Recently a person pretending to be a rental applicant tried to run a scam on a property we manage. They hoped to scam the landlord and Nesbitt Realty. With increasing reports of real estate scams worldwide, here are some ways you too can avoid being caught up in fraud.
Make sure all parties are who they say they are. Have an out-of-state party provide a photocopy of their driver’s license or passport that has been notarized. If someone alleges to represent an embassy or a large corporation, afford them no less due diligence that you would any other renter or buyer.
Will Nesbitt is the principal broker of Nesbitt Realty.
Verify signatures. Compare the signature on the real estate contract to other signatures on their driver’s license, passport, the original sales contract, etc.
Double-check the documentation. Make sure none of the documents have been altered. Inspect originals whenever possible. Get certified copies from a title company.
You select the professionals. Require the out-of-town party to use a real estate professional, attorney, or title company of your choosing.
Require a face-to-face meeting. The safest way to ensure that they are who they say they are is to require that they show up at closing.
Rely on the professionals. If it all possible, don't do it yourself. Let a brokerage like Nesbitt Realty handle all the details.
Nesbitt Realty manages rental homes, townhouses and condos for landlords in Northern Virginia. We are a family business that strives for excellence in what we do. Our goal is to strictly administer the lease while adhering to the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act. We try to avoid "judgement calls" and we prefer to just do exactly what the lease, law and regulations require.
We serve most of Northern Virginia and have offices across the area. We manage single-family homes, townhouses and condominiums.
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Our real estate agents are dedicated to excellence and are required to continue their education after licensing.
For more information or to set up an appointment call Nesbitt Realty at (703)765-0300.
