We own a number of small apartment buildings and houses in Denver and Utah- and may be expanding to other areas. Our best tenants have been nurses, and we are thinking of focusing our rentals on the needs and desires of nurses.
In specific, traveling nurses that may want to stay somewhere a bit nicer than a run down apartment building. We would greatly appreciate your feedback about what the most important factors are for you concerning housing.
Is it cost, size, parking, location, size of bedrooms/ closets or something else? Where do you think there is the biggest need for decent housing?
We are not trying to sell anything, just honestly want to gather feedback from a larger number of nurses.
It seems( from the feedback we have gotten) like some of the housing you receive is below par. Our goal is to provide great housing, in convenient locations, at a reasonable cost, and to benefit by having low vacancy and responsible tenants. But we really would like to hear from you as far as what you seek and hope to find when you look for housing. I realize much of the housing is provided by your agency, but if you could choose, what would you want to see?
As a travel nurse I like it when I don't have to take anything except for my personal things. It is nice when everything is provided: plenty of towels, dishes, decent pots & pans, coffee pot, alarm clock, etc...... Everything you would need to feel at home. It is always nice to have a DVD player. TV in bedroom and living room. It is also nice to have a list of what is in the area (restaurants, nearest grocery store) things we might need within the first few days we arrive when we have not had a chance to get familiar with the area.
Thanks
Clean floors and carpets. Some 99 cent cleaning products and a roll of paper towels. at least 1 roll of toilet paper. Did I mention clean. 9 of us moved into an extended stay that was so dirty that the first thing we did was go buy bleach for the sinks and tub. I clean my own room just go to housekeeping for fresh towels. We even washed the bedspreads and blankets before we slept in the bed. Clean Clean :eek:
I want safe, clean housing with concerned active management. I want all maintenance problems taken care of promptly. All utilities must be included: Heating, water, telephone (at least local) and cable. Must be furnished right on down to the linens. Parking at or very near to my apartment. Adequately lighted parking areas. I prefer gated communities if it is a large metro area.
I need two bedrooms as I travel with my son.
Amenities: Pool and fitness center. Washer and dryer in apartment (my current apartment has stackable W/D...I'm just thrilled with this.) A business center where I can access a computer and fax if necessary. I usually travel with a notebook computer and fax machine but may need access to sane if I cannot use mine for some reason.
It would be nice if we could bring either our cat or mini-boxer but that is not absolutely essential.
No excessive noise even during the day. I work night shift. No paper thin walls, I don't want to know what my neighbors are doing. All security issues addressed promptly.
If I'm unhappy with my living arrangments then it adversely affects my job. I can't work if I cannot sleep. I can't sleep if I feel that my apartment/neighborhood are unsafe or if there is too much noise.
Thanks for asking. I hope that this was of some assistance.
I am new to this and the company I went with provided corporate housing. Very nice except in a bad neighborhood. Everything was furnished down to a vacuum, broom, etc. A completely furnished apartment-kitchenware, towels, everything. This was so nice for me not to have to worry with driving 2000 miles to a strange location. The only thing I had to buy was a mop and bucket and laundry soap. Seriously that is all I had to buy. Very important for us not to have to worry.
I am thinking of starting to travel and this is my suggestion. My mother is a cardiac transplant patient. She has to go to Baylor in Dallas. Across the street from the hospital is the Twice Blessed House, they are nice apartments for short stays, all we have to bring is our own cleaning supplies, food and personal items. The apartments are equipped with washer/dryers, dishwashers, linens, minimal cooking utensils, plates, glasses, etc. This is what I would suggest for travelers. The only addition I would add is TV/DVD in the bedrooms as well.
Hi speed internet would be great too. If you own a group of 4 or more apts, just provide one with cable internet (~$45/month) and a wi-fi transmitter ($60) . Then everyone can access that and you just pay for the first tentants access. I would gladly even pay 10-15 bucks a month for it, just to avoid internet cafes or waiting for the cable guy to show up 2 weeks into my assignment.
Clean, Safe, Close to Hospital, Internet Access, Allow My Travel Companion, and be adequately furnished and have clean linens and cooking facilities and all that stuff. Us Traveling Nurses travel lightly. We do not have the room or ability in many cases to be hauling a whole household bunch of stuff with us.
W/D, D/W, Cable TV with a good size modern TV
AC/HEAT, Microwave, Wireless Internet
King Size Bed, Linens, Pots, Pans Dishes
Maintenance Contractor, Nice Neighborhood,
Flexible lease terms after 13 weeks assignment
Telephone Book, Local Map, Reccomended Nearby Places
with address and phonenumbers
Near Water (Ocean, River, Lake) :)
Security
Clean
I am new to traveling yet have an idea of what I want:
washer/dryer in apt.
d/w
CLEAN with SAFE neighborhood
Hi-Speed internet provided that way no 2 week setup,etc, also wouldn't mind paying nominal fee for it to already be setup
List of close by restaurants, etc
hi and thanks for asking, i've been travelling 7 years and these are a few of my favorite things.....
*CLEAN and SAFE apartment - no left overs from last tennants pets
*closing covered parking - well lit walk-ways
*fully furnished with housewares, and ALL basic utilities paid - this means gas, water, electric, sewer, local phone and basic cable - i'll pay for high speed, digital & long distance
*appliances that work - not junk you were going to throw out
*sleep is VERY important to us - so NO noisy neighbors, NO thin walls, NO barking dogs next door
*maintenance that can compromise with night shift hours and understand a sign on the door that says "SHIFT WORKER - NO ENTRY"
*good sized and secure mailbox, that can hold packages or an office when they can be delivered that's open we when are awake 7 days a week
*proximity to hospital and keep in mind rush hour. Night shift can get caught in both directions or have it easy. Day shift tends to travel before and after traffic.
