What we look for in Northern Virginia tenants
In Northern Virginia, our team prefers to work with reasonable renters. Here are some of the traits we expect.
- A renter pays the rent when due every month. This means paying on or before the first, rather than at 5 pm on the 5th.
- A tenant is honest. A renter does not sneak in a co-tenant or pet.
- A renter is reasonably clean. A renter does not bring pests such as rodents and bugs.
- A tenant does not misuse the home.
- A renter is courteous and easy to work with. A tenant knows the difference between a property manager and a hotel concierge.
- A renter doesn't annoy neighbors.
- A renter complains at appropriate times. Renters that don't report maintenance issues cost real estate investors money and cause problems for property managers.
- A tenant doesn't gripe when it's not appropriate. This means that a tenant doesn't ask to replace functioning systems. A tenant doesn't expect more than the lease provides. A renter doesn't complain that an appliance doesn't work when the renter doesn't know how to operate the appliance.
- A renter does not smoke in the rental.
- A renter is looking for a rental term that is as long as the real estate investor wants to rent the home.
So this is what we're looking for in a renter, but how do we find tenants who measure up to this ideal? Experience has taught us that tardy renters can appear as polite, nicely-dress, well educated people with jobs. We have a knack for sniffing out tardy tenants.
Our Five Step Process
Fair Housing Laws and our conscience dictates that we do not judge potential renters 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 our staff at the beginning, they will probably be rude as tenants. If a makes false statements, we will expect them to be unreliable as a tenant. If a has troubles scrounging up money for background fees and the first month of rent, we will expect that same potential tenant will have troubles during the lease.
But even when every statement initially is promising we still vet every person with a complete background check. Every potential renter and occupant must submit a government-issue photo identification. From there, as property managers we start our vetting process.
How we protect the landlord’s interests in Northern Virginia:
Northern Virginia Property Management Resources
Basics
Basic info regarding management services in Northern Virginia.
Getting Started
Learn more about getting started with rental property management
Find A Tenant
Market 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 landlords?
Cost
A list of fees associated with rental management in Northern Virginia
Vetting
How Nesbitt Realty checks the backgrounds of renters for landlords.
Reserves
What is a contingency reserve account?
Territory
Where does Nesbitt Realty manage rental property?
Clients
Who uses Nesbitt Realty management services?
Landlord Reference
a good reference 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 the lease term
- End of tenancy and what happens when a renter breaks the lease
- How does the landlord get paid?
- How your property management company handles the association and your community
- How your management company handles utilities
- How Nesbitt Realty & Management finds tenants
- Insurance matters for property owners using our rental management
- How Nesbitt Realty & Management manage keys
- Northern Virginia rental investor responsibilities
- Maintenance, repairs & inspections for your rental investment in Northern Virginia
- The move-in inspection
- Property management information form
- Selling a 1031 tax exchange & more
- Starting our management of your rental
- When property 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 reviewed we make a recommendation to the real estate investor 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.
Should you know more about the community?
Nesbitt Realty's Guide to Real Estate is a handy tool for anyone who needs to learn more about Northern Virginia and nearby areas. The Guide to Real Estate compiles information about what has sold and what is currently listed, as well as many interesting facts that you might not know. Also, our Guide spotlights quite a few of the fundamentals of residing in Northern Virginia. Of course, most of this is useful for buyers and sellers, but landlords and tenants will also find these resources to be very eye-opening.
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