Starting a new assignment as a travel healthcare professional often brings up numerous questions about housing. How do I find suitable accommodations that fit my budget? What resources are available? What if I have a pet? These concerns can understandably create uneasiness as you prepare for your next adventure. To help alleviate any concerns our CEO, Jeff Shaffar, was able to share some our traveler housing resources on TravCon’s PodCast, which you can listen to here.
Please read below to see our list of tools, tips, and insights to help you through your housing search.
Resources
When you begin your housing search, it’s crucial to consider the different types of accommodations available. Options range from fully furnished apartments to hotel-style stays, depending on the specifics of your assignment.
Furnished
Furnished housing is one of the most commonly searched-for traveler housing resources because these living styles provide you with everything you need right as you move in.
- Furnished Finder is a notable site that specializes in fully furnished properties including apartments, homes, rooms, and condos. You can personalize your search in two ways: Search the map and select a property or submit a housing request for property owners to contact you directly. Pro Tip: when completing your housing request, in the description, stress that you are excited about helping the local community and that you are having trouble finding housing that fits your budget. These requests go out to every landlord in that area who are associated with Furnished Finder.
- Airbnb is another versatile platform for short and long-term rentals, where you can filter by location, price, and amenities like pet policies. The inventory posted on Airbnb is famously unique: with additional alternative listings including treehouses, tiny homes, and more; ideal for travelers living on their own.
- Sublet is unique because the agreement is directly between the landlord and the new tenant, so you don’t have to deal with a contract. It provides top recommendations based on your assignment location and offers a map view of the area for visual reference.
- Churchill Living provides stylish apartments, each individually furnished and accessorized by professional designers. It presents access to the experiences of former users and housing categories tailored to different job roles, helping you find the perfect match.
Would you feel better booking through a site designed to cater specifically to travel nurses?
- Travel Nurse Housing is tailored specifically for travel nurses, offering 60,000 furnished listings and allowing you to specify your travel placement, move-in date, and monthly budget. This platform also connects the user directly to property owners, allowing for a personal booking experience.
Hotel Style
While furnished traveler housing resources can come in handy for more space and privacy, some prefer the hotel-style living with perks like housekeeping, pool or gym amenities, and sometimes even free breakfast.
- Hotel engine is a platform that specifically connects businesses with lodging partners, driving savings and efficiency, with rates up to 60% off nationwide. Contact your recruiter for more information on booking opportunities through Hotel Engine!
- Extended Stay America is another platform that offers reduced hotel pricing, especially for long-term assignments. Known for its spacious environments, these options feature fully equipped kitchens, free wi-fi, on-site guest laundry and pet-friendly accommodations
Long-Term Assignments
For assignments exceeding three months, apartment-style housing offers flexibility and personalization.
- Apartment List simplifies the process with a matching service based on your preferences. To begin the process, Apartment List will ask a series of questions such as pricing, bedrooms, features, etc. It then filters your options, adds apartments to a list and allows you to compare them side by side.
- Apartment Guide is another option to search for apartment-style living. This site is unique in that it offers a mobile app for easy access and use. It offers a filter system as well, sharing listings that connect the user directly with property managers, offering exclusive deals to the site.
Tips
While online resources are convenient, don’t overlook the value of personal recommendations from recruiters and colleagues. They can offer local insights, recommend community-specific resources, and help navigate potential housing scams.
Recruiters can even offer tailored recommendations based on location. For instance, if your assignment takes you to Sitka, Alaska, your recruiter might connect you with Facebook groups that share housing leads and foster a sense of community among members who have experience in or are currently in that area. Similarly, if you’re seeking accommodations in Colorado, your recruiter may suggest specialized, lesser-known websites that cater specifically to travelers, ensuring you find suitable housing options.
Now that you have all the traveler housing resources and recommendations available to you, here are some insights from recruiters to further guide your housing search:
Tip #1: Search Locally
Recruiters often suggest booking a hotel for the first week of an assignment to explore the area before renting long-term. Most of the time in rural areas, there will be local listings available that they avoid posting online. Waiting until physically arriving at the location may allow you to uncover local rental options preferred by residents in rural areas.
Tip #2: Start With Extended Stays
For reliable housing, recruiters recommend considering extended stays as they are typically close to facilities, reasonably priced, and fully equipped, ensuring all necessities are met for the duration of the assignment. You can always upgrade after arrival!
Tip #3: Team-Up
Recruiters advise travelers to team up with another person to split housing costs, making previously unaffordable options more feasible and expanding housing choices during assignments.
Tip #4: Reach Out to Landlords
If you are having trouble finding housing that fits into your budget, don’t be afraid to reach out to landlords. They may know someone who offers housing in your price range – or be willing to work with you themselves. Here’s a script template you can use when reaching out:
“Hey, my name is {name here} and I am a traveling {profession here} who just accepted a contract in {name of town here}. I’m really excited to come and help the community, but I am having trouble finding housing within my budget of {budget here}. Do you have any options that would work or know of anyone that does? I really appreciate it! Thank you! “
Pet-Friendly Housing
Just because you’re a traveler does not mean you have to leave your furry friend behind. There are a lot of traveling healthcare professionals who bring their pets on the road with them. However, something to keep in mind when looking for pet-friendly housing is that your options will be limited, in some areas by up to 75%, and be more expensive than non-pet-friendly accommodations.
Here are some things you should know to make the process easier:
- Get references for your dog. Have letters of recommendation from past landlords, dog sitters, vets, or friends that express how well-behaved your dog is. These letters can go over your dog’s behavior, their health, and can include a photo of your dog to help put your landlords mind at ease.
- Offer to crate your dog. When you are off working at your assignment, it can be helpful to let landlords know that your dog will be in a crate during your time away or spending time at a doggie day camp. This way they know the dog won’t have time to get into any mischief while you are not supervising it.
- Try messaging non-pet-friendly housing. If there is no pet-friendly housing – reach out to options that say no pets and give them your references. Tell them you are willing to crate them during the day and offer to pay a pet deposit or a cleaning fee when you leave. You can also modify the above script for reaching out to landlords about budgeting and ask if they know anyone who does offer pet-friendly accommodations.
Travel With Ventura MedStaff
Navigating the journey of finding housing as a traveling medical pro can seem daunting, but armed with these tips, you’re well-equipped to make informed decisions.
Don’t let housing uncertainties hold you back—take charge of your journey with Ventura MedStaff and make your travel healthcare experience extraordinary. Have any additional housing questions or concerns? Our recruiters would love to help, contact them today!
