Must read tips for finding traveler housing on your own

Must-Read Tips for Finding Travel Nurse Housing on Your Own

Avoid the unexpected challenges that can arise when securing short-term housing with these hints.

You’ve just landed your dream travel job and you’re ready to hit the road. Congrats! If you’ve chosen to take a housing allowance (which MANY RNs do) and arrange your own travel nursing housing, we have a few tips for you. Factors like location, season, budget, credit score, and pets can add extra challenges, but with research and planning, you’ll do just fine.

Three Short-Term Housing Hints for Travel Nurses

#1 - Know your non-negotiables.

Everyone has a different list of things that are necessary for happiness, success, and sanity. Before you start looking at housing, it’s important to know what these are for you. It might even be useful to draw up two lists, one of the necessities and one of the extras you’d love to have. For example, maybe you’re not open to commuting more than 30 minutes, you can’t spend over $1,500/month, and you have to have pet-friendly housing. You’d love to have an assigned parking space and laundry in your unit, but you can cope if those dreams don’t materialize. Having this list before you start looking makes it easier to weed through the choices, and to pull the trigger when you find something that matches your criteria.

#2 - Be open to unconventional options - Home Shares, Swaps and Online Rentals

Some traditional apartment complexes do welcome short-term leases - but many either charge a fortune or refuse all short-term renters. If you’re running in to these challenges, perhaps it’s worth considering less conventional options. Here are a few to get you started:

Home Rentals

Where to Search

Potential Pros

Customizability (single room rentals, full houses with yards, etc.)
Discounts for long-term rentals
Generally utility-inclusive
Already furnished
Potentially pet friendly

Potential Cons

Occasional scams
Security concerns from unknown entities (property owners, listing posters)
Limited availability

Extended Stay Hotels

Where to Search

Extended Stay America

Many major chains have extended-stay brands. Check options in your travel nurse destination.**

Potential Pros

Discounts for long-term rentals
Utility-inclusive
Already furnished
Perks like business centers, pools, and housekeeping

Potential Cons

Typically pet-resistant (or pet can’t be alone in room)
Less home-y than other options
Expensive (depending on location)

RV/Camper

Where to Search

RV Parks & Campgrounds

Potential Pros

Flexibility with location, logistics, pets, family, etc.
Relatively inexpensive
Home comes with you

Potential Cons

Extra responsibility (no management company, must set up own waste system, electricity, etc.)
Potentially requires “roughing it” (depending on RV/camper type, season, etc.)

Travel Nurse Housing Services

Where to Search

Potential Pros

Offer a variety of perks (soft credit hits, vetted landlords, household goods storage, etc.)
Customizability
Typically already furnished

Potential Cons

Potentially more expensive than other options
Limited availability

#3 - Be Cautious. Read ALL the Fine Print. Read Reviews!

You’ve probably heard the old adage, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” This is true with housing/apartment postings! It’s generally good practice to never pay money for housing you haven’t seen in person. Many online scams create a high-pressure situation (“act now or it will be gone!”) so that interested parties pay deposits on apartments that don’t exist. Also, be careful touring potential housing alone. A deal isn’t worth compromising your safety!

Even once you find housing, be sure to read all the fine print on anything you have to sign. Check for text about realtor fees, utility costs and which utilities are included, policy for complaints or repairs, when you’d have to commit to renewal, pet fees, and so on. You are your own best advocate in these situations!

Take time to read reviews! You want to know what others say about their experience with the company or individual you are renting a place from. Do as much research as possible that is offered to you on the personal profiles and don't hesitate to ask questions... the more you know the better.