Help me find a condo for rent!

Here's an email that I recently received and my response. I've changed the names (for privacy's sake), but am posting for the benefit of those who might be seeking a rental agent.
Hello Will,
We are actually interested in working with an agent, as opposed to trying to do the leg work ourselves. My husband is currently stationed in Okinawa, Japan. We are awaiting orders that originally had us relocating this summer. Now it looks more like late October/November, following the new fiscal year.
As mentioned, we will be stateside and staying in DC on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 22/23rd and would like to commit to meeting with an agent who handles rentals. Realizing that one may not know what units will become available in November, it would still provide a head start in preparing for our relocation. We are not familiar with the neighborhoods other than online research and bits of information provided by friends. My husband does wish to be (at least) within walking distance of the metro. We are interested in checking out Old Town Alexandria and other suggested areas.
Thank you for your time.
Regards,
Sally
Dear Sally, I'm happy to provide consultations and advice at no charge. As a rental agent I am the most helpful to renters who know what they want but don't want to spend time and energy chasing dead-ends or stuck in traffic. If you know where you will be working, how many bedrooms you need, what amenities you enjoy, my expertise allows me to very quickly identify a short list of properties that will be of interest to you. I am constantly touring homes, properties and neighborhoods. I know the area's traffic patterns. I know Northern Virginia. You're probably not asking me to do this---but in case you are---I must make clear that I am not available to spend time and resources trying to give you my expertise. It would be impossible for me to do this in a weekend anyway.  Lastly, from a business standpoint, it is not an effective use of my skills or your time to expend resources and time driving around to neighborhoods and going to condo communities in June on the hope that you will will rent something in November. Again, I'm available to chat and offer free advice and provide direction if you would like to follow up with your own footwork. Thanks much for the opportunity. It is appreciated. Sincerely, Will Nesbitt Condo Alexandria \ Nesbitt Realty Alexandria VA 703 765 0300 ext. 224 888 783 6391 (fax)

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Will Nesbitt

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Will is the principal broker of Nesbitt Realty and Condo Alexandria. He is licensed in anywhere in the Commonwealth of Virginia, but focuses on those communities found in and around Alexandria, Arlington, Mount Vernon and Springfield/Franconia. Will has been involved in real estate management, sales and investment for more than twenty years. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army. While in the army, he studied Russian at Monterey's Defense Language Institute. He is also a "veteran of the dotcom wars" and built most of the sites associated with NesbittRealty.com Will currently resides in Belle Haven Estates just outside Old Town, overlooking New Alexandria. He is a former president of the Mount Vernon Youth Athletic Association and founded the Alexandria Fun with Friends Group. Will is the author of BattlestorM, a tabletop fantasy game, which was published by Ral Partha Publishing in the late '90's, and Arthur's Realm, a boardgame available at the Gamecrafter.