another most common trick that scammers use is to skip written lease or mention more than agreed rent. Many people are outsmarted and trapped by scammers in this way because people do not read the whole lease document carefully. They deliberately mention a large amount of money on the lease, and if you ignore it, you can get in big trouble. Signing the lease means you officially agree to all the terms and conditions mentioned on it. So make sure you stay out of trouble by only searching on well-reputed house rental websites or the ones recommended by your co-workers and travel agency recruiter. Click here to learn more about must know scams that healthcare travelers fall victims to, especially through Facebook travel nurse housing groups.

If you are planning to join a safe, scam-free and well checked travel nurse housing group. Consider Gypsy Choice Housing group.

Contact The Local Police.

This may seem extra, but it can save you from many unwanted situations or worse deadly occurrences. Before considering taking a travel nurse contract in a city, always call the local police department in the desired destination and take their advice into consideration. They are professionals and well aware of the crime rates in different localities within the city. They will be able to recommend a safe and secure locality to abode in and also guide about the nearest police stations. They can also brief about the common crimes happening in the city and how to avoid them. Only one call to the police department can prove to be beneficial. So better be safe than sorry! You call also utilize online tools to research the safety of the neighborhood where you considering renting in, like FBI Crime Data Explorer which compiles crime reports from all over the country including rape, robbery, and homicide rates. But one think to keep in mind is that safety is subjective. So, what you may consider as a safe neighborhood, another traveler may not and vise-versa.

Come Prepared.

Coming prepared is a smart move. When you are looking for an apartment and want to hold one for yourself, the owner may require you to immediately pay the advance deposits and show the necessary documents. The owners need to be safe and sure themselves, so they usually demand advance money and a background check of their potential tenant. They might ask for your income proof, such as pay-stubs, a copy of your government ID, and maybe a reference from your workplace to ensure that they are dealing with an honest and professional person who is going to pay rent and on time. So come prepared with all these documents within an arm's reach so that none of your precious time is wasted.

Be Quick!

Just as travel healthcare jobs come and go quickly, short-term rentals and especially affordable short-term leases are also quick to be occupied. Once you find a rental that is good enough for your requirements, be quick to get your hands on it. Do not wait to find an extraordinary option, as it would take a great deal of your time to do so. So don't waste your chance to avail yourself of a good opportunity in searching for better. You can not afford extra delays by thinking and prodding as you could end up agreeing to an expensive option in case your time runs out.

Final Thoughts

Balancing frequent traveling and working side by side is a burdensome duty. Being a travel nurse, it can be overwhelming to do such a massive task, like renting an apartment, especially if you are traveling alone.