What we look for in Boston tenants
In Boston, Nesbitt Realty likes to work with dependable renters. Here are a few of the traits we seek out.
- A tenant pays the rent on time every time. This means paying on or before the first, rather than at 5 pm on the 5th.
- A renter has integrity. A tenant does not sneak in a co-tenant or pet.
- A renter is fussy about cleanliness. A tenant does not bring pests such as rodents and bugs.
- A tenant does not break the property or its systems.
- A tenant is courteous and pleasant to get along with. A renter understands the difference between a property manager and a hotel concierge.
- A tenant doesn't disturb neighbors.
- A tenant reports problems when appropriate. tenants that don't report maintenance issues cost landlords money and cause problems for property managers.
- A renter doesn't gripe when it's not appropriate. This means that a tenant doesn't demand 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 renter doesn't know how to operate the appliance.
- A renter does not smoke in the home.
- A tenant is looking for a lease that is as long as the real estate investor wants to rent the rental.
So this is what we're looking for in a tenant, but how do we find tenants who measure up to this standard? Experience has taught us that troublesome tenants 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 applicants in Boston 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 us at the outset, they will probably be rude as tenants. If a is caught fabricating facts, we will expect them to be untrustworthy as a renter. If a has difficulty finding fundsfor background fees and the first month of rent, we will expect that same applicant will have problems while they are in the rental.
But even when every statement initially is good we still vet each potential renter with a full background check. Every applicant and occupant must submit a government-issue photo identification. From there, as property managers we start our vetting process.
Boston Rental Management Resources
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Basics
Elementary info regarding property management in Boston.
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Getting Started
Learn more about getting started with rental property management
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Find A Tenant
List your property to rent to find a reliable renter in Boston fast.
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Accounting
How does Nesbitt Realty keep track of income and expenses for property owners?
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Cost
A breakdown of prices of rental management in Boston
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Vetting
How Nesbitt Realty checks the backgrounds of tenants for landlords.
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Reserves
What is a contingency reserve account?
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Territory
Where does Nesbitt Realty manage rentals?
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Clients
Who uses Nesbitt Realty management services?
Landlord Reference
a good archive for landlords in Boston
- Before you put a renter in your rental property in Boston
- Collections and evictions
- Communications with the tenant
- During the lease term
- End of tenancy and what happens when a renter breaks the lease
- How does the owner get paid?
- How your rental manager handles the association and your community
- How your property management company handles utilities
- How Nesbitt Management finds tenants
- Insurance matters for rental investors using our rental management
- How Nesbitt Management handles keys
- Boston owner responsibilities
- Maintenance, repairs & inspections for your rental property in Boston
- The move-in inspection
- Property management information form
- Selling a 1031 tax exchange & more
- Starting our management of your rental investment
- When landlords don't yet know their new address
- Vetting tenants in Boston
More Information About Boston
Our recommendation
After the background check is reviewed we make a recommendation to the property owner based upon our experience as rental managers in Boston and the information which 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 free tool for everyone who hopes to review important real estate information about Boston and surrounding communities. The Guide to Real Estate provides facts regarding what has sold and what is currently listed, and a few interesting facts that you might not know. In addition, our Guide has some benefits of life in Boston. Yes, all of this is interesting for buyers and sellers, but real estate investors and tenants may also find the facts to be very enlightening.
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
