What we look for in Northern Virginia renters
In Northern Virginia, Nesbitt Realty prefers to work with reasonable renters. Here are some of the traits we expect.
- A renter pays the rent when due every time. This means paying on or before the first, rather than at 5 pm on the 5th.
- A tenant has integrity. A tenant does not sneak in a co-tenant or pet.
- A tenant is fussy about cleanliness. A tenant does not attract pests like rodents and bugs.
- A tenant does not misuse the property.
- A renter is courteous and easy to get along with. A tenant knows the difference between a property manager and a hotel concierge.
- A tenant doesn't annoy neighbors.
- A renter complains at appropriate times. tenants that don't report maintenance issues cost property owners money and cause head-aches for property managers.
- A tenant doesn't gripe when it's not appropriate. This means that a renter doesn't ask to upgrade functioning systems. A renter doesn't expect more than the lease provides. A tenant doesn't complain that an appliance doesn't work when the tenant doesn't know how to operate the appliance.
- A renter does not smoke in the rental.
- A tenant is looking for a rental term that is as long as the owner wants to rent the property.
So this is what we're looking for in a tenant, but how do we find tenants who live up to this ideal? Experience has taught us that bad tenants can appear as polite, nicely-dress, well educated people with jobs. We have a nose for sniffing out tardy renters.
Our Five Step Process
Fair Housing Laws and our conscience dictates that we do not judge people in Northern Virginia based upon appearance. Experience has taught us that appearances can be very decieving. We do however judge potential renters based upon their history and their actions. If a applicant is difficult with us from the beginning, they will probably be trying as renters. If a makes false statements, we will expect them to be dishonest as a tenant. If a has a problem scrounging up money for background fees and the first month of rent, we will expect that same potential renter will have problems while they are in the rental.
But even when every appearance initially is promising we still check the background of every person with a complete background check. Every applicant and occupant must provide a government-issue photo identification. From there, as rental we start our vetting process.
How we protect the landlord’s interests in Northern Virginia:
Northern Virginia Rental Management Resources
Basics
Elementary information regarding management services in Northern Virginia.
Getting Started
Learn more about getting started with property management
Find A Tenant
List your property to rent to find a dependable renter in Northern Virginia fast.
Accounting
How does Nesbitt Realty keep track of income and expenses for property owners?
Cost
An overview of fees associated with property management services in Northern Virginia
Vetting
How Nesbitt Realty checks the backgrounds of renters for property owners.
Reserves
What is a contingency reserve account?
Territory
Where does Nesbitt Realty manage rentals?
Clients
Who uses Nesbitt Realty management services?
Landlord Reference
a handy source for property owners in Northern Virginia
- Before you move a tenant into your rental property in Northern Virginia
- Collections and evictions
- Communications with the renter
- During tenancy
- End of lease term and what happens when a renter breaks the lease
- How does the property owner get paid?
- How your property management company handles the association and your community
- How your property manager handles utilities
- How Nesbitt Realty finds renters
- Insurance matters for property owners using our rental management
- How Nesbitt Realty & Management manage keys
- Northern Virginia property owner responsibilities
- Maintenance, repairs & inspections for your rental property in Northern Virginia
- The move-in inspection
- Property management information form
- Selling a 1031 tax exchange & more
- Starting our management of your property
- When landlords don't yet know their new address
- Vetting renters in Northern Virginia
More Information About Northern Virginia
Our recommendation
After the background check is finished we make a recommendation to the owner based upon our experience as rental managers in Northern Virginia and the information that we have verified. Ultimately the real estate investor decides if the risk is worth taking, but they make that decision based upon facts and our expert advice.
Do you want understand more about the area?
Our Guide to Real Estate is a helpful resource for anyone who wants to learn more about Northern Virginia and neighboring areas. The Guide to Real Estate provides information about what has sold and what is on the market, as well as many surprising facts that you may not know. Also, our Guide has many of the assets of living in Northern Virginia. Naturally, all of this is interesting for buyers and sellers, but owners and tenants will also find this information to be quite informative.
Our Broker Will Nesbitt
"I am by nature a trusting person, but this business has taught me to verify every statement that a tenant makes. Scammers and bad tenants can sometimes give every appearance of being trustworthy and upright people. We never cut corners on background checks." ~ Will Nesbitt
Julie Nesbitt
I like tenants that pay on time. Late paying tenants cause extra work and unnecessary stress for landlords and property managers. ~ Julie Nesbitt