What we seek in Northern Virginia renters
In Northern Virginia, Nesbitt Realty wants to work with good tenants. Here are some of the traits we look for.
- A tenant pays the rent on time every month. 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 renter is reasonably clean. A renter does not attract pests such as rodents and bugs.
- A renter does not misuse the property.
- A tenant is courteous and pleasant to get along with. A tenant knows the difference between a property manager and a hotel concierge.
- A tenant doesn't bother neighbors.
- A renter complains at appropriate times. Renters that don't report maintenance issues cost real estate investors money and cause head-aches for property managers.
- A renter doesn't gripe when it's not appropriate. This means that a tenant 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 home.
- A renter is looking for a rental term that is as long as the landlord wants to rent the rental.
So this is what we're looking for in a tenant, but how do we find renters who live up to this standard? Experience has taught us that tardy tenants can appear as polite, nicely-dress, well educated people with jobs. We have a nose for sniffing out unreasonable tenants.
Our Five Step Process
Fair Housing Laws and our conscience dictates that we do not judge applicants 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 reputation and their actions. If a applicant is difficult with our managers from the beginning, they will probably be trying as tenants. If a is caught fabricating facts, we can expect them to be untrustworthy as a renter. If a has troubles producing money for background fees and the first month of rent, we will expect that same applicant will have difficulty during the lease.
But even when every statement initially is promising we still check the background of each person with a full background check. Every potential renter and occupant must provide 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 Rental Management Resources
Basics
Fundamental information about what rental managment in Northern Virginia.
Getting Started
Learn more about getting started with property management
Find A Tenant
Market your property to rent to find a reliable renter in Northern Virginia fast.
Accounting
How does Nesbitt Realty keep track of income and expenses for landlords?
Cost
An overview of prices of rental 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 rental investments?
Clients
Who uses Nesbitt Realty management services?
Landlord Reference
a useful source for property owners in Northern Virginia
- Before you move a tenant into your rental in Northern Virginia
- Collections and evictions
- Communications with the renter
- During the lease term
- End of tenancy and what happens when a tenant breaks the lease
- How does the landlord get paid?
- How your management company handles the association and your community
- How your property management company handles utilities
- How we find renters
- Insurance matters for owners using our property management
- How Nesbitt Management handles keys
- Northern Virginia landlord 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 landlords don't yet know their new address
- Vetting tenants in Northern Virginia
More Information About Northern Virginia
Our recommendation
After the background check is complete 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 owner 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 free resource for anyone who wants to learn more about Northern Virginia and surrounding communities. The Guide to Real Estate has information regarding what has sold and what is on the market, and a couple of shocking facts that you may not know. In addition, our Guide features some elements of life in Northern Virginia. Certainly, all of this is helpful for purchasers and sellers, but real estate investors and renters may also find these resources to be very 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