A fitness center, pool, restaurant and area guides are nice but not essential.
Hi there. I am a very hard working ER night shift nurse and know exactly how you all feel (I stay out of town while doing my shifts: Rest, comfort, safety, and convenience stores) However, I am also on the other end: My husband & I own a vacation rental property in South Lake Tahoe, Ca and would like to make it become accessable to travel nurses. If I were doing an assignment in South Lake Tahoe, I'd be staying in my vacation home: 3 bdrm, 2 story, 2 bath fully stocked from the kitchen to the bedding, to the jacuzzi in the backyard, to the lakeside access 2 blocks down the street, in a very quiet neighborhood, decorated in black bear decor, very warm and inviting. I just need some idea of how to make it happen. Do I call the registries? Do I call the local hospital? How does your registry find your housing? Another problem: We don't know which registry/travel companies that Barton Memorial uses? I might just have to call them directly. I'm not sure that they would tell me because they might think I was scouting to sign on with a travel companies rather than hire direct with them. If you have any suggestions please respond back or email me at Tsatton@bak.rr.com.
instead of offering your place to a company to use maybe you could post it on one of the nurse travel sites so a nurse could rent it straight from you on a short term lease.
All the amentities of home! I just want to concentrate on bringing myself and my clothes. For starters, a safe nice area of town, a washer and dryer, TV in living room and bedroom (company i am with now wants me to rent a TV for $25/mth and rent a W/D for $40/mth), Paid cable would be super (the co I am with now doesn't pay for your cable) a completely furnished walk into and start living apartment. Not a place where I have to pay for extras such as linens, towels, bed furnishings. We already get paid low enough, and the insurance usually isin't good unless you offer to pay to "upgrade", so I already have enough coming out of my paycheck. The agencies are making the ones making tons of money off the nurse. It is time we all stand together and stop settling for less than.
You should check out the posting on nursesfornurses. Lisa has an excellant concept going there. Nurses provided for one another, housing, child care among a few. A company ran by nurses and providing for nurses.
For me its important that u take dogs not just based on weight but based on rreferences, we have a great dane and because of his weight we have a hard time finding housing but have great references with him, we have always gotten our deposits back but most apartments dont take 1 on 1 considerations. Also safe neighborhood, close to the hospital preferably walking distance or close to public transportation. A gym, club room, washer/dryer in the apt, clean and reliable apt staff.
I tried posting our home on the classified section of this website and it would not process it. I've sent 3 emails to contact ultimate nurses administration and gotten no responce. I don't know what the technical problem is. I followed all the directions. I wish they would contact me. :(
bobblehead1 wrote:I am new to this and the company I went with provided corporate housing. Very nice except in a bad neighborhood. Everything was furnished down to a vacuum, broom, etc. A completely furnished apartment-kitchenware, towels, everything. This was so nice for me not to have to worry with driving 2000 miles to a strange location. The only thing I had to buy was a mop and bucket and laundry soap. Seriously that is all I had to buy. Very important for us not to have to worry.
what company did you go with to get housing to that extent? i want in.....:)
W/D, CABLE CABLE CABLE, so you don't have to stare at the walls for weeks until the cable man gets there. I don't mind paying for it, but have it on when I get there. Internet, TV in the bedroom and the living room. Adequate housewares and I mean adequate! (I still have to bring stuff with me to make up for what they either forget or don't provide) DVD player, dishwasher, gated community, paid utilities, a comfortable decent bed and not a trailer bed where you flip to the middle when you get in bed. A list of nearby grocery stores, resturants, banks and a Walmart. Pet friendly and like someone said before me, a turn key apartment that is clean, safe and decent. There is enough stress going somewhere you aren't familiar with, without having to bring a ton of stuff like I have to. I just want to be able to bring my clothes and my computer.......
I agree with all of these things...also short leases...if at all, as we only know the initial length of contract and we could be extended so month to month is great. Also, I love my dog. She is like a child to me, housebroken and wonderful. She is small and I find it VERY difficult to find housing that will take her. Ive turned down MANY apartments that don't allow pets. I'm hoping to be in Denver sometime in the near future..please email me your contact information. I'm thrilled you asked us what we are looking for. That tells me you're a good landlord...the most important thing.
I have stayed in many places with travel companies. All of them have been very very nice-they want you to keep traveling with Them. However, I do research them on my own when they suggest where the housing will be. Many times they have a few locations where they keep yearly leases and can place you suitable for your specific needs-always ask! Times have changed somewhat where we could make our demands. Jobs have slowed down recently but hopefully it picks up soon!
I had an apt in Sioux Falls that was great. Not luxurious, but very, very clean and very comfortable. Everything was furnished even vaccum cleaner, cable, land line phone for local calls or calling card,and internet access. All I had to bring was my personal belongings. An extra nice touch was a welcome bag with a couple bottles of water, microwave popcorn and a few other snacks. I didn't even had to go out to buy a thing till the next day when I bought groceries. Nice after driving in bad weather for 1200 miles. And no hassle trying to get a cable appointment when your working. Amazing how they knew exactly what a traveler would like. And did I mention it was quiet?
