What we look for in Northern Virginia renters
In Northern Virginia, Nesbitt Realty prefers to work with dependable tenants. Here are some of the traits we look for.
- A tenant 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 reasonably clean. A renter does not bring pests like rodents and bugs.
- A renter does not destroy systems.
- A renter is courteous and pleasant to work with. A renter knows the difference between a property manager and a hotel concierge.
- A tenant doesn't annoy neighbors.
- A tenant reports problems at appropriate times. Renters that don't report maintenance issues cost property owners money and cause issues for property managers.
- A tenant doesn't complain when it's not appropriate. This means that a renter doesn't ask to replace functioning systems. A tenant doesn't expect more than the lease provides. A tenant doesn't complain that an appliance doesn't work when the renter doesn't know how to operate the appliance.
- A tenant does not smoke in the home.
- A renter is looking for a lease that is as long as the property owner wants to rent the home.
So this is what we're looking for in a renter, but how do we find tenants who live up to this ideal? Experience has taught us that troublesome tenants can appear as polite, nicely-dress, well educated people with jobs. We have a nose for sniffing out tardy tenants.
Our Five Step Process
Fair Housing Laws and our conscience dictates that we do not judge potential tenants in Northern Virginia based upon appearance. Experience has taught us that appearances can be very decieving. We do however judge potential tenants based upon their history and their actions. If a applicant is difficult with our staff at the outset, they will probably be difficult as renters. If a is caught fabricating facts, we can expect them to be untrustworthy as a renter. If a has a problem finding money for background fees and the first month of rent, we will expect that same potential tenant will have difficulty during the lease.
But even when every appearance initially is good we still check the background of every potential renter with a full 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 Property Management Resources
Basics
Fundamental info about what management services in Northern Virginia.
Getting Started
Learn more about getting started with rental property management
Find A Tenant
List your property to rent to find a great tenant 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 tenants for landlords.
Reserves
What is a contingency reserve account?
Territory
Where does Nesbitt Realty manage property?
Clients
Who uses Nesbitt Realty management services?
Landlord Reference
a free source for rental investors in Northern Virginia
- Before you lease out your rental in Northern Virginia
- Collections and evictions
- Communications with the renter
- During the lease term
- End of lease term and what happens when a renter breaks the lease
- How does the landlord get paid?
- How your rental manager handles the association and your community
- How your property manager handles utilities
- How Nesbitt finds tenants
- Insurance matters for owners using our rental management
- How Nesbitt Realty & Management manage keys
- Northern Virginia property owner responsibilities
- Maintenance, repairs & inspections for your property in Northern Virginia
- The move-in inspection
- Property management information form
- Selling a 1031 tax exchange & more
- Starting our management of your rental property
- When owners don't yet know their new address
- Vetting tenants in Northern Virginia
More Information About Northern Virginia
Our recommendation
After the background check is finished we make a recommendation to the landlord based upon our experience as property managers in Northern Virginia and the information that we have verified. Ultimately the landlord decides if the risk is worth taking, but they make that decision based upon facts and our expert advice.
Do you need know more about this local real estate market?
Our Guide to Real Estate is a helpful tool for everyone who hopes to find out more about Northern Virginia and surrounding communities. The Guide to Real Estate provides data about what has sold and what is for sale, and some interesting facts that you may not be aware of. And, our Guide features many of the fundamentals of residing in Northern Virginia. Of course, most of this is helpful for purchasers and sellers, but property owners and renters will probably also find these resources to be quite useful.
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