As we're heading into the off-season, figuring out how to get those winter rentals for your Outer Banks vacation home is probably on your mind. A great way to do this is to consider prioritizing ways that your home can attract traveling nurses! Traveling nurses are medical professionals who travel to various regions, filling in shortages as hospitals and other healthcare facilities. These nurses often fill in essential gaps for smaller hospitals, like the one on the Outer Banks, and renting your vacation home to them during the winter can ensure longer-length stays and a stream of income during the off-season - all while helping an important cause supporting the medical infrastructure of the Outer Banks!
Why Renting to Traveling Nurses is a Great Idea
There are quite a few reasons why thinking about traveling nurses when updating or doing maintenance on your home is a great idea.
Steady Income
Traveling nurses are going to have steady, reliable jobs while they're here on the Outer Banks, meaning that you'll have a more steady stream of stable renters during the non-peak season.
Longer Stays
Traveling nurses are going to be working in the area for several months, so if you're offering longer winter stays, you'll have the stability of recurring rentals during this period.
Respectful Tenants
Traveling nurses are going to spend their time working and resting, meaning that they're looking for a calm and quiet place where they recoup after their shifts. They tend to be responsible renters who you'll enjoy having in your space.
Giving Back to the Community
By tailoring your winter rental space to the needs of traveling nurses, you're giving back to healthcare support in our community and providing a comforting space for these people working so hard to help those around them.
How to Prepare Your Property for Traveling Nurses
Here are some ideal amenities to make your Outer Banks property appealing to traveling nurses.
Comfortable Living Spaces
Consider investing in multiple comfortable living spaces that are fully furnished and offer a quiet escape for nurses after a long shift of work. Get a high-quality mattress with extra linens and think about finding ways to soundproof rooms with rugs and sound machines, creating an escape when they need to rest during the day. Nurses may also benefit from a solid workspace with a desk or table, plenty of good lighting, and a comfortable seat with lumbar support.
Invest in Wi-Fi & Streaming Services
Internet on the Outer Banks can be spotty at the best of times, but do your research and consider installing Internet especially made for rentals like Silicon Travel or optic options like Ripple Fiber. Nurses who are going to spending their off time relaxing in the home could also benefit from included streaming services like Netflix or Hulu, so you may want to consider adding these amenities as part of your home.
Pet Policy
Since they're going to be staying for a while, traveling nurses often come with their pets - so consider making your home pet-friendly! Giving your guests the option to bring their favorite canine companion can open the door for more rental opportunities as well as happier guests.
Stock Essentials
Think about updating your kitchen spaces and appliances to make your home welcoming and convenient for a nurse's stay. Offer a full kitchen setup including a stove, microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, and air fryer or toaster oven. Appliances like coffee makers, blenders, and toasters ensure quick and easy healthy meal options for your guests while ample utensils and cookware will not only ensure they have the best stay possible but will also help boost your reviews both in and out of peak season!
Provide In-Unit Laundry
Washers and dryers are pretty commonplace these days in vacation rentals, but definitely make sure yours are up-to-date and working. Nurses will need to regularly freshen up uniforms after working some long hours so offering a convenient space for them to do that will improve their rental experience.
Black-Out Curtains/Shades
While it may seem small, blackout curtains and/or room darkening shades will be invaluable for nurses staying in your property. With night shifts or irregular hours, that means nurses may need to sleep while the sun is still out. Offering black-out curtains will improve their stay and help them get the rest they need to perform their life-saving duties at work!
Offer Storage Space
For nurses who will be staying in the area for multiple weeks to months, extra storage space will be extremely helpful. Whether that means cleaning out the hallway closet or installing shelves in the master bedroom, providing extra storage space will be especially helpful for those who want to bring their essentials.
Recreation & Relaxation Options
Since traveling nurses will be spending a good amount of time at your rental, think about ensuring there are plenty of entertainment and recreational options for them to choose from! In addition to streaming services, consider offering board games or small libraries. Freshen up outdoor spaces like patios and balconies where they can unwind in nature and consider including fitness options with your rental, whether that's an included membership to the YMCA or some simple workout equipment like yoga mats or resistance bands.
Why Seaside Vacations Makes Sense for Traveling Nurses
Flexible Check-In/Out
Nursing schedules can be a little all over the place, so trying to find the time to get to the office for check-in and check-out doesn't really make sense. With Seaside Vacations, we have keyless entry and contactless check-in/check-out, making it easy for nurses to arrive and leave when they need to.* We send information about the access code prior to check-in and instructions before check-out, so the traveling nurses staying in your home are sure to appreciate the flexibility that keyless entry provides.
*Please see our rental policies for information on check-in/check-out procedures.
Set Competitive Rates
Competitive rates and discounts for off-season travel can really give your property the upper hand when it comes to filling those empty weeks. Consider employing discounts for longer stays or trust in our dynamic pricing initiative to help you have record-breaking success without the extra effort! With decades of experience and a dedicated revenue team, Seaside Vacations will work with you to set yearly rates that are competitive while ensuring that you’re getting the most out of your property investment.
Any Day Stays
During peak season, many of our homes prioritize Saturday or Sunday check-ins with 7-day minimum required stays. To capitalize on the availability of traveling nurses, work with your Property Coordinator and our Revenue Manager to come up with a plan to implement any day stays during the off-season, if not year-round. Offering any day stays can really help you fill in those gap weeks while ensuring that your rental lengths can easily be aligned with common contract lengths for nurses.
Make the Most of Off-Season Rentals
Renting to traveling nurses offers a unique opportunity for property owners to secure steady, reliable income while supporting healthcare professionals in need of quality short-term housing. With their consistent, long-term assignments, traveling nurses are often respectful tenants who appreciate a peaceful, comfortable environment, making them ideal guests. Additionally, with typical stays lasting 8-13 weeks, renting to nurses can result in low turnover, reducing vacancy periods and minimizing the effort of frequent guest changeovers.
We love property management on the Outer Banks and it shows. Family-owned and locally managed for over 30 years, Seaside Vacations goes above and beyond to make sure property management is Hassle-Free, meaning that we’ll take care of the details so that you can get back to taking care of the things that matter most to you. We'll help you make the most of your vacation rental! With our unique Property Coordinator model, we're here to help you succeed.
If you’re not already working with us and you're ready to find out more about how we support YOU in your rental property business, request your Complimentary Rental Projection today! Simply fill out this form to receive a commitment-free call from Michelle Russell, our Business Development Director at Seaside Vacations, who can answer any questions you may have about how Seaside Vacations can help you make the most of your Outer Banks vacation rental property.
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About the Author: Lauren is an Outer Banks local, mom, trained historian, and travel enthusiast. When she isn’t writing for the Seaside Vacations Travel Blog, Lauren can usually be found with her nose in a book or cuddling with her cats.
