10 Tips to Finding the Perfect Digital Nomad Housing
Being a digital nomad means moving from place to place at a pace that feels right to you. But finding the right digital nomad housing can be tricky. After all, hotels can quickly get expensive, and you want a place that feels like a temporary home away from home — not just someplace where you sleep.
Companies like NomadX are working hard to meet this need by providing services to help pair up digital nomads with mid-term housing. Through NomadX, you can find coliving spaces (so you can get to know the area with the help of a local host) and apartments for rent at affordable prices.
Of course, you want to find a place that feels right to you and your needs. Here are some things to consider during your search.
Make sure they have reliable Wifi
It seems obvious, but a good internet connection is pretty crucial to you being able to do your job and fuel your lifestyle. Message the host to get more information on their connection (or check out the Wifi speed section on NomadX’s listings). Once you decide on a place, learn how to troubleshoot the Wifi in the event that it goes down, or request a WiFi extender for improved WiFi in your bedroom or workspace.
Look for a decent kitchen
Sure, you’ll probably be eating out here and there, but you’ll want to cook at home most of the time to save money. Make sure your digital nomad housing has a kitchen that meets your needs, and find out in advance whether they have the cooking tools you rely on to make your meals. Items such as a coffee maker, juicer and popcorn maker can be really nice to haves!
Figure out where you’d work
If you’re fine working out of your bedroom, this isn’t an issue, but many times it’s important to ask if there’s a desk, monitor and even an ergonomic chair available for use. But if you’re in a coliving space and you know you’d rather work in an office or living room, it’s a good idea to find out upfront if this area exists and if your host is okay with this situation.
Find a coworking space outside of your housing
Working from home is great and all, but sometimes you just need to get out. Ask your host how far the nearest coworking space or cafe is from your housing. Even if you’re okay with working from home on most days, you’ll want to have the option to add a social element to your work — and to have someplace else to go just in case the internet goes down.
See how far you are from public transportation
Most digital nomads don’t have a car readily available to them and taking a cab everywhere can add up. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to find out how far the nearest bus, subway, bike rentals or train stop is from your housing. Even if you’re in an area that’s walkable, the odds are still high that you’ll want to move outside of your area at some point.
Check out the pet situation
It’s a little tough to have a pet when you’re a digital nomad, so this can be a cool way to get your pet fix without all the usual responsibilities. On a similar note, if you have any pet allergies, you’ll want to make sure your host doesn’t currently live with an animal that will leave you sneezing and wheezing the entire time you’re there.
See if there’s a rule about smoking
Whether you’re a smoker or not, you’ll want to find out the smoking status of the place in advance to see if it fits with your lifestyle. If you are a smoker, be sure to ask your host about the rules when it comes to smoking in the rental.
Find out where you’d wash your clothes
Many places have a washer and sometimes a dryer on site, but it’s important to find out in advance. If there isn’t a washer and dryer readily available to you, find out how far the nearest laundromat is — and make sure you feel okay making a regular trip to it. Or, you can be like a local and dry your laundry on a clothes line!
Ask about the bed & linens situation
It’s important to know the size of the bed as sizes vary widely internationally. Also, many places will provide sheets and towels for you, but it’s not a guarantee. Figuring out the deal in advance — and whether you’re okay with it — will save you from having to make a last-minute trip to the store once you arrive. Finally, something as simple as a nice pillow can make a huge difference.
Find the location that’s right for you
This part is pretty individual. Some people prefer to be surrounded by restaurants and bars, while others want a quieter scene closer to a park where you can run and do yoga. You’ll want to figure out your preferences in advance, along with how important it is for you to be able to walk everywhere, or if you’re okay with taking public transportation and cabs.
Read also: How to Get Your Deposit Back From a Rental
ABOUT NOMADX
NOMADX is a real estate technology platform developed to meet the needs of the rapidly growing global community of location-independent remote workers, or “Digital Nomads”.
As Digital Nomads ourselves, we know what the market is looking for: trusted, affordable accommodations in highly-attractive locations worldwide at 50% less than AirBNB. We also offer educational masterclasses to help master the lifestyle as well as community events to help foster new friendships.
Please join our community of Digital Nomads and remote workers from around the world:
Instagram: nomadx.experience
Facebook Group: Support Community for Remote Workers
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dave Williams is the CEO and Co-founder of NOMADX with his base in Lisbon, Portugal. Dave is a US pioneer in the digital marketing, advertising, and ad tech industries as a serial digital entrepreneur over the past 20+ years with multiple exits in the early formative stages of the search engine marketing, social media, and ad tech industries.
