Travel nursing 101: Housing around the country

A HUGE incentive to travel nursing is hands down the housing. You get two options, have your agency set up something for you or take a housing stipend. The stipend is based on the cost of living for the city your assignment is located and it is also TAX FREE MONEY.....I will repeat that again, it is TAX FREE MONEY! I for one have always chosen this option over having someone else (the agency) pick where I live. There are so many options these days to find furnished short term rentals, almost so many options it's overwhelming, but if you have the time and patience it is so worth it. I've heard fellow travelers take the housing that the agency provided and have been put in an absolute dump to the point it was practically unlivable and then other stories where someone has been put up in a super luxe building with Lakers players as their neighbor. It's just too much of a chance to take in my opinion.

Utilize all your resources when it comes to finding a place to live. Put a blurb out on social media to see if friends or family have any insight or recs on where to live or where to avoid. Also, look at Facebook groups geared for travel nurses...a lot of landlords will post short term furnished rentals. It's important to ask a ton of questions prior to signing a housing agreement. More often times than not I'm looking for housing remotely and don't have the opportunity to see the place before I move in. I ask for a ton pictures and my new thing is to do a Skype tour of the place so I can get a sense of the landlord and visually lay eyes on the condition of the property, also asking for references of previous tenants in helpful. Always speak with the landlord and trust your gut instinct. Another options is once you get to the destination of your assignment book a room at an inexpensive hotel and give yourself a couple of days to go out and look at some properties.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR LANDLORD:
1) Laundry: on site, in unit or none?
2) Dishwasher? Garbage Disposal? Microwave?
3) Heat/Air-condition?
4) Parking? Garage or street? Do I need a permit to park on the street?
5) Locks/security? Deadbolt, door lock, alarm?
6) Utilities included? Cable, electricity, internet, trash, water?

SITES TO FIND HOUSING:
1) Facebook
2) Craigslist (use with caution to avoid scams, my best friend was scammed $1500)
3) Airbnb
4) VRBO.com
5) Homeaway
6) Roomorama
7) Lookalo