Travel Nurse Housing: How to Find the Right Option

There are many perks of becoming a travel nurse, including travel nurse housing. Did you know that your staffing agency can help you find the perfect housing AND handle almost every step of the process on your behalf?

Accommodations are always an important part of your assignment since they serve as your home base while you’re traveling. That is why finding the right options are essential and your agency puts so much effort towards your comfort.

There are two basic travel nursing housing options:

Housing coordinated through your staffing agency supported by a stipend
Housing you coordinate on your own

Because each travel nurse housing situation is unique, each is worked on a case-by-case basis.

A travel staffing agency may have an entire department dedicated to taking that effort off of your plate. The fact is, any time you can lean on a support team to do the heavy lifting, you take a burden off of yourself!

For this reason, many travel nurses choose to work with their travel staffing agency’s housing department to find the right affordable option and quickly. Between the housing department’s vast network of selections and relationships with landlords, travel nurses don’t have to worry about finding housing in a flash while staying under budget.

For most, home is where the heart is. While travel nursing housing may not be your main residence, this home-away-from-home provides a comfortable and safe place to call your own while on the road.

In this article, we’ll outline the easiest way to find the right option for your housing needs.

BONUS GUIDE: Discover everything you need to know about Travel Nursing in this playbook! ⇨ Download Now

Housing for Travel Nurses: How It Works

When you are on the move every 13 weeks or so, finding new housing that frequently is often cumbersome.

As we outlined above, one of the many services your staffing agency can offer is a dedicated housing department focused on making sure you get everything you need and want out of your next home away from home. Knowing this certainly takes a weight off a traveler’s shoulders.

The housing department’s one and only job is to support you by making the process easy. They’re experts in obtaining top-notch housing for travel nursing. They truly help you every step of the way.

From finding a place that suits your needs to coordinating and negotiating pricing, to easing nerves about moving to a new location, every aspect is handled. Your only job is to choose your ideal location!

Let’s take a closer look at exactly how everything works.

Step 1: Meeting with a housing department representative

Of course, the first step is obtaining a placement assignment. From here, you’ll be introduced to a housing department staff member.

This person will spend a lot of time with you so they can fully understand your housing needs.

You’ll be asked a series of specific questions. This helps in finding appropriate housing since every traveler’s situation is different.

Below are some of the questions you may be asked:

Are you traveling with anyone?
Do you have any pets? If yes, how many and what kind?
When do you plan to move?
What type of housing do you want to live in?
Do you have any special requests such as no stairs or quiet neighborhoods only, for example?

Step 2: Choosing the ideal location and housing option

Once there is a thorough picture of your housing needs and wants, your representative will search their database for openings.

Any locations that seem like a good fit for you will be noted, and you’ll be sent photos and additional details about each potential residence. If you live nearby, you are always able to visit the potential locations in advance.

Once you’ve narrowed your selection down, the Housing Department then works with the landlord to find the best possible agreement.

Step 3: Finalizing the paperwork and managing payment

Your ideal accommodations are finalized when you sign your tenant agreement. Upon your move, you will assume the monthly or weekly payments unless you’re placed in agency housing (more on that later).

Avoiding the Hassle of Housing for Travel Nursing

Anyone who has been through a move knows that the paperwork alone can be a daunting task.

Challenges that often accompany moves are all but erased when you utilize the housing services provided by your recruitment agency. Their role is to ensure you feel at ease throughout the entire process of taking on a new assignment.

One major way they reduce the hassle is by providing personalized care to fit the needs of each specific traveler. An agency’s housing department truly cares where candidates are going. They focus on ensuring that you like the place you chose to call home during your assignment.

Another huge hassle-free perk is the peace of mind you get when working with the housing department. Their many relationships with owners and landlords across the country ensure you don’t have to worry about being overcharged, scammed, or stuck in a place that doesn’t suit your needs.

Finally, everyone knows that moving can induce stress. Housing department staff are trained to counsel travelers who are nervous about moving.

Think of them as your personal concierge!

They will help ease your nerves and get you excited about moving in many ways. One of which includes providing information on your new destination so you know about upcoming events and popular attractions.

In short, your agency’s services are there to take the stress off your journey.

Travel Nurse Housing: Your Questions Answered

Now that you have a clear picture regarding how you can easily obtain housing on an as-needed basis, let’s review a few lingering questions you may have:

Is there ever an option of agency provided housing that is 100% covered or do you always pay some kind of rent?

There may be instances when an agency has housing in a specific location, however, there aren’t options like that for every situation. Most of the time you will be in a rent-paying situation but remember that housing is always worked out on a person-to-person basis to ensure your needs are met.

Are utilities covered and will there be cable and internet?

When looking for housing, a housing department will attempt to find a place that has utilities included. This varies in every location and when utilities are not covered the traveler can set it up.

Can I choose housing that is fully furnished?

Your agency should aim to find housing that is fully furnished to simplify things for the traveler. When this isn’t the case (and sometimes when this is the case) travelers may have things they want to bring themselves.

How do I get a stipend?

Every time the housing department helps a traveler find housing, it is based on their needs, location, and the stipend. A travel nursing housing stipend for housing is always based on the deal made between the traveler and recruiter. That means every situation is worked on an assignment basis and will be unique every time a new contract is agreed upon. The takeaway here is that you will get a stipend when the agency places you in housing, and you will understand your stipend prior to beginning your housing hunt.

Conclusion

Finding travel nurse housing may seem stressful, but it’s actually a perk! Thanks to the concierge-style services provided by your staffing agency’s housing department, travel nurses hand much of the process over to them.

Everything is handled, from A to Z:

First, they will learn all about your housing needs and wants.
Then, they will locate desirable housing options for you to review.
Once you decide, they speak with the landlords to obtain the lowest pricing possible.
Much of the negotiations and communication are handled by the staff.
Your only job is to pick something you love and move in!

Finding the right option for your next assignment just became a whole lot easier!

Does your staffing agency have a dedicated housing department? Be sure to inquire if you are considering working as a travel nurse.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Finding travel nurse housing may seem stressful, but it’s actually a perk! Thanks to the concierge-style services provided by your staffing agency’s housing department. #travelnurse #rn” quote=”Finding travel nurse housing may seem stressful, but it’s actually a perk! Thanks to the concierge-style services provided by your staffing agency’s housing department, travel nurses hand much of the process over to them.”]

BONUS GUIDE: Discover everything you need to know about Travel Nursing with this playbook! ⇨ Download Now